Head and Neck Cancer Awareness: What the Terms Really Mean

What this observance is

Head and Neck Cancer Awareness, observed in April, focuses on a group of cancers that many people cannot name even though, taken together, they are not rare. The aim is straightforward: help people recognize what these cancers are, understand the main risk factors, and know which symptoms are worth checking.

What this cancer is

The National Cancer Institute explains that head and neck cancers include cancers of the larynx (voice box), throat, lips, mouth, nose, and salivary glands. Most begin in the squamous cells that line the moist surfaces inside the mouth, throat, and voice box, and are called squamous cell carcinomas. NCI's fact sheet notes that head and neck cancers account for nearly 4% of all cancers in the United States, are more than twice as common in men as in women, and are diagnosed more often in people over 50. Cancers of the brain, eye, esophagus, thyroid, and the skin of the head and neck are not usually grouped as head and neck cancers.

Screening & prevention (per NCI)

NCI describes clear risk factors. Tobacco use (including secondhand smoke and smokeless tobacco) and heavy alcohol use are the two most important, and using both together raises risk more than either alone. Infection with cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV type 16, is a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancers of the tonsils and base of the tongue. NCI notes that people at risk, particularly those who use tobacco, should talk with their doctor about ways to stop, and that avoiding oral HPV infection can reduce the risk of HPV-associated head and neck cancers. The FDA has approved the HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 for prevention of certain HPV-caused head and neck cancers in people aged 9 through 45. On screening, NCI is direct: there is no standard or routine screening test for head and neck cancers, and no studies have shown that screening lowers the risk of dying from oral cavity or nasopharyngeal cancers. A dentist or doctor may check the mouth for signs of cancer during a routine checkup. See the NCI links for details.

How to take part

• If you use tobacco, ask a healthcare professional or call a quitline about ways to stop.
• Learn about the HPV vaccine and whether it is relevant for you or your family.
• Keep routine dental checkups, where the mouth is examined.
• Share accurate information about these lesser-known cancers.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Given my history, what are my main risk factors for head and neck cancers?
• Is the HPV vaccine appropriate for me or my children?
• What symptoms, such as a sore or hoarseness that does not go away, should I report?
• What help is available if I want to stop using tobacco or reduce alcohol use?