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Cancer Care

Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas

Head & Neck Cancer, Larynx Cancer, Mouth Cancer, Cancer Institutes, Cancer Specialists 
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Head & Neck Cancer Types 

Head Cancer & Neck Cancer

Cancers of the head and neck most commonly occur in the lips or tongue, but may also occur in the floor of the mouth, cheek lining, gums or palate. They are malignant and spread rapidly. There are several types of head and neck cancers including:  

Larynx Cancer

Larynx cancer affects the vocal cords, voice box or other parts of the throat. 

Mouth Cancer

Usually caused by smoking or using smokeless tobacco, oral cancers occur in the tissue of the lips or in the tongue, the floor of the mouth, cheek lining, gums or roof of the mouth. They are malignant tumors and spread rapidly.

Oral Cavity Cancer

Usually caused by smoking or using smokeless tobacco, oral cancers occur in the tissue of the lips or tongue, the floor of the mouth, check lining, gums or roof of the mouth. They are malignant tumors and spread rapidly.

Pharynx Cancer

Among the causes of all three types of pharynx cancers are smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, especially when combined. Symptoms include painless, non-healing mouth ulcers; non-healing white, red or dark patches in the mouth; earaches; unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth; lump in the lip, gum or mouth or enlarged lymph nodes.

There are three types of pharynx cancer:
  1. Nasal pharynx cancer or nasopharyngeal cancer affects the upper throat just behind the nose.
  2. Oropharynx cancer affects the base of the tongue, tonsils and soft palate.
  3. Hypopharynx cancer affects the bottom of the throat.

Salivary Gland Cancer

Salivary gland tumors grow on the ducts that drain the salivary glands around the mouth. These types of tumors are very rare.  

Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer

Sinus or nasal cavity cancer is a malignant growth on the back of the nose or upper throat.

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is a malignancy in the thyroid gland. It is more common in people older than 30 and increases in aggressiveness with age. Symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes, hoarseness and neck pain.