Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancers are malignancies that arise in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat, or larynx. Usually, these cancers begin in the squamous cells that line the moist mucosal surfaces of the mouth, nose, and throat.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 71,100 people in the United States will receive a diagnosis of cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx, the major types of head and neck cancer, in 2024. Unfortunately, about 16,110 people will die from these diseases.

More specifically, cancers of the head and neck are categorized by the area in which they begin. Get more information on these various forms of cancer:

• Hypopharyngeal Cancer
• Laryngeal Cancer
• Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
• Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer
• Oropharyngeal Cancer
• Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer
• Salivary Gland Cancer

Alcohol and tobacco use are the two most important risk factors for head and neck cancers. Moreover, infection with cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is another risk factor for some types of these cancers.

According to the NCI, these cancers are nearly twice as common among men as they are among women.

Approximately 69 percent of people diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity or pharynx will survive five years or longer from their diagnosis, according to the NCI. For cancer of the larynx, the five-year survival rate is about 61 percent. However, the NCI cautions that survival statistics can’t be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient, because the estimate is based on large groups of people. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly, according to the NCI.

Source: National Cancer Institute