Every year 10,000 new cases of some type of head and neck cancer are diagnosed in Spain, which represents around 5% of all tumors.
But one of the particularities of these types of cancer is the great impact they have, since it affects the most visible part of the body, with what this means for the patient’s quality of life.
Overall survival for head and neck cancers is less than 40% at 5 years; with a 50-60% probability of local recurrences at 2 years and a 20-30% probability of distant metastasis at 2 years.
These percentages motivate scientific societies to request a multidisciplinary approach to “advance knowledge and treatment of this type of tumors.”
As he explains Dr. Alex Sistiagapresident of the Oncology and Head and Neck Surgery commission of the
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“The diagnosis, treatment and follow-up must be carried out by a team that includes the specialties of otorhinolaryngology, medical oncology, radiotherapy oncology, radiodiagnosis, nuclear medicine, pathological anatomy, nutrition, oncopsychology, palliative care, rehabilitation, etc”.
These head and neck cancers include:
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tonsil cancer
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of mouth
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Of throat
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of tongue
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lip
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of the palate
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The nasopharyngeal.
The latter is, according to Spanish Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC)is the head and neck cancer with the highest incidence in Spain: Approximately one case per 100,000 inhabitants per year!
Symptoms and warning signs
Otorhinolaryngology experts offer a worrying fact:
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In more than 60% of patients, head and neck cancer is diagnosed in advanced stages.
And as in any other type of tumor and many other pathologies, the later it is detected, the more difficult the treatment is and the more the chances of recovery are reduced.
For this reason, the SEORL-CCC insists on the importance of knowing the symptoms or warning signs of head and neck cancer in order to consult about it as soon as possible and to be able to find the origin, establish treatment on time and offer the patient facial reconstruction options.
As Dr. Eduardo Ferrandis, clinical chief of the Otorhinolaryngology service and member of the Oncology and Head and Neck Surgery commission of the SEORL-CCC comments:
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“Any of these symptoms that persist for more than three weeks makes it advisable to see an otolaryngologist, head and neck surgeon, or a dentist, because they may be signs of the presence of a tumor.”
Of course, these symptoms can also be caused by other less serious conditions, so there is no need to be alarmed, but it is important to consult a specialist as soon as possible.
And to have more data, we further specify the symptoms by areas or types of cancer, just as he does:
Oral cavity
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A white or red spot on the gum, tongue, or lining of the mouth
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A lump or swelling in the jaw that makes a denture ill-fitting or uncomfortable
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Unusual bleeding or pain in the mouth.
Throat (pharynx)
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Pain when swallowing
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Pain in the neck or throat that does not go away
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Pain or ringing in the ears
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Difficulty hearing.
Larynx (speech organ)
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Difficulty breathing or speaking
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Pain when swallowing
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Earache.
paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity
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Sinus congestion that does not clear up
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Chronic sinus infection (sinusitis) that does not respond to antibiotic treatment
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Nosebleed
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frequent headaches
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Inflammation or other eye problem
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Upper teeth pain
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Problems with dental prostheses.
Salivary glands
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Swelling under the chin or around the jaw
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Numbness or paralysis of the muscles in the face
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Pain in the face, chin, or neck that does not go away.
These cancers are up to twice as common in men as in women, and are also more common in people older than 50 years.
Reconstructive surgery
Experts in otorhinolaryngology point out the following among the main physical sequelae suffered by patients who have suffered head or neck cancer:
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Dysphonia or hoarseness.
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sensory problems
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Discomfort in the oral cavity.
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Neck muscle atrophy.
In addition, patients state that the disease impacts their day-to-day life, especially in those people who have required surgical treatment and present complications derived from it.
For this reason, “for otolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons, it has a special…