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Head
and Neck Cancer
(early warning signs)
Did you know that more than 55,000 Americans will
develop cancer of the head and neck this year, and that
nearly 13,000 of them will die, and that most of this
is preventable!
Tobacco
is the most preventable cause of these deaths. In the
United States, up to 200,000 people die each year from
smoking related illnesses. The good news is that this
figure has decreased due to the increasing number of
Americans who have quit smoking. The bad news is that
some of these smokers switched to smokeless or spit
tobacco, assuming it is a safe alternative. This is
untrue - they are merely changing the site of the cancer
risk from their Iungs to their mouth. While lung cancers
are down, cancers in the head & neck appear to be
increasing. Cancer of the head and neck is curable if
caught early. Fortunately, most head and neck cancers
produce early symptoms. You should know the possible
warning signs so you can alert your doctor to your symptoms
as soon as possible. Remember - successful treatment
of head and neck cancer can depends on early detection.
Knowing and recognizing the signs of head and neck cancer
can save your life.
Find
It early - and be cured!
Here's
what you should watch for...
A
lump in the neck...
Cancers that begin in the head or neck usually spread
to lymph nodes in the neck before they spread elsewhere.
A lump in the neck that lasts more than two weeks should
be seen by a physician as soon as possible. Of course,
not all lumps are cancer, but a lump (or lumps) in the
neck can be the first sign of cancer of the mouth, the
throat, the voicebox (larynx), the thyroid gland, or
of certain lymphomas or blood cancers. Such lumps are
generally painless and continue to enlarge steadily.
Change
in the voice...
Most
cancers in the larynx cause some change in voice. Any
hoarseness or other voice change lasting more than two
weeks should alert you to see your physician. An otolaryngologist
is a head and neck specialist who can examine your vocal
cords with a small mirror or other technique. Most voice
changes are not caused by cancer, but don't take chances.
If you are hoarse more than two weeks, make sure you
don't have cancer of the larynx. See your doctor.
A
growth in the mouth...
Most
cancers of the mouth or tongue cause a sore or swelling
that doesn't go away. These sores and swellings are
usually painless unless they become infected. Bleeding
may occur, but often not until late in the disease.
If an ulcer or swelling is accompanied by lumps in the
neck, be very concerned. Your dentist or doctor can
determine if a biposy (tissue sample test) is needed.
Bringing
up blood...
This
is often caused by something other than cancer. However,
tumors in the nose, mouth, throat or lungs can cause
bleeding. If blood appears in your saliva or phlegm
for more than a few days, you should see your physician.
Swallowing
problems...
Cancer
of the throat or esophagus (swallowing tube) may cause
difficulty in swallowing, usually with solid food although
liquids are sometimes troublesome. The food may "stick"
at a certain point and then either go through or come
back up. If you have trouble almost every time you try
to swallow something, you should be examined by a physician.
Usually a barium swallow x-ray or an esophagoscopy (direct
examination of the swallowing tube with a light instrument)
will be performed to find the cause.
Changes
in the skin...
The
most common head and neck cancer is basal cell cancer
of the skin. Fortunately, this is rarely a major problem
if managed properly. Basal cell cancers appear most
often on sun-exposed areas like the forehead, face,
and ears, although they can occur almost anywhere on
the skin. Basal cell cancer often begins as a small,
pale patch that enlarges slowly, producing a central
"dimple" and eventually an ulcer. Parts of
the ulcer may heal, but the major portion remains ulcerated.
Some also show color changes. Other kinds of cancer,
including squamous cell cancer and malignant melanoma,
also occur on the skin of the head and neck. Most squamous
cell cancers occur on the lower lip or ear. They may
look like basal cell cancers and, if caught early and
properly treated, usually are not much more dangerous.
If there is a sore on the lip, lower face or ear that
does not heal, there is cause for concern. Malignant
melanoma produces dense blue-black or black discolorations
of the skin. At times, small spots may be scattered
around the major one. A black or blue-black spot on
the face or neck, particularly if it changes size or
shape, should be seen as soon as possible by a dermatologist
or other physician.
Persistent
Earache...
Constant
pain in the area of the ear or pain in the ear when
you swallow can be a sign of infection or tumor growth
in the throat. This is particularly serious if it is
associated with difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness
or a lump in the neck. These symptoms are best evaluated
by an otolaryngologist.
Identifying
High Risk of Head and Neck Cancer
As
many as 90 percent of head and neck cancers arise after
prolonged exposure to specific factors. Use of tobacco
(cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco or snuff) and drinking
alcoholic beverages are closely linked with a high occurrence
of cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box and tongue.
(In adults who neither smoke nor drink, cancer of the
mouth and throat are nearly non-existent.) Other factors
include prolonged exposure to sunlight which is linked
with cancer of the lip and is also an established major
cause of skin cancer.
What
You Should Do...
All of the symptoms and signs described here can occur
with no cancer present. In fact, many times complaints
of this type will be due to some other condition. Nevertheless,
if they do occur, it makes sense to see your doctor
-and be sure.
REMEMBER:
When found early, most cancers in the head and neck
can be cured with relatively little difficulty. Since
most delays between the occurrence of symptoms and the
correct diagnosis and start of treatment are caused
by the patient, cure rates for these cancers could be
greatly improved if people would seek medical advice
as soon as possible.
BE
SURE TO BE SAFE
See
your doctor early! And practice health habits which
will make these diseases unlikely to occur.
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