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Head and Neck Cancer

Cancers of the head and neck include cancers that occur in any of the tissues or organs in the head and neck.

Most head and neck cancers are the type of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers begin in the cells that line the nose, mouth or throat, or cover the surface of the tongue. Skin cancer arises from similar calls found in the skin.

Our bodies are made of millions of cells, many of which wear out and die and need to be replaced. Sometimes, the process that creates replacement cells gets out of control, so that too many cells are produced, creating a lump or ‘tumour’. If the cells remain in the tumour, they are not ‘cancerous’, and the tumour is called ‘benign’. However, if the cells can leave the tumour and spread into other tissues, the cells are described as ‘cancerous’ and the tumour is called ‘malignant’.

A small sample of cells, called a biopsy, may be taken from a tumour and examined under a microscope to find out whether the tumour is benign or malignant.

We know that cancers are not infectious – cancer of the head or neck cannot be caught from someone like a cold or cough. However, we do not know very much about what does cause cancer.

There are some things however, that we know do to increase the chance of developing cancer of the head and neck, including:

Smoking tobacco
Chewing tobacco, betel or pan
Heavy consumption of alcohol
Some viruses

Only taking a biopsy –a sample of cells from the abnormal area – and examining it under a microscope can make a definite diagnosis. A CT scan or MRI scan may be performed before taking a biopsy to help identify the affected areas.

The different types of treatment may be given alone or in combination with each other. They include:

Radiotherapy
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Photodynamic therapy

Your surgeon is specially trained to guide you through the steps of diagnosis and treatment. He works in a multidisciplinary team to ensure that the highest standard of care is made available and to co-ordinate the many allied health specialties vital in rehabilitation following treatment.