Head and Neck Cancer

What is head and neck cancer?

This broad category includes cancers of the mouth and tongue, the throat, the larynx (voice box), sinuses, and salivary glands. Two common risk factors for all of these, though, are smoking and alcohol use.

You also face a higher risk if you have poor oral hygiene, worked with certain industrial materials, or have ever had the HPV virus. Be on the lookout for white or red patches in your mouth, sore throats that won’t heal, or difficulty swallowing. If you are experiencing any symptoms talk to your doctor.

What are the symptoms of head and neck cancer?

Head and neck cancer can be difficult to diagnose since symptoms typically are mild and can be confused for a cold or sore throat. Early detection is key to stopping cancer before it develops. Symptoms of head and neck cancer include:

Trouble swallowing, breathing or speaking
Mouth or tongue sore that does not heal
The white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining in the mouth
Swelling in the jaw, neck, or side of the face
Sinus infection that does not go away with antibiotics
Lump in neck or throat area
Pain in the ears or neck

Head and Neck Cancer Resources: Feeding Tube Care

For many patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer, a feeding tube becomes an essential tool for maintaining proper nutrition and hydration. Below are videos from our registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Taylor Lawless, who is also certified in oncology nutrition (CSO, LDN), walks you through the basics of using a feeding tube, caring for, and troubleshooting your feeding tube.

What is a Feeding Tube?

If you’re new to feeding tubes, this video explains what a feeding tube is and how it can support your nutrition and hydration needs, especially during your cancer journey.

How to Clean and Flush a Feeding Tube

Proper maintenance of your feeding tube is important to preventing complications. Watch step-by-step instructions on how to clean and flush your feeding tube, ensuring it stays functional and safe to use.

Troubleshooting Feeding Tube Issues

If you’re encountering problems with your feeding tube, this troubleshooting video can help you identify common issues such as tube displacement, clogs, infections, and digestive problems like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

What are the different types of head and neck cancers?

Head and neck cancers – which account for about 65,000 cases each year – are twice as common among men. Your doctor can find the disease with a variety of imaging and blood tests, and they encourage you to frequently visit your dentist. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to check with your doctor immediately.

Mouth Cancer

Mouth cancer is the most common type of head and neck cancer. It mainly affects in and around the mouth including lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, and the floor or roof of the mouth. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of mouth cancer, accounting for 9 out of 10 cases. It mainly comes from smoking or chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol, and the HPV infection.

Throat Cancer

Throat cancer is difficult to detect early since it shares similar symptoms to a sore throat or never-ending cough. The most common symptoms of throat cancer in the oropharynx or hypopharynx include a lump in the neck, a persistent sore throat, and difficulty swallowing.

Salivary Gland Cancer

Salivary glands produce saliva, which keeps your mouth moist and helps with swallowing and digestion. The main symptom of salivary gland cancer is a lump or swelling on or near your jaw, or in your mouth or neck. But most of these lumps are non-cancerous. Other symptoms can include numbness in part of your face and drooping on one side of your face.

Laryngeal Cancer

Laryngeal cancer affects the voice box (larynx) and sits at the bottom of your throat and contains your vocal cords. The main symptom of laryngeal cancer is having a hoarse voice for more than 3 weeks. The condition is more common in people over the age of 60. It's more common in men than women.

Nasal and Sinus Cancer

Nasal and sinus cancer affects the nasal cavity (above the roof of your mouth) and the sinuses (the small, air-filled cavities inside the bones of the nose and within the cheekbones and forehead). The symptoms of nasal and sinus cancer are similar to viral or bacterial infections, such as the common cold or sinusitis. If you smoke, it's important that you give up. Smoking increases your risk of cancer returning and may cause you to have more side effects from treatment.

Head and Neck Cancer Support Group

Cancer Support Groups

Cancer support groups are gatherings that provide a secure environment for those impacted by the disease to talk about their feelings and experiences with other cancer patients.

What are the treatment options?

Head and neck cancers have three main ways to receive treatment. Surgery to remove cancerous cells, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Reach out to the Lee Health Cancer Institute for all treatment options best suited for your health.

Cancer Surgery

At Lee Health, surgeons work as part of a multidisciplinary team of cancer specialists to provide you with a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan.
Chemotherapy and Infusion Services

Lee Health Cancer Institute offers outpatient and inpatient chemotherapy and infusion services in Fort Myers, FL. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment please call 239-343-9500

Treating Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid nodules are rather common. “There’s so many people that have thyroid nodules,” said independent surgeon Dr. Scott Larson. “Most people over the age of 60 or 65 have a thyroid nodule probably.”

However, a thyroid nodule often doesn’t mean cancer. “90% of them are benign but 10% are cancerous. They need to be removed,” said Dr. Larson.

Thyroid Cancer accounts for about 2% of new cancer cases in the US, however the 5-year survival rate is over 98%. “It’s very treatable, it’s very curable, even sometimes at more advanced stages. It’s very curable,” said Dr. Larson.

If found early, a less invasive surgery can be curative. “It depends on the size of the thyroid and the size of the nodule, but we can usually make very small incisions in the neck on the midline or lower neck, and then remove the thyroid. It’s a simple operation takes a couple hours most people go home the same day as the surgery,” said Dr. Larson.

Even if it’s found later on, the prognosis is usually good. “I often operate on thyroid cancer is that spread to the lymph nodes and even then it’s still very treatable and curable. It becomes a bigger surgery, we have to remove the thyroid and some of the lymph nodes, but it’s still very treatable and curable,” said Dr. Larson. You can learn more by searching for cancer care on leehealth.org.

Lee Health Cancer Institute

In an uncertain time, the Lee Health Cancer Institute provides unparalleled expertise, cutting-edge treatment and access to innovative technology. But above all else – it’s the human connection and commitment that sets us apart. When you come to us, our staff gets together in one room to review your case. We go over all the details with you right next to us – after all, you are the most valued member of the team.

Cancer Institute

Start your cancer care journey here. An umbrella for all of Lee Health's state-of-the-art cancer care options.

Head and Neck Cancer Program

For many patients, it’s a life-changing diagnosis. “It affects not only the physical portion of the function but the emotional, the nutritional dynamics with family and work. With any cancer diagnosis, it’s not just treating the disease it’s treating the person as a whole,” said Denise Pfeiffer, a rehabilitation navigator with Lee Health.

Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer see many health experts, have multiple appointments and different treatments—all can become overwhelming. “This was the best way that I could come up with that they could meet with a speech pathologist, an oncology dietitian, the head and neck nurse navigator, and the rehab navigator all at one time,” said Stacey Brill, a speech and language pathologist with Lee Health.

The new head and neck education program is a one-time class providing patients with the knowledge and support they need to overcome any barriers they may face during their cancer journey. “It’s a long journey, and the good thing about this class is we go over what we do, and we give patients the opportunity to meet with us after class,” said Veena Sharma, a nurse navigator with Lee Health.

Patients can attend the free class as soon as they are diagnosed. The goal is to help them prepare for the next steps. “Learning who your team is, and who is going to be there for me throughout my journey? How do I contact them if I have a question,” said Pfeiffer.

Each health expert provides information that will help patients understand their care. “My role is typically to tell them how their nutrition needs are going to change over time, discuss weight loss, the possibility of malnutrition, and also explain feeding tubes,” said Taylor Lawless, a clinical dietitian with Lee Health.

Answering questions and providing support from the very beginning of the cancer journey.

Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Centers in Fort Myers and Estero

The Lee Health Cancer Institute is helping patients all around Florida. If you are traveling from Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, or Port Charlotte, we can help you navigate the next steps in treatment options.

Lee Health Regional Cancer Center

8931 Colonial Center Dr Fort Myers, FL 33905

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Phone number (239) 343-9500 View Details
Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic - Bonita Health Center

3501 Health Center Blvd Estero, FL 34135

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Phone number 239-343-9500 View Details