Head and Neck Cancer

Home » Head and Neck Cancer » Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Cancer
(Free Handout)

Signs and Symptoms

Cancers of the head and neck are some of the few cancers for which a particular cause can often be identified. When examined, patients who report the symptoms described below commonly admit to being smokers and/or frequent consumers of substantial quantities of alcohol. In fact, some doctors candidly admit that it is quite rare to see patients with head and neck cancer who do not smoke or drink excessively.

The common symptoms of cancer of the head and neck include

• persistent pain in the throat;
• pain or difficulty with swallowing;
• persistent hoarseness or a change in voice;
• pain in the ear; and
• bleeding in the mouth or throat.

Because about half of all head and neck cancers originate in the oral cavity, sores or lesions in the mouth can be warning signs. Two types of lesions that could be precursors to cancer are leukoplakia (white lesions) and erythroplakia (red lesions). Although less common than leukoplakia, erythroplakias have a much greater potential for becoming cancerous. Any white or red lesion that does not heal or disappear in 2 weeks should be evaluated by a physician and considered for biopsy.

Other possible signs/symptoms of oral cancer include:

• lump or thickening in oral soft tissues;
• soreness or feeling that something is stuck in the throat;
• difficulty chewing or swallowing;
• difficulty moving the jaw or tongue;
• numbness of the tongue or other parts of the mouth; and
• swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable.

Anyone experiencing such symptoms for more than 2 weeks should see their physician as soon as possible for a thorough examination and laboratory tests. If a diagnosis cannot be obtained, your physician will refer you to a specialist.

Diagnosis

Establishing a diagnosis for head and neck cancers typically begins with an examination and biopsy of any identified suspected cancerous lesions or tumors. This involves extracting a piece of suspicious tissue and sending it to a laboratory for examination. In some cases the biopsy can be performed in the physician's office, although it is more common for the procedure to be done in an operating room under anesthesia.

Head and Neck Cancer Resources

	Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Cancer The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your cancer treatment. Print this free handout to take with you on your next office visit.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Join Our Head and Neck Cancer Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted. In honor of National Cancer Survivors Day on June 1, 2008, we asked you to share your stories about surviving cancer. Read the inspiring stories we received or share your survival story and help others in the fight against cancer.
Advertising Disclaimer To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer