THERE are more than 30 areas within the head and neck where cancer can develop – from the mouth and lips to the voice box and throat.
But collectively, head and neck cancer is the eighth most common type of the disease in the UK.
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There are around 13,000 new cases every year – or 35 every day – and numbers are increasing 30 per cent each decade, experts warn.
It kills more than 4,000 annually.
Symptoms of head and neck cancer can be subtle, meaning it is often diagnosed at a late stage.
But the earlier it’s caught, the better chance of successful treatment and ultimately, survival.
Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK (OHNCUK) has an easy 60-second self-check you can do to assess your risk at home.
The charity’s chief awareness officer, Michelle Vickers, said: “Checking yourself for head and neck cancers should take just 60 seconds and can save your life.
“By familiarising yourself with your body and paying attention to any changes, such as lumps, sores, or persistent symptoms like a sore throat or difficulty swallowing, you can identify potential signs of cancer at an early stage.
“Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and can save lives.
“Make self-checks a routine part of your healthcare regimen to stay proactive about your health and wellbeing.
“Regular check ups with a dentist are also helpful as they should perform a cancer symptom check as part of your oral health review.”
THE AT-HOME MIRROR TEST
Find a large mirror with good lighting, then get as close as you can to it.
“The early signs of head and neck cancer can be felt in and around the neck, throat and jaw,” the charity said.
“Check along the insides of your lips and look at your gums. Are there any lumps, bumps or red or white patches?
“Look at the back of your mouth. Stick out your tongue and move it from side to side.
“Don’t forget to look underneath your tongue too.”
Next, it’s time to assess the health of your neck by feeling under and around your jaw.
“This area can sometimes be a bit lumpy, especially if you’ve had a cold or other illness recently, so learn what’s normal for you,” OHNCUK said.
If you notice any of the following newly-developed symptoms, and you’ve had them for over three weeks, speak to your GP:
“A mouth check every month can really make a difference,” Michelle said.
“If you have any concerns or notice anything that doesn’t go away for three weeks, it is important to speak with a doctor or dentist to get checked out.
“The earlier you can catch cancer, the better your chances of successful treatment and recovery.
“If you look at other cancers as a comparison point, early detection rates for head and neck cancers are considerably lower than other cancers.
“Early-stage diagnosis for combined head and neck cancers is around 13 per cent and we want this to be at 75 per cent.
“Let’s work together to raise awareness of how to prevent these cancers and improve earlier diagnosis of disease.”
‘PREVENTION IS KEY’
Recognising these symptoms is vital. But prevention is also key, and making several lifestyle changes can decrease your chance of developing cancer, the charity added.
This includes:
- Quitting tobacco use (smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, and using snuff)
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Monitoring and taking care of your oral health
- Getting the HPV vaccine
According to Cancer Research UK, up to 64 per cent of head and neck cancer cases are linked to exposure to tobacco smoke.
Between 22 and 38 per cent are linked to alcohol consumption, and as many as 80 per cent are connected to HPV infection.
Head and neck cancer in numbers
- There are around 13,000 new cases every year – or 35 every day
- It kills more than 4,000 annually
- It is the eighth most common cancer in the UK
- It is the fourth most common cancer in men in the UK
- It is the fifth most common cancer in women in the UK
- Incidence rates in the UK are highest in people aged 65 to 69
- Between 19 and 59 per cent of patients survive head and neck cancer for 10 years or more
- Between 46 and 88 per cent of cases are preventable
- Since the early 1990s, incidence rates have increased by 35 per cent in the UK
- There could be around 16,300 new cases every year in the UK by 2038 to 2040, projections suggest
- Nearly one in 96 UK women and one in 43 UK men will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer in their lifetime
Source: Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK and Cancer Research UK
