Head and Neck Cancer

Rahul Mote, Dr. Lopamudra Das Roy

Published 2021

Abstract:

Head and Neck cancer is a vast group of cancers that affect the mouth, sinuses, nose, or throat. Head and Neck cancer is the 6th most common cancer worldwide.

Aim:

Our aim is to fully understand Head and Neck cancers, and help people understand preventative measures to take.

Methods:

We have used multiple published Journals to collect accurate information, such as pub med and other organizations.

Discussion:

Through the process of research in head and neck cancers one thing was prevalent, that early detection is the key to a better survival rate(2,3). When looking at cases on a global scale, we were able to see higher incidence rates and death rates in Asian countries (1,5). This is largely due to the abundance of individuals chewing tobacco and areca nuts. It was also found that people who contract HPV have a higher chance of getting mouth cancers(1,2,4). It is concluded that individuals should take on preventative measures from staying away from all risk factors and keeping up with vaccinations. If individuals do this and maintain a healthy diet, we can see a decrease in the amount of cases on a global scale.

About:

Head and Neck cancers account for about 5% of all malignant tumors each year(1,2).

Head and neck cancers are tumors of the paranasal sinus, the nasal cavity, the salivary glands, the thyroid, and the upper aerodigestive tract (2). Around half of the patients fail to get adequate care, for various different reasons. Individuals who use alcohol and tobacco frequently have the highest chance of getting cancer.

Causes:

Extended exposure to the sun is a common cause of lip cancer. The contraction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a known cause of mouth cancer. Exposure to carcinogens are known to cause cancer in the sinus cavity. One of the most common causes of oral cancer is the use of tobacco products (1,3,4).

Risk factors:

-Tobacco/Alcohol

- Human Papillomavirus

-Nutrition

-Age

-Gender

Prevention:

In terms of preventing Head and Neck cancers, individuals should perform routine

screening(1,2,3,4,5). During the screening process, individuals should thoroughly search the entire mount looking for any abnormalities. People should also limit alcohol and tobacco use. It is also imperative for individuals to keep all of their vaccinations up to date.

Stage 0: Abnormal cells in the lining of the affected area that have a potential of becoming cancerous.

Stage 1: The tumor is less than 2 cm in size.

Stage 2: The size is between 2-4 cm.

Stage 3: The cancer is larger than 4 cm and has spread to other lymph nodes.

Stage 4: The tumor can be any size, and spreads to other parts of the head and neck

Diagnosis/Screening:

If any abnormality in the Head and Neck region is found it is imperative to consult with a doctor.

A doctor will then perform a biopsy on the suspected tumor to confirm any doubts of cancer. The severity of the cancer is ranked in stages. The earlier a cancer is detected, the higher the chances of survival. In terms of treatment there are three main types:

-Surgery

-Chemotherapy

-Radiation

All of these types of treatment options are used to rid the body of cancers. Doctors will usually

perform surgery to remove the malignant tumor, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. (4)

Targeted drug therapy can be used to alter the specific DNA of the cancer that fuels its

growth(2,4).

Global:

Head and neck cancers are the 6th most common type of cancer in the world(1,5). Cases are twice as many in male compared to females.In the year 2018 there were 890,00 reported cases of head and neck cancers, with 450,000 deaths(5). In many developing countries Head and Neck cancers are the most common types of cancers found. This is largely attributed to the use of tobacco products and other products containing carcinogens. In India, head and neck cancers are the most common type of cancer found. In developing countries access to proper health care, hygiene and proper living conditions is blamable for this. Poor treatment proposes a major obstacle in curing these types of cancers, in comparison to western countries. Another big hurdle is an individual's socioeconomic status, as cancer treatment can be very expensive to families and put a big burden on them.

The figure above shows us the top cancers in individuals in India(5).

Conclusion:

Through researching it was found that head and neck cancer cases are found all throughout the

world, but are more common in certain areas. The causes for people developing the cancer

differed for each region of the world. One common thing found was that tobacco consumption

and heavy alcohol usage are one of the biggest risk factors. It was found that people living in poverty were more likely to die from cancer due to their inability to obtain proper medical treatment. In conclusion, individuals should prevent themselves from coming in contact with risk factors, along with regular screening of the mouth.

Citation

1. Konings, Heleen et al. “A Literature Review of the Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of

Head and Neck Neoplasms.” Frontiers in oncology vol. 10 1020. 18 Jun. 2020,

doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.01020

2. Johnson, D.E., Burtness, B., Leemans, C.R. et al. Head and neck squamous cell

carcinoma. Nat Rev Dis Primers 6, 92 (2020).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-020-00224-3

3. Cramer, J.D., Burtness, B., Le, Q. et al. The changing therapeutic landscape of head and

neck cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 16, 669–683 (2019).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-019-0227-z

4. Joshi, Poonam et al. “Head and neck cancers in developing countries.” Rambam

Maimonides medical journal vol. 5,2 e0009. 28 Apr. 2014, doi:10.5041/RMMJ.10143