Category:
FAQ
- The term “head and neck cancer” describes malignant (cancer) tumors that develop in or around the throat, voice box, nose, sinuses, and mouth. It generally does not include other malignant tumors that can occur in the head and neck area but comes from the skin or thyroid gland. The most common type of head and neck cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (around 90%).
- Worldwide, head and neck cancers account for approximately 900,000 cases and over 400,000 deaths annually. In the United States, head and neck cancer accounts for 4% percent of all malignancies, with approximately 66,000 cases annually and 15,000 deaths yearly. Head and neck cancers are nearly twice as common among men as they are among women. Head and neck cancers are more often diagnosed in people over age 50.
- Read more at the National Cancer Institute
- What causes cancers of the head and neck?
- Alcohol and tobacco use (including smokeless tobacco, sometimes called “chewing tobacco” or “snuff”) are the two most important risk factors for head and neck cancers, especially cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. At least 75 percent of head and neck cancers are caused by tobacco and alcohol use. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk of developing these cancers than those who use tobacco or alcohol alone. Tobacco and alcohol use are not risk factors for salivary gland cancers.
- Infection with cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV-16, is a risk factor for some types of head and neck cancers, particularly oropharyngeal cancers that involve the tonsils or the base of the tongue. In the United States, the incidence of oropharyngeal cancers caused by HPV infection is increasing, while the incidence of oropharyngeal cancers related to other causes is falling.
- Learn more with the HNCA infographic on head and neck cancer risk factors
- Specific Risk Factors
- Paan (betel quid)
- Immigrants from Southeast Asia who use paan (betel quid) in the mouth should be aware that this habit has been strongly associated with an increased risk of oral cancer.
- Maté
- Consumption of maté, a tea-like beverage habitually consumed by South Americans, has been associated with an increased risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and larynx.
- Preserved or Salted Foods
- Consumption of certain preserved or salted foods during childhood is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer.
- Oral Health
- Poor oral hygiene and missing teeth may be weak risk factors for cancers of the oral cavity. Use of mouthwash that has a high alcohol content is a possible but not proven risk factor for cancers of the oral cavity.
- Occupational Exposure
- Occupational exposure to wood dust is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer. Specific industrial exposures, including exposures to asbestos and synthetic fibers, have been associated with cancer of the larynx, but the increase in risk remains controversial. People working in certain jobs in the construction, metal, textile, ceramic, logging, and food industries may have an increased risk of cancer of the larynx. Industrial exposure to wood or nickel dust or formaldehyde is a risk factor for cancers of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity.
- Radiation Exposure
- Radiation to the head and neck, for noncancerous conditions or cancer, is a risk factor for cancer of the salivary glands.
- Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
- Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer and cancer of the salivary glands.
- Ancestry
- Asian ancestry, particularly Chinese ancestry, is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer.
- Paan (betel quid)