What Is Head and Neck Cancer? image

What Is Head and Neck Cancer?

Posted by

HealthTree

Last updated and reviewed on: August 12, 2026

This guide is a comprehensive resource designed to help patients and their loved ones navigate every stage of a head and neck cancer diagnosis. Learn what head and neck cancer is, recognize common signs and symptoms, understand risk factors, staging, diagnosis, and treatment options, explore clinical trials, and find practical resources for coping and making informed decisions throughout your care.

Head and Neck Cancer Facts

Learn what head and neck cancer is, where it starts, and how it affects the body. Covers squamous cell carcinoma, HPV-positive and HPV-negative types.

Head and Neck Cancer Symptoms

Discover the early warning signs of head and neck cancer, including a lump in the neck, hoarseness, mouth sores, and trouble swallowing.

Risk Factors for Head and Neck Cancer

Find out what raises your risk of developing head and neck cancer. Includes tobacco, heavy alcohol use, HPV infection, Epstein-Barr virus, and others.

How is Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosed?

Learn how head and neck cancer is diagnosed, including biopsy, endoscopy, CT, MRI, PET-CT, HPV testing, and PD-L1 biomarker testing.

Head and Neck Cancer Prevention

Learn how to lower your risk of head and neck cancer. Covers HPV vaccination, oral cancer screening, tobacco cessation, and checking for early signs at home.

Head and Neck Cancer Screening

Learn about head and neck cancer screening, oral exams, warning signs to watch for, and when a persistent mouth, throat, or neck change should be checked.

Head and Neck Cancer Stages

Understand the stages of head and neck cancer. Covers the AJCC TNM staging system, tumor grade, and what recurrence means.

Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

Explore all treatment options for head and neck cancer such as TORS surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and supportive care.

Joining A Clinical Trial for Head and Neck Cancer

Should you join a clinical trial for head and neck cancer? Learn how clinical trials work, how to find trials, and whether insurance will cover costs.

Head and Neck Cancer Survival Rates

How common is head and neck cancer? Explore US incidence rates, survival rates by stage, HPV-positive vs. HPV-negative outcomes, and trends in new diagnoses.

Head and Neck Cancer Support

Get practical guidance on coping with a head and neck cancer diagnosis. Covers speech and swallowing therapy, nutrition, emotional support, and body image

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Head and Neck Cancer

Don't know what to ask at your oncology appointment? Use this list of questions about head and neck cancer diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and coping.

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