squamous

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who :

• Spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned
• Have light-colored skin, hair and eyes
• Have a family member with skin cancer
• Are over age 50

You should have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. Treatment is more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and biologic therapy. PDT uses a drug and a type of laser light to kill cancer cells. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Head and neck cancer is the name for cancers that develop in the mouth, nose and sinuses, salivary glands, and throat and voice box (larynx). Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell cancers. They begin in the moist tissues that line the head and neck. The cancer cells may spread into deeper tissue as the cancer grows.

There are other cancers that develop in the head and neck, such as brain cancer, eye cancer, and esophageal cancer. But they are usually not considered to be head and neck cancers, because those types of cancer and their treatments are different.

Anyone can get head and neck cancer, but you are more likely to develop it if you:

• Use tobacco or drink lots of alcohol. Your risk of developing head and neck cancer is even higher if you do both.
• Are male.
• Are over age 50.
• Have a history of head or neck cancer.
• Have HPV (for cancers in the tonsils and base of the tongue).
• Are exposed to wood dusts or certain other toxic substances at work (for upper throat, nose, and sinus cancers).
• Have had radiation exposure to the head and neck (for salivary gland cancer).
• Have Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection (for upper throat and salivary gland cancers).
• Are Asian (for upper throat cancer).

The symptoms of head and neck cancer may include:

• A lump in the neck
• A sore in the mouth or the throat that does not heal and may be painful
• A sore throat that does not go away
• Trouble swallowing
• A change or hoarseness in the voice

Other possible symptoms can depend on the specific type of head and neck cancer.

Which exams and tests used to diagnose head and neck cancer can depend on the specific type of cancer. Possible exams and tests may include:

• A physical exam of the area that might have cancer.
• Blood and/or urine tests.
• An endoscopy.
• A biopsy or other procedure to collect cells from the area that might have cancer. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal.
• Imaging tests.

The treatment for head and neck cancer will depend on the specific type of cancer, the stage (how advanced the cancer is), your overall health, and other factors. The treatment options might include:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Cancer immunotherapy
• Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that mainly attack specific cancer cells and cause less harm to normal cells

In some cases, you may need a combination of treatments. Sometimes surgery can affect how well you can chew, swallow, or talk. Rehabilitation, such as physical therapy, dietary counseling, and speech therapy, may help.

There are steps you can take to help prevent head and neck cancer:

• Not smoking
• Limiting alcohol use or not drinking at all
• Getting regular dental exams
• Talking to your provider about HPV vaccination

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Oral cancer is cancer of the mouth. It is a type of head and neck cancer. Most oral cancers are squamous cell cancers. They begin in the flat cells that cover the surfaces of your mouth, tongue, and lips. The cancer cells may spread into deeper tissue as the cancer grows.

Most oral cancers are related to tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, or an HPV infection.

Anyone can get oral cancer, but you are more likely to develop it if you:

• Use tobacco or drink lots of alcohol. Your risk of developing oral cancer is even higher if you do both.
• Are male.
• Are over ago 40.
• Have HPV.
• Have a history of head or neck cancer.
• Get frequent sun exposure (for lip cancer).

The symptoms of oral cancer may include:

• A white or red patch in your mouth
• A lip or mouth sore that won't heal
• Bleeding, pain, or numbness in the lip or mouth
• Loose teeth or dentures that no longer fit well
• Problems or pain with swallowing
• A lump in your neck
• Ear pain
• Trouble moving your mouth or jaw
• Swelling of the jaw
• A sore throat or feeling that something is caught in the throat

If you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, see your health care provider or dentist. Oral cancer can spread quickly, so it's important to find it early.

To find out if you have oral cancer, your provider may use:

• A physical exam of the lips and mouth.
• An endoscopy.
• A biopsy or other procedure to collect cells from the lip or oral cavity. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal.
• Imaging tests.

The treatments for oral cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, or both. After surgery, some people also need chemotherapy to kill any cancer cells that are left.

There are steps you can take to help prevent oral cancer:

• Not smoking
• Limiting alcohol use or not drinking at all
• Getting regular dental exams

NIH: National Cancer Institute