At Central Maine Healthcare, we’re committed to bringing the most effective treatments for this cancer to our communities in central Maine.
About Head and Neck Cancer
Each year, about 110,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with head and neck cancer, a group of cancers that starts in or near your mouth, throat, larynx, nose or sinuses. Most begin in the cells that line the surfaces of these areas. Head and neck cancer may also be called oral cavity cancer or oropharyngeal cancer.
There are five main types of the disease, collectively called head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and named for the area they affect:
- Oral cavity: Lips, gums, inside lining of the cheeks and other areas inside of your mouth
- Pharynx (throat): Includes your tonsils, back of your tongue and your soft palate
- Larynx (voice box): Holds your vocal cords and your epiglottis, a flap of cartilage at the base of the tongue
- Nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: Hollow area inside your nose and small spaces in the bones of your head around your nose
- Salivary glands: In the lower part of your mouth near your jawbone
Each of these types has its own set of cancer symptoms. Though head and neck cancers can affect anyone, major risk factors include heavy tobacco and alcohol use, as well as the human papillomavirus (HPV), a type of sexually transmitted disease.
Prevention
Cancer can’t be prevented in all cases, but your risk of cancer can be reduced if you have a healthy lifestyle. Nearly 85 percent of all head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use, so don’t start smoking. If you already smoke, quit. Learn how by calling the Maine Tobacco Helpline at 1-800-207-1230.
Other things that increase your risk include:
- Exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease
- Drinking alcohol
- Exposure to sun without protection increases risk of lip cancer
- A diet that’s high in processed meat and low in fruit and vegetables
- Not treating pre-cancerous growths like leukoplakia or erythroplakia
Detection
The key to treating—and beating—cancer is to catch it early. But like many cancers, cancer of the head and neck may not produce signs or symptoms until it’s already grown and spread to other tissues, making it harder to treat. That’s why some providers recommend that you examine the inside of your mouth in a mirror once a month. If you notice any white patches, sores, or lumps, see your provider. This kind of self-exam is especially important if you smoke – or used to smoke – and routinely drink alcohol.
Screening and Diagnosis
If you’re concerned you may have head and neck cancer, you want answers quickly. At Central Maine Healthcare, we understand not knowing can be the most difficult experience. That’s why we’re focused on providing the expert medical attention you need to get a diagnosis as quickly and accurately as possible.
Screening for Head and Neck Cancer
A screening test is developed to help your provider see if you have cancer before you have any symptoms. Early detection is an important part of treatment and recovery. Unfortunately, for head and neck cancer, there is no routine screening test. The good news is that many pre-cancers and cancers in these areas can be found early (when they’re small) during routine exams by a provider, dentist, dental hygienist, or by self-exam.
Especially if you smoke and regularly consume alcohol, you should do a self-exam once per month to check for any changes inside your mouth. If you notice any lumps, white patches, or sores, see your provider.
At your regular dental check- up, your dentist may use special dyes and/or lights to look for abnormal areas, especially if you are at higher risk for head and neck cancer. If anything looks abnormal, another test will help your dentist decide if these areas might be cancer. They may take a biopsy, which is the process of removing a small bit of the suspicious tissue for further testing.
It’s very important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer, especially if you are at higher risk for the disease:
- Swelling or a sore that does not heal
- Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away
- A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
- Lump, bump, or mass in the head or neck area, with or without pain
- Bad breath that’s not explained by hygiene
- Hoarseness or change in voice
- Pain or difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the jaw or tongue
- A lump or thickening in the cheek
- Jaw pain
- Weight loss
Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer
During your check-up, your provider will look inside your mouth, nose and throat, and check for lumps in your neck. That’s especially important if you use tobacco or have in the past, or drink regularly.
If your provider finds anything suspicious, you may need additional tests. Common options include:
- Biopsy: A small piece of tissue is removed and checked for cancer cells.
- Panendoscopy: A complete exam done in the operating room under anesthesia. The surgeon looks inside your nose, mouth and throat through thin tubes called scopes and may perform biopsies of abnormal tissue.
- CT scan: A special kind of X-ray that takes detailed pictures to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, lungs or other organs.
- MRI scan: MRIs use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays to take detailed pictures. MRIs can be used to learn more about the size of the cancer and look for other tumors.
- Barium swallow: X-rays are taken while you swallow a liquid with barium in it. Barium coats the inside surface of the throat and helps get a good picture to see how you swallow.
- Chest X-rays: Used to see if the cancer has spread to the lungs.
- PET scan: You are given a special type of sugar that can be seen inside your body with a special camera. If there is cancer, this sugar shows up as “hot spots” where the cancer is found.
If cancer is detected, know that you have Central Maine Healthcare’s most experienced care team in your corner. These specialists will discuss all cancer treatment options with you and create a personalized plan. And you’ll have your own nurse navigator to guide and support you throughout the journey.
Treatment
If you’ve been diagnosed with head and neck cancer, we know how overwhelming that can be. That’s why at Central Maine Healthcare, we combine compassionate care with the most advanced technology available to help you fight cancer with confidence.
Full Range of Head and Neck Cancer Treatments
Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center (CMCCC) offers a comprehensive spectrum of cancer care for patients with cancers of the head and neck. This includes thyroid, salivary glands, nose, mouth, facial, skin and neck tumors or lesions.
Providers at our Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) or Head and Neck Otolaryngology practice specialize in state-of-the-art medical care and surgical options. Our team includes some of the region’s leading cancer specialists: medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, highly trained nurses, dietitians, social workers and more. Together they will work with you to create the best possible treatment plan.
Your Personalized Treatment Plan
Treatment of head and neck cancer depends on many factors, including the type and stage of the cancer (early or advanced), how treatment will affect the way you talk, breathe or eat, your overall health and your personal feelings about certain treatments and possible side effects.
Your personal treatment plan may include one or a combination of:
Surgery
Surgery may be used to take out the cancer and a margin of healthy tissue around it. In some cases, all or part of the tongue, throat, voice box wind pipe, or jaw bone may need to be removed. Surgery may also be used to take out lymph nodes in the neck which may harbor metastatic cancer. Our team includes a plastic surgeon who offers reconstructive and plastic surgery, following surgical procedures.
Radiation
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays (like x-rays) to shrink or kill cancer cells and help prevent recurrence of the disease. CMCCC uses the most advanced radiation technology available to treat head and neck cancer. Options include:
External beam radiation therapy (EBRT): In EBRT, beams of radiation are focused on the tumor from a machine outside the body called a linear accelerator.
Because head and neck cancers are close to other critical body structures, getting a clear view of the areas during radiation therapy is critical. CMCCC uses the groundbreaking Versa HD accelerator to plan and deliver high-dose radiation with unmatched precision. The result is faster, more effective treatments that minimize the impact on healthy, surrounding areas.
Internal radiation therapy: Also called brachytherapy, this minor outpatient procedure involves implanting tiny radioactive seeds close to the tumor. These seeds, about the size of a grain of rice, remain in place and give off radiation to the tumor site for weeks or months.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells with powerful medicines delivered in varied cycles through either an IV or a pill. It may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, to kill cancer cells that remain in the body after surgery or radiation, to treat tumors that have developed in other areas or to relieve symptoms when the cancer cannot be cured. Whenever possible, Central Maine Comprehensive Cancer Center uses newer medications that help maximize results and minimize side effects.
Immunotherapy
Recent FDA-approved drug therapies give people the ability to fight head and neck cancer using the body’s natural defense mechanism: the immune system. Immunotherapy works by making hidden cancer calls visible to the immune system, allowing white blood cells to fight and kill the cancer.