Understanding head and neck cancer
This booklet is to help you understand more about head and neck cancers.
What are head and neck cancers?
Head and neck cancer is a term that describes a range of cancers that begin in the head and neck region. Cancer can occur inside the sinuses, nose, mouth and salivary glands down through the throat. Although these cancers are different, they are treated similarly, so are considered as a group.
Skin cancers that start in the head and neck area have recently been classified as a type of head and neck cancer, whereas cancers that start in the eye, brain, oesophagus, thyroid and trachea, or in bone or muscle of the head and neck area are not.
Diagnosis of head and neck cancers
If you notice any symptoms, contact your GP. You can also tell your dentist about any mouth sores, swelling or change of colour in your mouth as dentists are trained to look for signs of mouth cancer.
Your doctor will physically examine your neck, ears, eyes, nose, mouth or throat, depending on your symptoms. Other tests will use an endoscope, needle or surgery to take a biopsy.
Nasendoscopy
Your doctor will examine your nose and throat using a thin flexible tube with a light and camera on the end called a nasendoscope or flexible laryngoscopy. The nasendoscope will look at your nasal cavity, larynx, nasopharynx and oropharynx. This is done under local anaesthetic.
Micro-laryngoscopy
Your doctor will look at your voice box and throat using a tube with a light and camera on the end (laryngoscope) and take a biopsy (tissue sample). This is done in hospital under general anaesthetic.
Biopsy
Your doctor will remove tissue samples or cells from the affected area, and these will be examined under a microscope by a pathologist to check for any cancer cells.
X-rays
You may have x-rays to check for tumours or damage to the bones.
CT scan
A computerised tomography (CT) scan uses x-ray beams to created detailed cross-section images of the inside of your body.
MRI
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan uses powerful magnet and radio waves to create detailed cross-section images of inside your body. This test usually takes between 30 and 90 minutes.
PET-CT scan
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan combined with a CT scan helps pinpoint the location of any abnormalities. It is recommended to help diagnose laryngeal, pharyngeal or oral cancers or to see if cancer has spread.
Ultrasound
You may have an ultrasound to look at the salivary glands, the thyroid and lymph glands in the neck.
After a diagnosis of head and neck cancers
After being diagnosed with a head or neck cancer, you may feel shocked, upset, anxious or confused. These are normal responses. A diagnosis of a head or neck cancer affects each person differently. For most it will be a difficult time, however some people manage to continue with their normal daily activities.
You may find it helpful to talk about your treatment options with your doctors, family and friends. Ask questions and seek as much information as you feel you need. It is up to you as to how involved you want to be in making decisions about your treatment.
Treatment of head and neck cancers
Treatment for head and neck cancers can affect your teeth, gums and mouth. Some preparations before treatment begins may include:
- seeing a dentist
- consulting a dietitian to help improve your diet and nutrition as you may lose a lot of weight
- beginning an exercise program to help build up your strength
- quitting smoking as you may not respond to treatment as well as someone who doesn’t smoke
- avoiding alcohol as it can irritate mouth sores from the cancer or the treatment.
Surgery
Surgery is used to remove the cancerous tissue while preserving as much of the functions of the head and neck area as possible including breathing, swallowing and talking. The type of surgery you have will depend on the type of head and neck cancer you have.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy)
Radiation therapy uses a controlled dose of radiation to damage or kill cancer cells. It is sometimes used on its own as the main treatment for head and neck cancers
Radiation therapy can be used after surgery (adjuvant treatment) and is sometimes used with chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses specific drugs to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. The drugs are usually administered by injection into a vein (intraveneously).
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy drugs affect specific features of cancer cells to stop their growth.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, a type of treatment that uses your body’s own immune system to fight cancer, may be used to treat head and neck cancers.
Palliative care
In some cases of head and neck cancer, your medical team may talk to you about palliative care. Palliative care aims to improve your quality of life by alleviating symptoms of cancer.
As well as slowing the spread of head and neck cancer, palliative treatment can relieve pain and help manage other symptoms. Treatment may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy or other drug therapies.
Treatment Team
Depending on your treatment, your treatment team may consist of a number of different health professionals, such as:
- GP (General Practitioner) – looks after your general health and works with your specialists to coordinate treatment.
- Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist- treats disorders of the ear, nose and throat
- Head and neck surgeon- diagnoses and treats cancers of the head and neck.
- Oral surgeon- treats disorders of the mouth, face and jaws.
- Reconstructive (plastic) surgeon- performs any complex reconstructive surgery that restores or repairs the body’s appearance and function.
- Medical oncologist – prescribes and coordinates the course of chemotherapy.
- Radiation oncologist – prescribes and coordinates radiation therapy treatment.
- Dentist- evaluates and treats the mouth and teeth
- Oncology nurse- cares for people who are diagnosed with cancer throughout treatment.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officer- if you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, the liaison officer will support you and your family during treatment and recovery.
- Other allied health professionals – such as social workers, pharmacists, and counsellors.
Preventing head and neck cancers
The risk of head and neck cancers can be reduced by not smoking (or quitting) and reducing alcohol consumption.
Prognosis for head and neck cancers
Prognosis means the expected outcome of a disease. Your prognosis depends your test results, the type of head and neck cancer, the tumour’s HPV status, the rate and depth of tumour growth and other factors such as your age and general health at the time of diagnosis.
The earlier a head and neck cancer is diagnosed the better the outcomes.
Sources
- Understanding Head and Neck Cancers, Cancer Council Australia, © 2024. Last medical review of source booklet: February 2024.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer data in Australia [Internet]. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2023 [cited 2023 Sept 04]. Available here.
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