Head and Neck Cancer Flashcards
What are the early signs of head and neck cancer?
Lump in throat
Persistent sore throat
White or red patches in the mouth
Hoarseness lasting >2 weeks
Ear pain
Swelling in the neck
what are the late symptoms of head and neck cancer?
Unintentional weight loss
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Breathing difficulty (dyspnea)
Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
Airway obstruction
Jaw swelling
what are the risk factors of head and neck cancer?
Tobacco use (85% of cases)
Excessive alcohol consumption
HPV infection (esp. HPV-16, HPV-18)
Poor oral hygiene
Radiation exposure
Industrial carcinogens (e.g., asbestos, wood dust)
what do you assess for in PE
Inspect the mouth for leukoplakia (white patches) and erythroplakia (red patches).
Palpate neck lymph nodes for enlargement.
Check for hoarseness and persistent voice changes.
Assess swallowing function (pain, difficulty).
Look for tracheal deviation (late-stage sign).
How is head and neck cancer diagnosed?
laryngoscopy and biopsy confirms cancer
CT/MRI determines tumor size and extent
PET scan detects metastasis
What does the TNM staging system detect?
T (Tumor size)
N (Lymph node involvement)
M (Metastasis presence)
what are the surgeries for head and neck cancer
Laryngectomy, neck dissection, reconstructive surgery.
what is the radiation therapy for head and neck cancer
External beam radiation or brachytherapy (localized).
what is the chemotherapy for head and neck cancer?
Often combined with radiation for advanced cases.
what is the targeted therapy for head and neck cancer?
Cetuximab (Erbitux) blocks EGFR to slow tumor growth.
why is EN needed after surgery
due to swelling, radiation mucositis, and swallowing difficulty.
(speech restoration) what does electrolarynx do?
mechanical speech device
(speech restoration option) what does tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) do?
Best voice quality but requires maintenance.
(speech restoration) what does esophageal speech do?
Learning to swallow air and speak.
what are the side effects of radiation therapy?
xerostomia (dry mouth), mucositis, fatigue, skin irritation
how is xerostomia managed?
increase fluid intake, chew sugarless gum, nonalcoholic mouth rinses, and carry water bottle
how do you protect the airway of the stoma ?
humidifier, clean the stoma daily, cover it while coughing, and avoid swimming (risk of aspiration)
how do you stay safe after total laryngectomy?
wear a medic alert bracelet (loss of natural airway). install smoke/CO detectors (loss of smell). eat visually appealing food (compensates for taste loss)
how do you prevent head and neck cancer?
Avoid tobacco & alcohol
Maintain good oral hygiene
Practice safe sex (HPV prevention)
Use protective gear in high-risk environments
