The term head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers originating from the upper aerodigestive tract, including the
lip,
oral cavity (
mouth),
nasal cavity,
paranasal sinuses,
pharynx, and
larynx. Most head and neck cancers are
squamous cell carcinomas, originating from the
mucosal lining (
epithelium) of these regions. Head and neck cancers often spread to the
lymph nodes of the
neck, and this is often the first (and sometimes only) manifestation of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Head and neck cancer is strongly associated with certain environmental and lifestyle risk factors, including
tobacco smoking,
alcohol consumption, and certain strains of the sexually transmitted
human papillomavirus. Head and neck cancer is highly curable if detected early, most often through a combination of
chemotherapy and
radiation therapy, although
surgery may also play an important role.
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Cancer that arises in the head or neck region (in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lip, mouth, salivary glands, throat, or larynx [voice box]).