Holiday hours

With the exception of Inova hospitals, Inova Emergency Care and Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care, all Inova outpatient offices will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday – Monday, May 26.

Head and neck cancer is the term given to cancers that start in the head and neck region, beginning in any of these places:

  • Mouth, also called the oral cavity
  • Nasal cavity, the passage behind the nose
  • Paranasal sinuses, which are the spaces around the nose, lined with cells that make mucus. They also provide a space that allows the voice to echo when you are talking or singing.
  • Salivary glands, the glands that make saliva
  • Throat, known as the pharynx
  • Voice box, called the larynx

Different types of head and neck cancers include: 

  • Laryngeal cancer
  • Tongue cancer
  • Throat cancer
  • Mouth cancer
  • Pharyngeal cancer

Symptoms of Head and Neck Cancer

Many people with head and neck cancer experience symptoms such as:

  • A growth or sore in the mouth
  • A lump in the neck
  • A lump or sore inside the nose that will not heal
  • A sore throat that does not go away
  • Blocked sinuses that will not clear
  • Chronic sinus infections
  • Cough or hoarseness that does not go away
  • Coughing up blood
  • Difficulty swallowing, speaking, or breathing
  • Frequent headache or pain around the nose, cheeks, jaws, ears, or forehead
  • Frequent nosebleeds or ones that don't stop
  • Numbness in the face
  • Pain in the ear
  • Swelling of the eyes or under the chin or around the jaw
  • Voice changes

These symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other problems. It is important to see a doctor about any symptoms like these so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Treatments

Treatment for head and neck cancer may include the following:

  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy, including proton radiation
  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • Clinical trials