Overview of head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer is a disease that is identified in the area from the head to the neck. Any part in this area showing signs of cancer is considered head and neck cancer. Here are some shared information about head and neck cancer that you can refer to.

The anatomical head and neck area includes the following parts:
Oral cavity Oropharynx Nasopharyngeal hypopharynx Vocal cord Sinus Ear Tube Neck In anatomy, the brain is not mentioned in head and neck cancer. It can be understood that the ear, nose, throat and neck are the main parts of the head and neck region. Head and neck cancer is determined when one or more of the above-mentioned head and neck parts are identified as having cancer.

According to many assessments, it can be seen that the lifestyle of each country affects the risk of head and neck cancer syndrome. Men are at higher risk, but the specific cause is still unknown.
Some factors that increase the risk of head and neck cancer should be avoided such as:
Tobacco Alcoholic beverages HPV virus Ultraviolet rays Weakening of the immune system Genetic cancer Alcoholic beverages and tobacco are the main causes. cause a higher number of cases in men than in women. Meanwhile, the HPV virus is an enemy to the female reproductive organs. In addition to these three factors, the remaining factors are influenced by age, environment and health of each person. You can base on the cause of head and neck cancer to make decisions in life to help improve quality and prevent and reduce the risk of early head and neck cancer.

3.1 Preventing and protecting the body against the risk of head and neck cancer The first causes of the risk of head and neck cancer are influenced by unhealthy living habits. You need to note the following points to prevent head and neck cancer:
Minimize the use of alcohol and stimulants Practice safe sex to avoid HPV infection Protection the body is safe from the sun with uV rays Protect the body from harmful agents such as fine dust, asbestos.. Oral hygiene according to the dentist's instructions For women, HPV infection affects reproductive health. . Therefore, it is necessary to have regular gynecological examinations along with HPV vaccination to protect health from the attack of this virus.
3.2 Conduct a head and neck health screening test So far, the screening test for head and neck cancer has not been fully developed. You can regularly check your health at the hospital for advice and support. At the same time, you should pay attention to the unusual appearance of ulcers or lumps for early diagnosis.

4.1 Early signs of head and neck cancer The signs of head and neck cancer appear on each organ is different. But most patients will have other colds and difficulty swallowing leading to malnutrition. Accompanied by ulcers, tumors appear will cause pain, loss of voice or changes in any part of the area.
Mostly aching sensation can detect white area sores. Particularly for the nose and sinuses, it can cause jaw pain, nosebleeds, reduced breathing capacity and tinnitus. These signs, if not noticed, will inadvertently push you to a more dangerous stage.
4.2 Distinguishing head and neck cancer The early stages of cancer are quite subtle, so you should not be subjective with any pain in the head and neck area. When there are symptoms of discomfort, conduct a physical examination so that the endoscopist can detect an abnormal tumor or lymph node.
About 95% of head and neck tumors appear in the form of squamous cell tissue, others are follicular tissue, cell carcinoma. Malignant tumors can be lymphomas, salivary gland tumors due to the influence of their breeding environment. Resonance imaging and tomography will be the basis for assessing the extent and stage of tumors for the treatment of head and neck cancer.
Head and neck cancer can be detected when the main tumor is identified, the cancer appears in the lymph nodes. The most severe is metastatic cancer. Each different stage will be diagnosed by grade with the symbol T N M. The order of the symbols is ordered by increasing severity of the cancer.

Head and neck cancer is a disease requiring general intervention. For example, maxillofacial teeth and ears, nose and throat. In addition, issues such as nutrition and aesthetics... also need to be involved in treatment. To determine the treatment direction, the doctor needs to evaluate in detail what stage the cancer is in. The first two stages can use chemotherapy and radiation with more intensity, which will require more complex methods.
5.1 Carrying out surgical treatment Surgery is an invasive intervention method that requires the patient's health to be tolerated for a long time. With a weakened body's immune system, it will affect the speed of wound healing. Some subjects have underlying diseases related to the heart, lungs or cannot use anesthetic drugs, it will be difficult for surgery.
Surgery is not always the best way. Tumor morphology and characteristics have a great influence on this decision of doctors. Surgical options are feasible when the tumor is benign or of moderate size. After that, the patient's recovery and aesthetics are important factors.
5.2 Performing radiation therapy Radiation therapy is a method of using X-rays to disinfect. This method needs to ensure that the doctor understands the cause and correctly assesses the cause of the disease. During radiation therapy, the protons that are released are all limited to a wavelength that does not affect other healthy organs.
5.3 Chemotherapy Chemotherapy used to treat cancer has been around for a long time. However, to perform this method, you need to specifically assess the condition and cause of head and neck cancer. Some treatment options can combine chemotherapy and radiation at the same time to improve effectiveness.

Patients with signs of head and neck cancer who are treated early will have a higher chance of being cured when determining head and neck cancer. Regardless of the level, after undergoing treatment, you should pay attention to a nutritious diet and healthy living so that the body can recover quickly and have an immune system to prevent the re-attack of the cancer.
Patients who have difficulty swallowing, sore throat, loss of taste... will interfere with eating. You can seek medical help for help and reduce your risk of danger.
Above is some information about treatment and signs of head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer is a life-threatening disease. You should follow the abnormal signs of the body and have regular health check-ups to detect the risk early. Treating cancer early can stop or reduce the spread of the tumor.
The Department of Oncology - Radiation Therapy of Vinmec International General Hospital is focused on carefully investing in expertise and equipment, bringing satisfaction to patients.
Top doctors in the country and abroad: the doctors are all highly qualified, experienced, conscientious and knowledgeable, having worked in major hospitals of Vietnam, Korea, Russia, are trained. specialized training in the country and abroad to bring the most effective and new treatment regimens to patients. Intensive technique, effective treatment of difficult cases: is the first and only hospital in Vietnam to successfully deploy robotic surgery. CT scan accurately detects cancer even when there are no symptoms. Applying advanced gene technologies to early detect the risk of 16 most common cancers. Deploying autologous immunotherapy and thermotherapy in combination with cancer treatment to effectively prevent recurrence. Continuously working for the community: always accompanies the community in free screening programs for common cancers: Breast, cervical, colorectal, etc. Thousands of patients cannot be screened for cancer, join hands with the community to fight back the dreaded cancer.