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What Is Head and Neck Cancer?
Head and neck cancer is the umbrella term used for a group of cancer with similar biological features; these cancers begin from the upper part of our aerodigestive tract, which includes our mouth or oral cavity, nasal cavity, lips, paranasal sinuses, larynx and pharynx. 90 percent of the patients with head and neck cancer are affected by squamous cell carcinoma that originates from epithelium or mucosal lining of the above mentioned body parts. There are also several instances when head and neck cancer invades the neck's lymph nodes.
What are the risk factors of head and neck cancer? There are certain lifestyle and environmental factors that increase one's risk of developing this cancer type. The most prominent among them are: alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, prolonged exposure to UV rays, regular exposure to chemicals like asbestos, infection from certain virus strains like HPV or human papillomavirus etc. Head and neck cancers are mostly extremely aggressive in nature; people diagnosed with this cancer type become susceptible towards developing other cancers in and around their neck and head. However, when detected at an early stage, this disease can be cured using treatment method like surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
How will you know that you might have head and neck cancer? Usually, in the initial stages head and neck cancer is manifested in from of harmless symptoms such as enlarged lymph nodes, sore throat, change in voice etc. However, with time and progression of the disease these conditions persist from prolonged period of time and turn chronic. Patients might develop a sore or lump in their throat, which do not subside even after weeks. Some patients also suffer from conditions like painful swallowing, earache, paralysis or numbness of the facial muscles; there might be problems in speaking properly. Some other common symptoms of head and neck cancer are:
- Neck pain
- Oral bleeding
- Appearance of a lump or mass in or around the neck
- Bad breath
- Sinus congestion
- Sore tongue
- Earache or a persistent ringing sound in the ear
- Red or white patches within the mouth that do not subside even after weeks
- Lumps in the gums, mouth or lips
- Numbness in the oral cavity
- Sudden weight loss
- Loss of appetite or change in eating pattern
- Problems in swallowing food
- Breathing trouble
- Headaches
HPV Head and Neck Cancer
HPV or human papillomavirus is a broad term used for several viruses. Some HPV viruses results in formation of warts on our skin and there are some HPV viruses that trigger formation of warts in our genital regions. HPV is also linked with certain cancer types. Several researches have shown that HPV virus can be responsible for causing cancer types like head and neck, vulval, cervical, anal, penile and vaginal cancers. In this article we’ll be discussing about HPV head and neck cancer.
Head and neck cancers caused by human papillomavirus mostly affect the oropharynx (back of our neck and tonsils). The incidence of oropharyngeal cancer is more frequent among the white men. If we look at the global scenario, we will find that majority of the head and neck cancers occur due to alcohol and [...]
Head and Neck Cancer Sniffed Out with E-NOSE
An electronic nose has been devised which is capable of sniffing out cancerous presence in the breath of patients. The tool can tell apart those who are disease-ridden from people in good health. Researchers deem that this breath-testing tool could be particularly beneficial for those people having head and neck cancer that are mostly identified in the later staging.
Scientists from Israel did a collection of breath samples drawn from eighty-two individuals that were having cancer of the lungs, head and neck cancer or not having cancer at all.
Helming the trial which appeared in the ‘Journal of Cancer Research’, Prof. H. Haick at the Israel Inst. of Technology, Technion stated that there is pressing requirement for developing novel means of detecting head and neck cancer since diagnosing [...]
Throat Cancer Treatment Choices
Being diagnosed with throat cancer translates to the fact that the larynx – the throat’s constitution which facilitates proper speaking, breathing and swallowing has developed malignance. Since their functioning is of utmost importance hence latest advancements in throat cancer treatment are focussed on preservation of as much functioning as doable. Quality of existence stays the prime focus even in later staging of the disease.
Comprehending what the causes are of the disease, sooner identification and novel techniques have been contributory towards attaining this objective.
Causes and Preventative Measures
Smokers and alcohol drinkers are at the highest risk of developing laryngeal cancer (or cancer of the larynx or voice box) – a throat cancer type widespread among males. But [...]
Michael Douglas Goes Candid About His Battle with Throat Cancer
For the foremost instant since the onset of his throat cancer therapy, Hollywood icon Michael Douglas opened up about battling for his life and certain of winning, in spite of the throat cancer having progressed to its advanced form.
During the foremost print interview to a famed glossy, the sixty-five year old actor stated that he was treating it as a condition that can be cured. He added that he would leave no stone unturned in his battle with cancer and beat it.
He opened up to People magazine for the foremost instant following his cancer detection a fortnight back wherein a walnut-sized tumor was uncovered following biopsy. Lately he has commenced a stringent regime of therapy entailing radiotherapy 5 times per week lasting for 8 weeks alongside chemotherapy in three-weekly intervals.
Douglas [...]
ERCC-1 Enzyme offers a Predictive Indicator of Survival in Head and Neck Cancer
Majority of the cases of advanced staging head and neck cancer need chemotherapy employing drug cisplatin which is an inert platinum agent that hampers cancer development.
A sizeable populace of patients fails in responding favorably to this form of treatment; however oncologists are not able to give prescription of unconventional agents as they are unaware of which patients would be responding to platinum treatment and which ones would not show any response to it. But, new-fangled study conducted at the Fox Chase Cancer Center indicates that ERCC-1 enzyme levels which aid in restoring cisplastin-linked DNA harm could provide an analytical indicator or marker of survival in case of head and neck cancer cases.
The study outcomes could ultimately prove helpful in guiding therapy selection [...]
