Head and Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancers are cancers that start in the head or neck regions. Patients are usually not told they have a ‘Head and Neck cancer’, they are usually told they have cancer in the particular area affected.
Types of Head and Neck Cancer
Tonsil Cancer
Your tonsils are two oval-shaped pads in the back of your mouth that are part of your…
Throat Cancer
Throat cancer – description, symptoms, useful links and patient stories
Mouth cancer
The oral cavity includes the mouth and tongue. It can affect a number of areas in and…
Voice box or Larynx cancer
The larynx is commonly called the voice box. This tube-shaped organ in the neck is important for…
Salivary gland cancer
The salivary glands make spit (saliva) and release saliva to keep the mouth and throat moist and help with…
Sinus cancer
The nasal cavity is the large, air-filled space behind the nose. Paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces at…
Thyroid cancer
The thyroid gland is a small gland in the front, lower part of your neck, just below…
Lymph node cancer
Cancer of Unknown Primary in the Head and Neck region occurs when cancer has spread and is…
Cancers affecting areas such as the brain, eyes, wind-pipe (trachea), and oesophagus do not fall into the Head and Neck cancer classification.
If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with a Head and Neck cancer or if you have been referred to a specialist for a diagnosis you might find our What To Expect guides helpful, written by patients for patients. You should use these as guides only and always ask your medical team for specific information as every person’s cancer and cancer experience will be different.
There are more than 17,000 new cases of head and neck cancer diagnosed in the UK each year and the numbers are expected to increase by 30% over the next 10 years.
Each year of the 17,000* new cancer diagnoses:
- 5,500+ are in the upper, middle and lower throat areas
- 3,500+ are in the mouth/ oral cavity,
- 2,000 are in the larynx (voice box),
- 600+ are in the major salivary glands,
- 600+ are in the nose cavity and sinuses.
- 4,000 are in the thyroid gland,
- A smaller number of cancers found in the lymph nodes with no known site of origin.
*(Based on Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK most recent data)
Diagram courtesy of Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust
Cell Types
In addition to different locations within the Head and Neck areas that cancer can present there are also many different cancer cell types. You should speak to your medical team or a Head and Neck cancer Oncologist to learn more about a specific type of cancer that you want to know more about.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Most head and neck cancers (apart from those in the thyroid and salivary glands) begin in squamous cells.
Some types of squamous cells can be found on the outer layer of the skin, while others line the inside of the nose, mouth and throat. Cancers that begin in the squamous cells are called squamous cell carcinomas. Cancers can begin in other kinds of cells in the head and neck area, though these are less common. A brief summary of the most common cancer cell types is below:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): The majority of Head and Neck cancers (aside from those in the thyroid and salivary glands) are squamous cell carcinomas. About 9 out of 10 head and neck cancers (90%) start in squamous cells.
The most common types of Salivary Gland cancers are:
- Mucoepidermoid carcinomas. Mostly common in the parotid glands.
- Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC): a rare type of cancer that usually develops in the salivary glands or other areas of the head and neck. Sometimes it can form in other parts of the body, including your skin, breast tissue, cervix or prostate gland.
The most common types of Thyroid cancer are Papillary and Follicular Cancer.
Key Facts - Head and Neck Cancer
More detail on Head and Neck Cancer
Signs & Symptoms
Self diagnosis techniques, what to look for and ways to prevent head and neck cancers.
Diagnosing Head and Neck cancer
Which specialists diagnose these cancers and what the 4 stages of tumour progression mean.
Causes of head and neck cancer
Explains what we know about the causes and how to reduce the risk of having the disease.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes 72% of Head and Neck Cancers, find out more.
HPV Vaccine in the UK
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes 72% of Head and Neck Cancers, but we could reduce cases by 100,000 by 2058 through vaccination.
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