Head and Neck Cancer

DR TAN TECK SOON, CONSULTANT OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGIST

Head and neck cancers are cancers that occur in your upper aerodigestive track, namely in your nose, mouth, throat or salivary glands. It encompasses any cancers that occur in the head and neck region. For example, skin cancer or cancer of the thyroid gland. According to the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report, it is the fourth most common cancer and accounts for approximately nine percent of all cancer cases.

Signs and symptoms for head and neck cancer are diverse. Some common ones may include a lump anywhere along your aerodigestive tract; a persistent sore that does not go away; trouble swallowing; or a change in voice. Quite often, patients may experience unusual bleeding from the nose or mouth; facial swelling; and trouble breathing.

It is imperative that patients seek appropriate medical consultation if they feel that something is wrong or off in their head and neck region. With medical advancements, various medical instruments are available to perform a thorough head and neck examination to diagnose head and neck cancer.