Cancer that develops in the mouth, nose, throat, salivary glands and other areas of the head and neck.

Symptoms

• Cough -persistent cough
• Changes in voice, such as hoarseness or unclear words
• Difficulty in swallowing, and to some extent in breathing
• Ear pain
• A lump or sore in the throat that does not heal
• Sore throat
• Weight loss

Causes

• Throat cancers are said to result from cells that undergo genetic mutation and divide uncontrollably.
• Use of tobacco – smoking and chewing
• Alcohol abuse
• Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux
• Family history
• Alcohol abuse
• Smoking
• Chewing tobacco
• Ultraviolet light exposure
• Sex: Men are at increased risk
• Exposure to toxic substances such as asbestos

Prevention

• Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet
• Quit tobacco use, both smoking and chewing
• Quit alcohol

Screening Options available at JNCHRC

• Endoscopy: Examining inside of the throat using a tube-like instrument with camera.
• Laryngoscopy: For examining the inside of the larynx/vocal chords.
• Biopsy: A small sample of the tissue from the affected part is sent for microscopic examination to determine the type of cancer.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI of neck is performed to detect if cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
• CT scan: To detect if cancer has spread to other parts like lymph nodes or lungs.
• Positron emission tomography (PET): To assess the severity and spread of cancer.
• Barium swallow: To detect irregularities in the larynx, mouth and neck.