5 Misconceptions About Head and Neck Cancer – Debunked 

Head and neck cancers make up 4% of all cancers in the US, impacting tens of thousands of people each year. They’re especially prevalent in Louisiana, where people are more likely to use tobacco or be diagnosed with HIV – both major risk factors of this kind of cancer. 

Despite how devastating head and neck cancer can be, it’s widely misunderstood. From what head and neck cancer is to what causes it to what kinds of treatments are available, misconceptions are common. 

LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center’s Dr. Vilija Vaitaitis, Assistant Professor of Microvascular Reconstruction, wants people in Louisiana and around the country to be informed about head and neck cancer, including how to screen for it and what happens if you’re diagnosed. Here are 5 misconceptions about head and neck cancer – and the truths behind them. 

Myth 1: Head and Neck Cancer Is One Kind of Cancer

While many people refer to head and neck cancer as one concept, the term refers to a group of cancers that can form in the: 

• Throat (or pharynx), which is a hollow tube that begins behind the nose and runs to the esophagus  
• Voice box (or larynx), which is a passage made of cartilage below the pharynx in the neck and is home to the vocal cords 
• Oral cavity, including the lips, front of the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, top of the mouth, under the tongue, and right behind the wisdom teeth 
• Salivary glands, which are in the floor of the mouth close to the jawbone 
• Nasal cavity, which is the hollow space within the nose 
• Paranasal sinuses, which are the hollow spaces within the bones of the head around the nose 

While the brain, eye, thyroid, esophagus, and skin of the head and neck are a part of the head and neck area, cancers in these areas aren’t typically considered head and neck cancer. 

Myth 2: Smoking and Drinking Are the Only Causes of Head and Neck Cancer

“Historically, head and neck cancer was really seen in our smoking and drinking population,” explains Dr. Vaitaitis. "It is still highly prevalent in that, but now we're seeing a lot of younger patients – both male and female – with cancer related to the HPV virus, or the human papilloma virus.” 

HPV is a risk factor for cancers involving the base of the tongue or tonsils (oropharyngeal cancer). In the US, the rate of oropharyngeal cancers caused by HPV is on the rise, and about three-quarters of them are caused by chronic HPV infection. 

While alcohol use, tobacco use, and HPV infection are major risk factors for head and neck cancer, there are others, including: 

• Exposure to radiation 
• Occupational hazards, like wood dust, asbestos, and synthetic fibers, which are particularly relevant to jobs in construction, logging, metal, textile, ceramic, and food industries 
• Epstein-Barr virus infection 
• Ancestry, especially Asian ancestry  
• Use of paan (betel quid), which is common in Southeast Asia 
• Genetic disorders, such as Fanconi anemia 

Myth 3: There Are No Screening Options for Head and Neck Cancer

While it’s true that there aren’t routine screening exams for head and neck cancer like there are for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other cancers, there are still ways to detect head and neck cancer early when it’s easier to treat. 

The first step is keeping up with healthcare appointments, including with your dentist and primary care provider. “Typically, when people end up noticing something, it's a dentist or primary care physician seeing an irregular mass on the tongue or on the tonsil,” says Dr. Vaitaitis. 

It’s also important to remain aware of your body, including keeping an eye out for changes. “Anytime somebody has a persistent sore throat or a neck mass or lump that hasn’t gotten better after about two weeks, that’s definitely something worth getting looked at,” she explains. 

Other signs of head and neck cancer depend on the site of the cancer, including:  

• In the mouth: Unexplained bleeding or pain; swelling of the jaw; a lump; or red or white patches on the tongue, gums, or lining of the mouth 
• At the back of the mouth: Pain while swallowing; pain in the throat or neck that doesn’t subside; pain or ringing in the ears; or trouble chewing, swallowing, breathing, speaking, or hearing  
• In the voice box: Trouble breathing or speaking, pain when swallowing, or pain in the ears 
• In the nasal cavity and sinuses: Blocked sinuses that won’t clear, chronic sinus infections that aren’t responsive to antibiotics, nose bleeds, frequent headaches, pain in the upper teeth, swelling in the eyes, or problems with dentures 
• In the salivary glands: Swelling near the jawbone or under the chin; paralysis or numbness in facial muscles; or pain in the neck, face, or chin that doesn’t subside 

Myth 4: Everyone's Chances of Developing Head and Neck Cancer Are the Same

As with many kinds of cancer, certain people have a higher risk of developing head and neck cancer. For instance, men are more likely to develop head and neck cancer, and everyone’s risk increases over the age of 50. 

In Louisiana, rates of head and neck cancer are particularly high. “Here in the South, and especially Louisiana, we have a really high rate of smoking and drinking, which are two high risk factors for head and neck cancer,” says Dr. Vaitaitis. 

Lack of access to healthcare is another major risk factor. As Dr. Vaitaitis explains, “Unfortunately, we still have barriers to care or access to care for a lot of our community.” This can be a result of not having health insurance, difficulty taking time off work, trouble traveling to healthcare facilities, limited healthcare facilities nearby, and language-related barriers. 

There are also racial and ethnic differences in the incidence and survival rates. “When racial and ethnic minorities have head and neck cancer, they do the worst. Their survival outcomes are lower compared to white people who have head and neck cancer,” she says. “Black patients with head and neck cancer have the worst overall survival.” 

Reducing everyone’s chance of developing head and neck cancer starts with limiting risk factors, like drinking and smoking, and it continues with keeping an eye on your health. 

Myth 5: My Ability to Speak, Swallow, and Breathe Will Forever Be Changed by Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

According to Dr. Vaitaitis, some people are concerned about the effects of treating head and neck cancer and avoid coming in for treatment altogether. They worry about the impact on day-to-day activities, like speaking, swallowing, and breathing. 

However, these concerns are often unwarranted. “As a head and neck cancer surgeon, my goal is always to try to get people back to whatever modalities they had the best we can. There’s a lot of progress in the way we're treating patients with different types of chemotherapies, immunotherapies, and surgeries,” Dr. Vaitaitis explains. “Anybody who is worried shouldn't be concerned about coming in. The earlier we can detect, the easier treatments are.” 

Even in late stages of head and neck cancer, treatments have come a long way. Preparation is also a crucial part of the process, including speech therapy. “We spend a lot of time having patients meet with speech therapy early on before they even get treatment, in the early part of their diagnosis, throughout their treatment process, and afterwards in recovery to keep the skillset up,” she says. 

“There are a lot of treatment options and support within each of the treatment arms,” Dr. Vaitaitis explains. “People should at least come hear us out and see what we can do for them.” 

Debunking myths and spreading awareness about head and neck cancer

Misconceptions about head and neck cancer are common. By understanding this type of cancer – including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment – we can take steps to reduce the number of cases and the impact of treatment on day-to-day life. 

As for Dr. Vaitaitis, she’ll continue supporting her patients through the entire journey. “I get the opportunity to see people that are in a state of worry and crisis, but I’m able to offer them something to get better,” she explains. 

“Then, I get the pleasure of seeing them through long-term recovery, when they're in their support groups or walking around at lunch or even when they’re generous enough to meet with some of my future patients to educate them and answer questions they might have from somebody who's been through it.”