Head and Neck Cancer Flashcards
What are the parts of the throat that can be affected by cancer?
oropharynx – the part of the throat at the back of the mouth
hypopharynx – the part of the throat connecting the oropharynx to the gullet and windpipe
nasopharynx – the part of the throat that connects the back of the nose to the back of the mouth
What are the 3 main pairs of salivary glands?
parotid glands – located between your cheeks and your ears
sublingual glands – located under your tongue
submandibular glands – located under each side of your jawbone
What does TNM stand for?
T - Tumour
N - Node
M - Metastases
What does T0 - T4 mean?
T describes the size of the tumour, how far it has grown and sometimes the depth of the tumour.
T0 means that there are no signs of a tumour, but there may be abnormal cells that are pre-cancerous.
T1 and T2 means the tumour is small and has not started to spread.
T3 tumours are bigger, or may have started to spread into nearby tissue.
T4 is when a tumour has spread into nearby muscles, bones or skin.
What does the N in TNM mean?
N describes whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
N0 means that no lymph nodes are affected.
N1, N2 or N3 means there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes. The number depends on how many lymph nodes contain cancer cells, the size and where they are in the body
What does the M mean in TNM?
M describes whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body. This is called metastatic cancer.
M0 means the cancer has not spread.
M1 means the cancer has spread to distant organs, such as the liver or lungs
What does stage 0 mean?
Stage 0
This is sometimes called carcinoma in situ or precancerous. There are abnormal cells in the lining of the affected area, but they are contained (in situ) and have not spread. If not treated, they are very likely to become cancerous
What does stage 1 and 2 mean?
Stage 1 and stage 2 of head and neck cancer
This describes cancers at an early stage that are usually small and have not spread. Your doctor may call this early or localised cancer
What do stages 3 and 4 mean?
Stage 3 and stage 4 of head and neck cancer
This describes bigger cancers that have spread further into nearby lymph nodes, surrounding tissue or both. Doctors sometimes call this locally advanced cancer.
Some stage 4 cancers may have spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or liver. This is called metastatic or secondary cancer. But it is more common for head and neck cancer to only spread in the area where it started
What are the five major types of head and neck cancer?
Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. The larynx is commonly called the voice box. This tube-shaped organ in the neck is important for breathing, talking, and swallowing. It is located at the top of the windpipe, or trachea. The hypopharynx is also called the gullet. It is the lower part of the throat that surrounds the larynx.
Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer. The nasal cavity is the space just behind the nose where air passes on its way to the throat. The paranasal sinuses are the air-filled areas that surround the nasal cavity.
Nasopharyngeal cancer. The nasopharynx is the air passageway at the upper part of the throat behind the nose.
Oral and oropharyngeal cancer. The oral cavity includes the mouth and tongue. The oropharynx includes the middle of the throat, from the tonsils to the tip of the voice box.
Salivary gland cancer. The salivary gland produces saliva. Saliva is the fluid that is released into the mouth to keep it moist and that contains enzymes that begin breaking down food
What is a squamous cell carcinoma?
Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. This type of cancer begins in flat squamous cells. These cells make up the thin layer of tissue on the surface of the structures in the head and neck. Beneath this layer, which is called the epithelium, some parts of the head and neck have a layer of moist tissue called the mucosa.
If a cancer is only found in the squamous layer of cells (epithelium), it is called carcinoma in situ. If the cancer has grown beyond this cell layer and moved into the deeper tissue, then it is called invasive squamous cell carcinoma. If doctors cannot identify where the cancer began, it is called a cancer of unknown primary.
