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A 36-year-old member asked:

What are the chances of surviving a diagnosis of head and neck cancer?

4 doctor answers8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Dennis Diaz
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 40 years experience
Varied: There are many factors that help determine survivability in head and neck cancer. The type of cancer, its location in the head and neck, the size at time of diagnosis, presence or abscence of lymph nodes, smoking and alcohol status among others (presence of family/social support) are helpful determiners of survival.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Ritesh Rathore
Hematology and Oncology 32 years experience
Variable: Depends mostly on stage and then on cancer type, location, patient performance level, alcohol and smoking history.Early head/neck cancers are localised and have high cure rates; regional spread of cancers reduces the survival rates to 40-50%; cancer that has spread to other organs typically is incurable with survival less thatn a year on average.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. David Astrachan
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 39 years experience
Depends: Head and neck cancer, since it usually presents earlier than other cancers, is in general quite treatable either by surgery, chemotherapy or radiation or a combination. The smaller the lesion the better the cure rates. It is rare for these cancers to be asymptomatic. Hoarseness, throat pain, trouble swallowing, ear pain and throat pain together all are warning symptoms. Smokers and drinkers beware.
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Dr. Raja Mudad
Medical Oncology 34 years experience
Several Factors: Several factors determine that. Location of tumor (larynx versus other sites), stage of the cancer, hpv status and ability to get adequate treatment in full. Bottom line is this cancer is very curable.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Similar questions

A 21-year-old member asked:

Who is at risk for head and neck cancer?

3 doctor answers8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ritesh Rathore
Hematology and Oncology 32 years experience
Variable: Patients at high risk for head/neck cancer are those with history of alcohol use, long-term smoking, tobacco chewing, human papilloma virus infection, chewing betel nuts, chronic use of ill-fitting dentures, and poor dental & oral hygiene.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Andy Chung
Dr. Andy Chung commented
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 23 years experience
Chronic sun exposure may put you at risk for skin cancers of the head and neck
Sep 9, 2012
A 21-year-old member asked:

What are the types of head and neck cancer?

2 doctor answers4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ritesh Rathore
Hematology and Oncology 32 years experience
Few: Most cancers are squamous cancers from the lining of the head and neck organs. Other types include cancers of the saliva glands and other organs such as thyroid, parathyroid glands.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old member asked:

Is head and neck cancer hereditary?

3 doctor answers6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Dennis Diaz
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 40 years experience
Uncommon: There can be a genetic predispostion for families to develop cancer but only a few head and neck cancers (thyroid, endorine neoplasms, neurofibromatosis and some others) are inherited.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:

What causes head and neck cancers?

2 doctor answers5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Latisha Smith
Wound care 40 years experience
Tobacco usage: Head and neck cancers include cancers involving the throat, tongue, mouth, nose , and sinuses. Cigarette smoking is closely associated with throat cancer and chewing tobacco causes cancer in the mouth. Nasal and sinus cancers happen more often because of genetic predisposition rather than some external irritant like smoke.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

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Last updated Mar 13, 2019

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