Head and neck cancers are those that grow in and around the throat, larynx, nose, sinuses and mouth. The majority of these cancers are squamous cell carcinomas that form in the cells lining the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck. They often spread to the lymph nodes, but are highly curable if discovered early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Head and neck cancers are classified according to the area in the body where they form. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Larynx. Also known as the voicebox, this is a tube-shaped organ in the neck containing the vocal cords. It helps us speak, swallow, and breathe.<\/li>
Oral cavity. This includes the lips, tongue, gums, and mouth.<\/li>
Salivary glands. These glands produce saliva to keep food moist and help break it down.<\/li>
Pharynx. This hollow tube begins behind the nose and leads to the esophagus and trachea.<\/li>
Nasal cavity. These are the hollow spaces in the bones around the nose, where air passes on the way to the throat.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Other cancers can form in this part of the body (brain tumors, esophageal cancer, thyroid cancer, etc.) but these behave very differently and are not classified as heck and neck cancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n