Understanding Head and Neck Cancer

From the desk of Beth Battaglino, RN, CEO, HealthyWomen

Head and neck most cancers is a capture-all term that includes cancers of the lips, mouth, voice box, throat and salivary glands. When caught early, these cancers have a incredibly very good prognosis, with 5-yr survival rates of 70% to 90% with therapy. Sadly, most circumstances aren’t identified until they have attained a later on stage, producing remedy much fewer effective.

You may perhaps marvel, if cure will work so properly for early-stage head and neck most cancers, why aren’t additional persons identified prior to their cancer advances?

HealthyWomen’s new education program explores what is stopping persons from receiving care faster. We know racial and socioeconomic disparities can be a barrier. We also know that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in folks skipping preventive care and schedule screenings. What is actually far more, head and neck cancer brought about by HPV may carry stigmas that make men and women much less likely to carry up indications with their health care providers.

And, since head and neck cancer features various sorts of cancer, indications of these cancers are several and varied. Some of the most typical ones, these kinds of as a persistent sore throat or hoarse voice, can be mistaken for a sign of a little something else, like a cold.

As Lisa Reed explained to HealthyWomen, “I understood there was some thing additional to the lump I felt in my throat. But it continue to took 2 1/2 months in 2007 and various visits to an ear, nose and throat expert (ENT) to persuade her to search tougher and further at my signs and symptoms. Inevitably, the ENT did an endoscopy and observed a finger-like advancement in the back again of my throat. Following a biopsy the following early morning, I read the dreaded information: It was most cancers.”

Though getting a head and neck most cancers diagnosis is too much to handle, what you or a loved a person does upcoming is significant. Dr. Eleni Rettig, a head and neck surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Clinic and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Healthcare School, shares the concerns you must question your health care provider. We also assistance you have an understanding of your chance things and the distinct styles of head and neck cancers — and we provide guidance on signs, early screenings and remedy solutions.

For Susan Decker McLaughlin, it started out with a swollen lymph node, a tiny pain-free bump on the left aspect under her jawbone and again molars. Following receiving her diagnosis, she discussed, “I was terrified and shocked: I’d never read of salivary most cancers ahead of, and there was no acknowledged result in.”

Susan additional, “This journey has taught me that I can’t be scared to communicate up when something would not experience appropriate. Health professionals might know a lot more about medical disorders, but they don’t know your physique better than you do. If you’re not feeling effectively, belief on your own — and then battle as tricky as you can to get the treatment you should have.”

My finest hope is that you acquire this critical advice, and like Susan, turn into your have best advocate.

In excellent well being,
Beth Battaglino

This source was made with support from Merck.