Head and Neck Cancers

Cancers that usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces inside the head and neck and are categorized by the areas of the head and neck in which they begin. Cancers of the oral cavity originate in the lips, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the gums, the lining inside the cheeks and lips, the floor (bottom) of the mouth under the tongue, the hard palate (bony top of the mouth), and the small area of the gum behind the wisdom teeth. Cancers of the throat originate in the pharynx which starts behind the nose and leads to the esophagus. Cancers may also form in the larynx (voicebox) which is located just below the pharynx and includes the vocal cords and epiglottis, the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, and, more rarely, the salivary glands. Alcohol and tobacco use (including smokeless tobacco, sometimes called chewing tobacco or snuff) are the two most significant risk factors for head and neck cancers, especially cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx. Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use, and 75 percent are associated with a combination of tobacco and alcohol use.