Head and neck cancer
What is head and neck cancer?
Around 90% of head and neck cancers begin in the squamous cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces inside this region of the body, such as those inside the mouth, nose and throat.1
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Where does head and neck cancer occur?2,3
Prevalence of head and neck cancer
From 2017 – 2019, head and neck cancer was the 8th most common cancer in the UK with around 12,800 people diagnosed each year.4 There are around 4,100 head and neck cancer deaths in the UK every year and, over the last decade, the prevalence of head and neck cancer has increased by almost a seventh (15%).4
Signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer
The table below includes some common symptoms for the different types of head and neck cancer, which vary depending on where the cancer is located and whether it has spread to nearby tissues.1 It is important to remember that someone may not necessarily have head and neck cancer if they are experiencing some of these symptoms, but it is advised to monitor them and speak to a healthcare professional if they do not improve.
| Cancer site | Possible symptoms |
|---|---|
| Mouth5 |
|
| Voice box (laryngeal)6 |
|
| Throat5 |
|
| Salivary gland7 |
|
| Nasal and sinus8 |
|
| Back of the nose and mouth (nasopharyngeal)9 |
|
Head and neck cancer symptoms5-9
Treatment options for head and neck cancer
People with head and neck cancer are usually treated in specialist centres by a team of healthcare professionals. Treatment options are dependent on the type and stage of their cancer but may include:10
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
Collaborating with the community to address the unmet needs of head and neck cancer patients
The quality of life of head and neck cancer patients and their treatment outcomes are affected by various factors, from the disease itself, to the treatment side effects, to the wide range of mental health issues associated with the diagnosis. Head and neck cancer treatment often have profound impacts on the patients' professional lives. Many patients have to reduce their working hours or take temporary leave, sometimes indefinitely. Even when willing and able to return to work, they may face workplace discrimination due to their diagnosis. The resulting economic and psychological pressure negatively affect the patients' mental health, heighten symptom severity perception and hinder access to rehabilitation treatments, impacting recovery and quality of life.11
Bristol Myers Squibb partnered with The Swallows to form a specialist Steering Group that included The Mouth Cancer Foundation, Salivary Gland Cancer UK, Working With Cancer, and head and neck cancer patients, to develop the Back-to-Work Guide.
The Back-to-Work Guide contains solutions to overcome some of the typical challenges people may face following head and neck cancer treatment and demonstrates our commitment to empowering patients to feel more confident when considering returning to work.
References
1 Heroiu Cataloiu AD, et al. Multiple cancers of the head and neck. Maedica (Bucur). 2013 Mar;8(1):80-5.
Last accessed: March 2025
2 World Cancer Research Fund. Head and Neck Cancers. Available at: https://www.wcrf.org/preventing-cancer/cancer-types/head-and-neck-cancer/
Last accessed: March 2025
3 Cancer Research UK. Head and neck cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/head-neck-cancer
Last accessed: March 2025
4 Cancer Research UK. Head and neck cancers statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/head-and-neck-cancers#heading-Zero
Last accessed: March 2025
5American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html. Last accessed: March 2025
6 NHS Inform. Laryngeal (larynx) cancer. Available at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/cancer/cancer-types-in-adults/laryngeal-larynx-cancer/. Last accessed: March 2025
7 Mayo Clinic. Salivary gland tumors. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/salivary-gland-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20354151.
Last accessed: March 2025
8 NHS Inform. Nasal and sinus cancer. Available at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/cancer/cancer-types-in-adults/nasal-and-sinus-cancer/.
Last accessed: March 2025
9 Mayo Clinic. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nasopharyngeal-carcinoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20375529.
Last accessed: March 2025
10 Lin L, et al. Surviving and thriving: Assessing quality of life and psychosocial interventions in mental health of head and neck cancer patients. Asian Journal of Surgery. 2024 Nov 28; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asjsur.2024.11.048
Last accessed: March 2025
11 The Royal Marsden. Common misconceptions of head and neck cancers. Available at: https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/private-care/news-and-blogs/common-misconceptions-head-and-neck-cancers.
Last accessed: March 2025
March 2025 | ONC-GB-2500009