Understanding Head and Neck Cancer

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

Head and neck cancer is a catch-all expression that contains cancers of the lips, mouth, voice box, throat and salivary glands. When caught early, these cancers have a extremely excellent prognosis, with five-year survival charges of 70% to 90% with therapy. Sadly, most circumstances are not diagnosed right until they’ve attained a afterwards stage, generating cure significantly fewer productive.

You may perhaps ponder, if procedure works so very well for early-stage head and neck cancer, why are not extra persons identified ahead of their most cancers advancements?

HealthyWomen’s new education program explores what’s stopping persons from receiving treatment quicker. We know racial and socioeconomic disparities can be a barrier. We also know that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in people today skipping preventive care and regimen screenings. What is more, head and neck most cancers brought about by HPV may carry stigmas that make men and women fewer possible to deliver up signs with their health care companies.

And, simply because head and neck cancer involves quite a few forms of cancer, signs of these cancers are several and assorted. Some of the most prevalent ones, these kinds of as a serious sore throat or hoarse voice, can be mistaken for a sign of some thing else, like a chilly.

As Lisa Reed told HealthyWomen, “I understood there was something additional to the lump I felt in my throat. But it nevertheless took 2 1/2 months in 2007 and many visits to an ear, nose and throat professional (ENT) to persuade her to glimpse more difficult and deeper at my signs. At some point, the ENT did an endoscopy and found a finger-like growth in the back again of my throat. Immediately after a biopsy the up coming morning, I listened to the dreaded information: It was most cancers.”

Though getting a head and neck most cancers prognosis is too much to handle, what you or a liked one does following is vital. Dr. Eleni Rettig, a head and neck surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Healthcare facility and Dana-Farber Most cancers Institute at Harvard Health-related School, shares the concerns you ought to inquire your healthcare provider. We also help you recognize your possibility variables and the distinctive kinds of head and neck cancers — and we provide assistance on signs or symptoms, early screenings and remedy selections.

For Susan Decker McLaughlin, it started with a swollen lymph node, a tiny painless bump on the remaining aspect less than her jawbone and again molars. Immediately after obtaining her prognosis, she discussed, “I was frightened and stunned: I would in no way heard of salivary most cancers just before, and there was no recognised cause.”

Susan additional, “This journey has taught me that I are unable to be afraid to discuss up when something isn’t going to experience proper. Health professionals could possibly know additional about professional medical problems, but they do not know your system much better than you do. If you are not feeling well, believe in your self — and then fight as difficult as you can to get the care you are entitled to.”

My best hope is that you acquire this vital advice, and like Susan, become your possess very best advocate.

In good overall health,
Beth Battaglino

This resource was made with support from Merck.