HEAD & NECK CANCER- TYPES

Study has found that head and neck cancer in India has a distinct demographic profile, risk factors, food habits and personal and family history. They are proving to be a major public health risk and issues, which are lifestyle related, have lengthy latent periods and need dedicated infrastructure and human resources for treatment.

Statistics show that 57.5% of global head and neck cancers occur in Asia, especially in India. Head and neck cancer can cause differing degrees of structural deformities and functional handicaps, depending on the site, size, and patterns of the spread, hence compromising well-being and self-esteem. 

Over 200,000 cases of this cancer are recorded each year in India and nearly 80,000 oral cancers are diagnosed every year. Nearly two-thirds of oral cancers are located in the buccogingival sulcus, where the betel quid is kept for long periods in the oral cavity.

Types of Head & Neck Cancer

Oropharyngeal Cancer:  In this type, cancerous cells are found in tissues of the oropharynx- the middle part of the throat. This includes the soft palate/back of the mouth, the base of the tongue and the tonsils.

Hypopharyngeal Cancer:  The cancerous cells are found in the tissues of the hypopharynx, the bottom part of the throat, also known as the pharynx

Laryngeal Cancer: The cancerous cells affect the tissues of the larynx which is located just below the pharynx in the neck. 

Lip & Oral Cavity cancer: A disease in which cancerous cells are found in the tissues of the lip or mouth. The oral cavity includes the front two-thirds of the tongue, the upper and lower gums, the lining of the inside of the cheeks and lips, the floor of the mouth under the tongue, the bony top of the mouth and the small area behind the wisdom teeth.

Nasopharyngeal Cancer: The cancerous cells are found in the tissues of the nasopharynx- the upper part of the throat, which is located behind the nose. The holes in the nose through which people breathe lead into the nasopharynx.

Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer: In this, the cancerous cells occur in the tissues of the paranasal sinuses or nasal activity. Paranasal Sinuses are small, hollow spaces around the nose. 

Salivary Gland Cancer: A disease in which cancerous cells are found in the tissues of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, the fluid that is released into the mouth to keep it moist and helps dissolving food. Major clusters of salivary glands are found below the tongue, on the sides of the face just in front of the ears and under the jawbone.

Squamous Cell Neck Cancer: Squamous cells are the thin, flat cells that are found in tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of body organs and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Cancer can begin in squamous cell cancer. Doctors will try to find out where the cancer originated, the primary tumor and if the primary tumor cannot be discovered then the tumor is named metastatic cancer with unseen (occult) primary.

Soft Tissue Sarcoma: The disease in which cancerous cells are found in the soft tissue of the part of the body. The soft tissues of the body include the muscles, connective tissues (tendons), vessels that carry blood or lymph, joints and fat.

Thyroid Cancer: A disease in which cancerous cells are found in the tissues of the thyroid gland . The thyroid gland is at the base of the throat and has two lobes, one each on the right and left side. The thyroid gland produces hormones that help the body function normally. There are four main types of cancer of the thyroid, based on how the cancer cells look under a microscope: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic.

Maximum number of mouth cancers among males was seen after the age of 55 years. Around 40,000 cases of pharyngeal cancers, which accounts for 31% of global cases and nearly 29,000 cases of laryngeal cancers, which accounts for about 18% of global cases, occur in India every year.

Doctors specializing in this field can provide intricate guidance on the cases. One should always be aware and look out for symptoms which may seem like nothing at first but can turn to worse, if ignored.
Mentionable names among some of the Best Oncologists in Kolkata are:
Dr. Sanjoy Roy and Dr. Sayan Paul.