Head & Neck Cancer

The head and neck are made up of many different glands, muscles, bones, and more. These different areas can become cancerous due to exposure to certain risk factors. If you are diagnosed with head or neck cancer, our Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists provide high-quality, individualized care.

Types of Cancer

The different types of cancer our ENT surgeons help treat include:

  • Mouth: Also known as oral cancer, affects the tissues in your mouth and throat.
  • Nasal & Sinus: A rare cancer where abnormal cells grow in and around your nose.
  • Salivary Glands: Occurs in the glands that produce your saliva.
  • Skin: A lesion that appears on your face, head, or neck.
  • Throat: Can affect your throat, voice box, vocal cords, or tonsils.

Risk Factors

There are certain environmental factors that make you more at risk for head and neck cancer. Some of these include:

  • Smoking & Tobacco Usage
  • Excess Alcohol Consumption
  • Sun Exposure
  • Radiation Exposure
  • Poor mouth hygiene
  • HPV

Symptoms

While there are many types of head and neck cancer, some common symptoms to watch for include:

  • Sores in your mouth that don’t heal
  • Sore throat that won’t go away
  • Trouble swallowing
  • A bump on your neck or face
  • Change in your voice or hoarseness
  • Jaw swelling or pain
  • Bleeding or pain in your nose, mouth, or throat
  • Chronic ear pain
  • Unusual spots on your skin

Expert Treatment Options

Our ENT surgeons work closely with our cancer team to ensure you receive well-rounded cancer care. Each person’s cancer is unique, which is why we will create a specialized treatment plan that may include one or multiple of the following treatment options:

  • Surgery: Your ENT surgeon will cut out your cancer using surgical techniques. There may also be a need for your ENT surgeon to perform reconstructive surgery to rebuild areas damaged by the cancer.
  • Radiation Therapy: A machine precisely directs radiation waves to the specific area in your body to kill cancer cells.
  • Chemotherapy: Strong medicine is put into your body to kill or control your cancer.
  • Targeted Therapy: Medicine that uses specific chemicals to kill cancer cells in your body.
  • Immunotherapy: Medicine helps your body’s immune system fight cancer cells.

Support For You

Some treatment options may affect your ability to speak or eat. Faith Regional has caring speech therapists who help you overcome these challenges and get you back to living a normal life.

Throughout your cancer journey, you may also benefit from seeing a palliative care provider. These providers can help to improve your symptoms and side effects, as well as support your emotional and spiritual needs.