April 27-May 3, 2009 is National Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week

Introduction

Approximately 92,776 new cases will be diagnosed with oral, head and neck cancers in 2009 and an estimated 14,228 will die from causes related to this disease. Early identification of oral, head and neck cancers positively impacts overall survival rates and lessens the chance of disfiguring surgeries that impact a patient's quality of life.

Sixty percent of head and neck cancer patients do not see a doctor or dentist until they are in advanced stages of the disease, where survival rates are low. If caught early (screening programs help significantly), the patient's chance of survival increases.

In an effort to increase public awareness about oral and head and neck cancer, the UPMC Cancer Centers joins other organizations nationwide to promote National Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week in April. UPMC developed these pages as a resource for learning more about oral and head and neck cancer.

Oral, and head and neck cancer risk factors

Anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor. Though the precise cause of oral and head/neck cancer is unknown, the following risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing this kind of cancer:

• Age – 50+ years old
• Gender — Men are more likely to suffer from this type of cancer than women.
• Ethnicity — The incidence is higher for Asian, particularly Chinese, ancestry for cancer of the nasopharynx.
• Sun Exposure — Lip cancer risk increases.
• Tobacco and Alcohol Use – Over 80 percent of patients are smokers or chew tobacco and consume large amounts of alcohol. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk for developing these cancers than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone.
• Environmental Exposure — Breathing particles of asbestos or occupational exposure to wood dust; and consumption of certain preservatives or salted foods may lead to cancer of the nasopharynx.
• Radiaction Exposure — Salivary gland cancer is linked to diagnostic x-rays or from radiation therapy for noncancerous conditions or cancer.

Oral and head/neck cancer facts

• Symptoms that are common to several head and neck cancer sites include a lump or sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice.
• Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use.
• Cancer of the mouth (oral cancer) includes cancers on the lips, gums, tongue, salivary glands and the roof or floor of the mouth.
• The larynx, also called the voicebox, may be suspect if there is pain when swallowing, or ear pain. It is best to check with a doctor or dentist about any of these symptoms, as it may be from something less serious.

Sources: American Cancer Society; National Cancer Institute

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