Head and Neck Cancer Screening

Head and neck cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer, accounting for just 4% of cancers in the United States each year. While head and neck cancer can occur in younger people, most people diagnosed with head and neck cancer are over 50. Screening for head and neck cancer can help your doctor identify symptoms early, increasing the possibility of effective treatment.

Here’s what you need to know about head and neck cancer screening:

What is head and neck cancer? Head and neck cancer is a general term that can include a wide range of cancerous tumors that occur in the region of the head and neck, including the nasal passages, mouth, throat, salivary glands, and thyroid gland. Another type of head and neck cancer, called head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), is much less common. HNSCC has been connected to the human papilloma virus (HRV), which is present in 25% of HNSCC cases.

What are the risk factors for head and neck cancer? The two major risk factors for head and neck cancer are smoking and heavy drinking. There are some inherited conditions that increase the risk of developing head and neck cancers, but those are much less common. If you have had a previous occurrence of HNSCC, you have a 10% higher risk of developing a second incidence of cancer of the head and neck.

What does head and neck cancer screening involve? A screening for head and neck cancer includes an examination of the neck, oropharynx (the middle section of the throat, which includes the soft palate, base of the tongue, and tonsils), the mouth, and the nose. The screener will feel for lumps in the neck and look inside the mouth, nose and throat.

When should I be screened for head and neck cancer? Most dentists do a screening for head and neck cancer as part of a routine examination. It’s a good idea to have an annual screening for head and neck cancer conducted by both your dentist and your primary care physician. Your primary care physician should examine the head and neck region, and your dentist should do an external check of your neck and do a more thorough examination of the inside of your mouth. If you have a history of head and neck cancer, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) suggest more frequent screenings: every one to three months in the first year after cure, every two to four months in the second year, every four to six months in years three to five, and every six to 12 months after year five.