People with neck cancer have a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe. And such symptoms usually start in or near the mouth, nose, throat, or voice box.
Here’s what to look for if you think you might have neck cancer.
Common Symptoms
People with the following symptoms may have neck cancer:
Neck pain. Continuing and persistent neck pain can be a warning sign of neck cancer. If you notice unusual symptoms, visit a head and neck specialist for an oral cancer screening. The specialist will assess your medical history and run diagnostic tests to properly examine your symptoms.
Difficulty swallowing. Neck cancer can cause pain when swallowing food. This is because the tumor in the neck interferes with the ability of the lips, throat muscles, or tongue to move the food inside the mouth and pass it to the esophagus. Chewing and swallowing solid foods and those with grainy textures may be harder for you.
Unexplained weight loss. As neck cancer makes it difficult to swallow food, it can limit your diet and eventually result in weight loss. It’s recommended to speak with a head and neck doctor if you notice any significant weight loss, rectal bleeding, dizziness, and vomiting blood.
A lump in the neck, jaw, or mouth. While most neck lumps are benign, the chance that it becomes cancerous increases for people age 50 and above. This is often impacted by lifestyle choices, such as drinking and smoking. People with neck lumps that are caused by cancer may notice skin changes around the neck. If detected early, neck cancer can be cured with few side effects.
White or red patches in the mouth or throat
Other common symptoms include difficulty moving the jaw, ear pain, trouble breathing, sore throat, frequent nosebleeds, nasal obstruction, frequent coughing, headache, and white or red patches in the mouth or throat.
Risk Factors
Several factors may increase your risk of neck cancer. Some of these can be controlled while others can’t be, like family history.
Risk factors for neck cancer include:
Tobacco. Your risk of neck cancer increases with the number of years you have smoked. This is a risk factor you can control; hence, quitting as soon as possible can significantly reduce the risk of developing neck cancer.
Alcohol. Another major risk factor for neck cancer is excessive drinking. The more alcohol you drink, the higher your neck cancer risk is. And just like tobacco, this is something you can control. If you need to drink, do it moderately.
Age. Neck cancer is more common in people age 50 years and above.
Other risk factors include prolonged sun exposure, gender, family history of neck cancer, poor oral and dental hygiene, poor nutrition, weakened immune system, and radiation therapy.
Neck Cancer Treatment
Your head and neck doctor may choose a neck cancer treatment plan based on several factors, such as your age, overall health, and preferences.
Possible treatment options for neck cancer include immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.