4-13-10

Head and Neck Cancer

Approximately 35,000 Americans are diagnosed with cancer of the head and neck area each year.  And many of these cancers are related to tobacco and alcohol  use.

Oral, head and neck cancer is one of the most common, yet preventable cancers.  It includes a variety of cancers in the head and neck area.  Dr. James Malone, associate professor of otolaryngology at SIU School of Medicine and a member of the Simmons Cancer Institute in Springfield, suggests some warning signs to watch for.

SOUND BITE:   “Initial warning signs may be very subtle.  They can include symptoms like a prolonged sore throat.  Changes in your voice or hoarseness lasting for more than 2 to 3 weeks, a lump in the neck or even ear pain that tends to last for more than a couple of weeks.  More advanced types of symptoms or signs would include difficulty breathing, coughing up of blood.”

Dr. Malone says two major risk factors for head and neck cancers are tobacco and alcohol use.  And, when used together, the two substances have a synergistic effect and can greatly increase a person’s chances of getting these cancers.  Family history and previous radiation treatments to the head and neck area are also risk factors for the disease.  Malone urges individuals who are at risk to be screened and describes the screening process.

SOUND BITE:  “A head and neck screening is a fairly simple examination.  It involves a five-minute examination roughly of the ears, the nose and the throat.  This would be visualizing those areas and then palpating or feeling the neck, the salvary glands to see if there are any abnormalities.” 

Several locations in Illinois offer free head and neck cancer screenings each spring.  Check with your primary care physician to find a location near you or ask for a head and neck exam during your next office visit.  You also can check online at www.headandneck.org.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.