Head and Neck Cancer

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center knows that you need a comprehensive and highly trained team of specialists to offer innovative head and neck cancer care. Our team of head and neck cancer specialists — including oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, dental specialists, speech pathologists and dermatologists — work together each day to treat patients like you. With a wide range of expertise, we don't just rely on existing treatments. Our head and neck cancer doctors continually search for new and improved ways to meet your needs.

What is head and neck cancer? | Symptoms | Treatment | Care Locations | Causes & Risk Factors | Prevention | Statistics | Common Questions | Latest News

What is head and neck cancer?

Head and neck cancer makes up around 4% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States. There are many cancers related to the head and neck. Typically, head and neck cancers are named after the part of the body they affect. These include:

• Throat cancer: This includes hypopharyngeal (lower throat) cancer, oropharyngeal (middle of the throat) cancer, and nasopharyngeal (upper throat) cancer.
• Laryngeal cancer: A cancer of the larynx, also known as the voice box.
• Oral cavity cancer: This includes cancers that begin in the mouth, lips, tongue, gums and cheeks. 
• Sinonasal cancer: This includes cancers in the nasal cavity or sinuses.
• Salivary gland cancer: A cancer starting in the glands responsible for creating saliva, including parotid glands, submandibular glands, sublingual glands and the minor salivary glands.
• Thyroid cancer and benign thyroid tumors: Growths in the thyroid, an endocrine system gland, may be nodules, benign tumors or cancer. 
• Parapharyngeal space tumors: Rare tumors that develop in the area beside the throat, known as the parapharyngeal space. These tumors are usually benign but could be cancerous.
• Parathyroid tumors: These tumors are rarely cancerous but can interfere with calcium levels in the blood, leading to fatigue, bone pain, kidney stones and gastrointestinal problems. 
• Advanced skin cancer: Skin cancers are usually managed by a dermatologist or dermatologist surgeon. However, if they spread extensively, especially if they begin to affect nearby structures or lymph nodes, then the head and neck cancer team will provide its expertise in managing these conditions. 

Have more questions about head and neck cancer? Check out our answers to common questions.

Head and neck cancer symptoms

Some of the most common cancers of the head and neck start off in cells called squamous cells. These cells line the mucous membranes on the inside surfaces of your mouth, nose, and throat. If you have neck cancer or head cancer, you may experience any of these related symptoms:

Head and neck cancer treatment

With early detection and proper treatment, head and neck cancers are curable. Hollings offers you state-of-the-art treatment close to home. Using the latest advancements, our head and neck cancer specialists at the MUSC Health Wendy and Keith Wellin Head and Neck Clinic will come up with a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan for you.

Head and neck cancer treatment involves a wide range of doctors and specialists to achieve the best outcomes. Your treatment may include some of the following options:

Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer

• State-of-the-art radiation therapy, including the TrueBeam STx, TomoTherapy^®Hi-Art^® Treatment System and Leksell Gamma Knife^® Perfexions™.
• Brachytherapy to implant radioactive seeds at the tumor site to provide targeted radiation.

Minimally invasive surgery for head and neck cancer

• Transoral robotic surgery of the mouth, throat and voice box.
• Minimally invasive surgery for tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid, mouth, throat and base of the skull.

Systemic therapy for head and neck cancer

• Tailored radiation sensitizing chemotherapy to help increase treatment success.
• Immunotherapy to harness your body's own immune system to control advanced head and neck cancers.

Support team members

Our head and neck cancer nurse navigator, Savannah A. Zimmerman, MA, BSN, RN, CCTC, will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have. Our team also includes a nutrition expert, Mary Jo Turner, RD, and a speech-language pathologist, Julie Blair, MA, CCC-SLP, to support you as needed.

Head and Neck Cancer Research

Our Head and Neck Cancer Program has a robust research portfolio with over $4 million annually in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research support. There are 7 NIH-funded basic science, translational, and clinical researchers focused on head and neck cancer. These researchers are studying new targets and therapies to decrease morbidity and mortality from head and neck cancer, identifying molecular signatures to help predict which patients will respond to therapy, developing new care delivery methods to improve quality, equity, and access to timely head and neck cancer care, and advancing our ability to rehabilitate head and neck cancer survivors and support their caregivers.

Recent projects include:

• Evaluating a brief tele-cognitive behavioral therapy for body-image distress, a common issue that crops up for many head and neck cancer survivors.
• Measuring circulating tumor DNA in cancer patients with an "extraordinary" response to immunotherapy in order to help better define treatment timelines.
• Identifying and trying to solve treatment delays and barriers for head and neck cancer patients.

In addition, Hollings’ dedicated Head & Neck Transdisciplinary Cancer Team brings together expertise from different disciplines in basic and clinical research for monthly meetings to collaborate on ongoing head and neck cancer research.

Head and neck cancer causes & risk factors

While the cause of all head and neck cancers isn’t yet known, some risk factors are known. These will vary by the type of cancer:

• Tobacco use: Smoking, or chewing, tobacco is one of the leading risk factors for developing head and neck cancers. If you smoke or chew tobacco, you are at a much higher risk than those who don’t. Smoking is one of the leading causes of throat cancer. Visit our smoking cessation page to learn more about how we can help you quit.
• Alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing head and neck cancers.
• Gender: Men are much more likely to develop head and neck cancer. This may be attributed to men being more likely to smoke or chew tobacco.
• HPV: The number of head and neck cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been on the rise in the last few decades.
• Age: Most head and neck cancers occur in people over 55, except cancers related to HPV.
• Diet: There is some evidence linking head and neck cancers to diets relatively low in fruits and vegetables.
• Genetics: Certain genetic syndromes (fanconi anemia, dyskeratosis congentia, multiple endocrine neoplasia type I, hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome) lead to a much higher risk of developing a head and neck cancer.
• Workplace exposure: Sinonasal cancers may be linked to breathing in certain substances, such as wood dust, leather dust, flour dust, nickel dust or chromium dust. 

Head and neck cancer prevention

To lower your risk of developing head and neck cancer:

• Stop, or never start, using any form of tobacco product. If you need help quitting, Hollings offers smoking cessation services.
• Limit your alcohol consumption.
• Protect your children by ensuring they get the HPV vaccine, and talk to your doctor about whether it makes sense for you to get the vaccine. The HPV vaccine works best when given at a young age before exposure to HPV.
• Get screened. Make sure your dentist or primary care doctor perform routine checks for anything out of the ordinary. If you need further evaluation, our team of specialists has various ways to screen for head and neck cancer, including a comprehensive exam and innovative digitally recorded endoscopic video imaging.

Head and neck cancer statistics

According to the American Cancer Society, here are some of the most notable statistics regarding head and neck cancer:

• Men have a 1 in 60 chance of being diagnosed with a head and neck cancer in their lifetime.
• Women have a 1 in 141 chance of being diagnosed with a head and neck cancer in their lifetime.
• The average age of people diagnosed with head and neck cancer is 64, with only 1 in 5 cases occurring in people younger than 55.

Common questions about head and neck cancer

Have you or a loved one received a head and neck cancer diagnosis? You probably have many questions. There’s a lot of information to take in after a cancer diagnosis. Your doctor can answer questions specific to your care, but we have compiled a list of some of the most common questions for your reference below.

Latest head and neck cancer news