Head and neck cancer

Several factors can lead to cancer development, but the two most prominent risk factors for head and neck cancers are alcohol and tobacco use. Other risk factors include human papillomavirus (HPV), a high intake of preserved or salted foods, poor oral hygiene, prior radiation exposure and a family history of cancer.

Most of these symptoms can be caused by other, less serious health conditions. Only a head and neck cancer specialist can diagnose your symptoms and determine if you have cancer.

Symptoms of thyroid cancer include:

• Cough — Pressure from a thyroid tumor on the trachea may cause you to cough.
• Difficulty swallowing — If your thyroid expands enough to put pressure on your esophagus, you may have difficulty swallowing.
• Hoarse voice — Pressure from an enlarging thyroid on the nearby voice box may cause your voice to sound hoarse.
• Neck pain — As thyroid cancer grows, it may put pressure on nearby nerves and structures and irritate your nerves. This causes the sensation of pain to run from the area of the thyroid all the way up to your ears.
• Noisy breathing or wheezing — When the thyroid enlarges enough to press against your trachea, your breathing may sound harsh, raspy or wheezy.
• Swelling or a lump in the neck — A potentially uncomfortable lump in your lower neck may be due to a thyroid nodule.

Your physician will discuss nonsurgical and surgical treatment options, as well as recommend additional resources to help you through your cancer journey.

Nonsurgical treatment options

Nonsurgical options for cancer care can include a combination of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments may also be used before or after surgery.

Surgical treatment options

A surgical oncologist may remove all or part of an organ affected by cancer. For example, if you have thyroid cancer, you may undergo a thyroidectomy to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.

We know a cancer diagnosis affects more than your physical health, so our cancer support groups are a major part of cancer care program. If you've just learned about a cancer diagnosis, are supporting a loved one through treatment or are transitioning into survivorship, we can connect you with a local community for ongoing care.