What Are Head and Neck Cancers? A Complete Guide (2026)
Updated: 2 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: September 2026
TL;DR
“Head and neck cancers” is a category of cancers — not one disease — that usually refers to cancers starting in the mouth, throat, sinuses, and salivary glands. Most begin in squamous cells, the thin flat cells lining the mouth, nose, and throat. Common warning signs include a painless lump in the neck, a mouth sore that won’t heal, a hoarse voice, and nosebleeds. The biggest shared risk factors are tobacco use, heavy alcohol drinking, and HPV exposure. Diagnosis moves through exam, imaging, and biopsy, and treatment commonly combines surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy — with palliative care available alongside any of these options.
Quick Answer: What You Need to Know About Head and Neck Cancers
Who is this for? Anyone who has heard a head and neck cancer diagnosis, noticed a worrying symptom, or wants to understand risk and prevention.
What it is: Head and neck cancers are cancers that start in the head and neck area — most often in the mouth, throat, sinuses, or salivary glands. It is a category of many cancer types, not a single diagnosis.
Where they start: Most begin in squamous cells — the thin, flat cells that line the inside of the nose, mouth, and throat. These are called squamous cell carcinomas.
Most common symptoms: A painless lump in the neck, a mouth sore that won’t heal, coughing up blood, a hoarse voice, and pain when swallowing.
Top risk factors: Tobacco use (any kind), frequent heavy alcohol drinking, and HPV exposure. Sun exposure adds skin-cancer risk to the face and neck.
How it’s diagnosed: Physical exam, imaging tests (CT, MRI, PET), and a biopsy — a tissue sample tested in a lab, sometimes for signs of HPV.
How it’s treated: Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy — chosen based on cancer location, size, cell type, and overall health.
Prevention that helps: Quit tobacco, limit alcohol, ask about the HPV vaccine, and protect your face and neck from the sun.
Source currency note: this article is based on clinical information last updated December 23, 2025.
What Are Head and Neck Cancers?
“Head and neck cancers” sounds like one disease, but it is actually a category of cancers. It usually refers to cancers that start in the mouth, throat, sinuses, and salivary glands — though other cancers of the head and neck area are sometimes included too.
Most of these cancers begin in squamous cells: the thin, flat cells that form the outer layer of skin and line the inside of the nose, mouth, and throat. Cancers that start in these cells are called squamous cell carcinomas. Less commonly, these cancers can begin in other cell types in the head and neck area.
Cancer, at its core, starts when a cell develops changes in its DNA — the set of instructions telling a cell what to do. Healthy cells follow instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate and die at a set time. Cancer cells get changed instructions: they make many more cells quickly and keep living when healthy cells would die. The result is too many cells, which may form a mass called a tumor that can invade and destroy healthy tissue. Cancer cells can also break away and spread to other parts of the body — which is called metastatic cancer.
Treatment depends on four things: where the cancer is, how large it is, which cell type is involved, and your overall health. Options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other medicines.
The 14 Types of Head and Neck Cancers
Because this is a category rather than a single cancer, it covers many specific diagnoses. The table below lists the types commonly grouped under head and neck cancers.
Type | Area affected |
Esthesioneuroblastoma | Upper nasal cavity |
Floor of the mouth cancer | Beneath the tongue |
Lip cancer | The lips |
Mouth cancer | The oral cavity |
Nasal and paranasal tumors | The nose and surrounding sinuses |
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma | The upper throat behind the nose |
Pituitary tumors and adenomas | The pituitary gland |
Salivary gland tumors | The salivary glands |
Skin cancer | The skin of the head and neck |
Soft palate cancer | The soft part at the back of the roof of the mouth |
Throat cancer | The throat (pharynx) |
Thyroid cancer | The thyroid gland |
Tongue cancer | The tongue |
Tonsil cancer | The tonsils |
Symptoms differ depending on where the cancer starts — which is why this guide covers them by body area in the next section.
What Are the Symptoms of Head and Neck Cancers?
Symptoms depend on where the cancer starts. The tables below organize the warning signs by body area.
Symptom area | Symptoms to notice |
Mouth and throat | A lump in the neck you can feel through the skin (typically not painful); a sore in the mouth that won’t heal; coughing up blood; a hoarse voice; loose teeth; pain when swallowing |
Nose | Nosebleeds; a stuffy or blocked nose that doesn’t go away |
Other | A sore on the skin of the face, neck, or lips that doesn’t heal; ear pain; losing weight without trying |
When should you see a doctor?
The guidance is straightforward: make an appointment if you have any symptoms that worry you. This matters most with symptoms that persist — a sore or lump that does not heal is the pattern to watch, because most everyday causes of these symptoms are harmless, while cancers are the ones that stay.
What Causes Head and Neck Cancers?
Experts aren’t certain exactly what causes head and neck cancers — the cause may depend on where the cancer starts. What is known is that these cancers follow the same pattern as most cancers: they begin when a cell in the head and neck area develops changes in its DNA.
DNA is the set of instructions inside each cell that tells it what to do. Healthy cells follow those instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate and die at a set time. Cancer cells get changed instructions — they multiply quickly and keep living when healthy cells would die.
Over time, the excess cells can form a tumor that grows, invades, and destroys healthy tissue. Cells can also break away and spread to other parts of the body, becoming metastatic cancer.
Risk Factors: What Increases Your Chance of Head and Neck Cancers?
Some risk factors are shared across many types of head and neck cancers, while others apply only to specific sites.
Risk factor | What the evidence says |
Tobacco use | Using any kind of tobacco — cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, or snuff — increases the risk of many types |
Alcohol | Frequent and heavy drinking increases the risk of many types |
HPV exposure | Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus passed through sexual contact. It usually causes no problems and goes away on its own, but it can cause cell changes that lead to many cancer types. Many throat cancers are thought to be caused by HPV |
Breathing chemicals | Exposure to chemicals in the air — at home or at work — can increase the risk of nose and sinus cancers |
Sun and tanning lamps | Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun and tanning beds increases the risk of skin cancer on the head and neck |
Can Head and Neck Cancers Be Prevented?
There is no guaranteed prevention, but five concrete steps lower your risk, according to the source material.
Prevention step | What to do |
Don’t use tobacco | If you don’t smoke or use tobacco, don’t start. If you do, make a plan to quit — talk with a healthcare professional about quit aids |
Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all | Up to one drink a day for women, up to two drinks a day for men |
Ask about the HPV vaccine | The vaccine may reduce your risk of HPV-related cancers. Ask a healthcare professional whether it’s right for you |
Protect your skin from the sun | Wear a wide-brimmed hat and use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, even on cloudy days. Apply generously and reapply every 2 hours — more often if you’re swimming or sweating |
Know your specific risks | Other prevention steps depend on the specific cancer type, so discuss your personal risk factors with a healthcare professional |
How Are Head and Neck Cancers Diagnosed?
Diagnosis begins with an examination of the head and neck area, followed by other tests such as imaging and biopsy. The exact tests may depend on where the cancer is.
Diagnostic step | What happens |
Physical exam | A healthcare professional looks for sores or other issues, feels the neck for lumps or swelling, uses a light and mirror to see inside the mouth, may pass a tiny camera down the throat to transmit images, and may pass a tiny camera through the nostrils to see inside the nose |
Imaging tests | CT, MRI, or PET scans make pictures of the inside of the body and show the size and location of the cancer |
Biopsy | A procedure that removes a tissue sample for laboratory testing. The collection method depends on location — a cutting tool to cut out tissue, a needle through the skin into the cancer, or special tools to collect cells from inside the throat or nose |
Laboratory testing | Lab analysis shows whether the cells are cancerous. Special tests give more detail, such as testing for signs of HPV infection. This information is used to build your treatment plan |
During diagnosis, you may be referred to two kinds of specialists: an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (who specializes in diseases of the face, mouth, teeth, jaws, salivary glands, and neck) and an ENT specialist (otolaryngologist, who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, and throat).
How Are Head and Neck Cancers Treated?
Treatment often involves surgery to remove the cancer, but other treatments — radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other medicines — play major roles. The plan depends on where the cancer is located.
Treatment | What it involves | When it’s used |
Surgery | The cancer is cut out along with a margin of healthy tissue around it, helping ensure all cancer cells are removed | When possible — the cancer hasn’t grown into nearby structures that can’t be removed |
Radiation therapy | Powerful energy beams (X-rays, protons, or other sources) are directed at precise points while you lie on a table | After surgery to kill leftover cancer cells, or as the starting treatment if surgery isn’t an option |
Chemotherapy | Strong medicines, sometimes given at the same time as radiation to make radiation work better | To boost radiation or to control cancer that has spread |
Targeted therapy | Medicines that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells; blocking those chemicals can cause cancer cells to die | Often when cancer has spread to other body parts |
Immunotherapy | Medicine that helps your immune system find and kill cancer cells, which otherwise survive by hiding from immune attack | Might be an option when cancer spreads to other body parts |
A few important realities about surgery are worth knowing. Some cancers grow into nearby structures and can’t be fully removed — in those cases, treatment may start with radiation therapy and chemotherapy instead. Some operations can affect your ability to eat and speak, and the healthcare team works to minimize that risk. Reconstructive surgery can replace bones and tissue removed during an operation, and rehabilitation specialists can help you regain the ability to eat and speak.
Palliative care deserves special mention. It is specialized healthcare that helps you feel better with a serious illness — it relieves pain and other symptoms through a team of doctors, nurses, and specially trained professionals. It can be used alongside strong treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. With palliative care plus all other appropriate treatments, people with cancer may feel better and live longer.
Clinical trials — studies of new treatments — are another option to discuss. They offer a chance to try the latest treatments, though side-effect risks might not be fully known. Ask whether you might be eligible.
Coping and Support: What Helps People Through It
Facing a serious illness like cancer often brings fear and worry about the future. With time, most people find ways to cope. Three strategies stand out:
Ask questions about your cancer. Write down your questions and ask them at your next appointment. Ask your team for reliable information sources, and bring someone along to help remember what you’re told. Knowing more may make you more comfortable deciding about your care.
Stay connected to friends and family. Keep them involved in your care. Think of specific tasks you’d like help with — help at home during a hospital stay, or simply having someone listen.
Find someone to talk with. A counselor or medical social worker can help. Support groups are available through cancer organizations and through your healthcare team, both locally and online.
Preparing for Your Appointment
If you’ve been referred for head and neck cancer evaluation, a few steps help you make the most of the visit.
Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions, such as diet restrictions before a test. Write down your symptoms — including any that seem unrelated. Jot down key personal information, such as major stresses or recent life changes, and list all medicines, vitamins, and supplements with their doses. Take a family member or friend along to help remember information, and write down your questions in advance, starting with the three most important.
Top questions to ask your doctor | Other questions worth asking |
What kind of cancer do I have? | Should I seek a second opinion, and can you recommend specialists? |
What other tests do I need? | Am I eligible for clinical trials? |
What are my treatment options? | Are there brochures or printed material I can take with me, and what websites do you recommend? |
Is there one treatment that’s best for my type and stage? | What might happen if I decide not to have treatment? |
What are the potential side effects of each treatment? | What will determine whether I should plan a follow-up visit? |
Your doctor will also ask you questions. Expect to be asked when your symptoms began, whether they’ve been continuous or occasional, how severe they are, and what seems to improve or worsen them. Preparing honest answers in advance saves time and improves accuracy.
Conclusion
Head and neck cancers are a broad category of cancers that most often begin in the squamous cells lining the mouth, nose, and throat. The warning signs — a painless neck lump, a sore that won’t heal, a persistent hoarse voice, nosebleeds that won’t clear — are easy to dismiss, which is exactly why noticing them early matters. Risk is heavily shaped by choices within your control: tobacco, alcohol, sun protection, and vaccination. And when cancer is diagnosed, the pathway from exam to imaging to biopsy to treatment is well established, with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and palliative care forming a flexible toolkit built around each person’s specific situation.
If you or someone you care about has a symptom that won’t go away, don’t wait it out. Talk with a healthcare professional — or explore our related guides below to understand your options better.
FAQ
What is the most common type of head and neck cancer?
Most head and neck cancers begin in the squamous cells lining the mouth, nose, and throat, and are called squamous cell carcinomas. These can occur in the mouth, tongue, tonsils, throat, larynx, and related structures.
What are the first signs of head and neck cancer?
Early signs depend on where the cancer starts, but common warnings include a painless lump in the neck, a sore in the mouth that won’t heal, a hoarse voice, pain when swallowing, and nosebleeds or a blocked nose that doesn’t go away.
Is head and neck cancer caused by HPV?
Many throat cancers are thought to be caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), a common virus passed through sexual contact. HPV usually causes no problems and goes away on its own, but it can cause cell changes that lead to cancer. The HPV vaccine may reduce this risk — ask a healthcare professional if it’s right for you.
Is head and neck cancer curable?
Treatment outcomes depend on the cancer’s location, size, cell type, and your overall health. Many head and neck cancers are treated successfully with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy — sometimes in combination. Ask your healthcare team about your specific situation.
How is head and neck cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically follows three steps: a physical exam of the head and neck (sometimes using a tiny camera through the mouth or nose), imaging tests such as CT, MRI, or PET scans, and a biopsy — a tissue sample tested in a lab. Special lab tests may check for signs of HPV infection.
What is the difference between an ENT and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for head and neck cancer?
Both specialists may be part of your care team. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon specializes in diseases of the face, mouth, teeth, jaws, salivary glands, and neck. An ENT specialist (otolaryngologist) specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, and throat.
Can head and neck cancer come back after treatment?
Treatment plans are built to remove or control the cancer — surgery removes the tumor with a margin of healthy tissue, radiation kills leftover cells, and medicines control spread. Follow-up visits are part of the plan; ask your doctor what will determine whether you should schedule them.
What is palliative care for head and neck cancer?
Palliative care is specialized healthcare that relieves pain and other symptoms of a serious illness through a team of doctors, nurses, and trained professionals. It can be used alongside surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation — and with it, people with cancer may feel better and live longer.
Related Reading
References
Head and Neck Cancers — Symptoms & causes — clinical overview, types, symptoms, causes, risk factors, and prevention
Head and Neck Cancers — Diagnosis & treatment — clinical overview, diagnosis pathway, treatment options, coping support, and appointment preparation
This article is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Health information, not medical advice. This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your own health, and seek emergency care for urgent symptoms.
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