A commitment to safeguard oneself from the encroaching grasp of Head & Neck Cancer: a vow to shield against the advance of this ailment that is extending its reach
Head & Neck Cancer (HNC) holds the dubious distinction of being the seventh-most common type of cancer, globally. Closer home, India has perhaps the highest incidence of head and neck cancers all over the world and incidence of HNC are spreading and hence it is the second most common cancer, especially Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer. When we talk of HNC, typically it consists of anatomical sub sites like tongue, mouth, other parts of the pharynx like oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, salivary glands, nasal cavity, larynx (voice box), etc. When any of these organs are affected by Cancer, there are high possibilities it may also spread to lymph nodes (small lumps of tissue that play a vital role in the body’s ability to fight off infections). Alarmingly, HNC are detected at an advanced stage due to patient’s ignorance as symptoms like change in voice, hoarseness of voice and difficulty in swallowing, which are not alarming/glaring are often mistaken for less-damaging diseases.
What causes HNC?
Much has been written, spoken, debated about the causes of various types of cancer. And all point towards LIFESTYLE. And that’s why cancer is called a “lifestyle disease”. One of the vivid lifestyle changes that the human civilization has witnessed is smoking, tobacco chewing, alcohol consumption coupled with sedentary lifestyle, little/no exercises, dietary habits….just to name a few. Among a host of causes, smoking/tobacco chewing and alcohol consumption clearly tops the list of any type of cancer and in the case of HNC, these become all the more apparent. One might assume that smoking/tobacco chewing causes lung cancer or tobacco chewing causes oral cancer. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The disease starts from there and starts affecting other parts of the body like the larynx (voice box), Pharynx, Esophagus, Tongue, Salivary glands, nasal cavity. And smoking when paired with alcohol consumption, duo is a sure-shot recipe for disaster.
Prevention:
- As a practicing Medical Oncologist, I can pen down pages and pages measures to prevent the onset of HNC. And all of them will be singularly focused on STAY AWAY FROM SMOKING, TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL. Undoubtedly, stay away from these “killers”.
- AWARENESS is the second important aspect. Don’t brush off a lump in the neck or a prolonged sore throat or a prolonged ulcer in the mouth/tongue; difficulty in swallowing as seasonal illness and brush them under the carpet. In the same vein, ringing in the ears, red or white patches in the mouth, numbness in the lip, loosening of teeth are other symptoms that should not be overlooked. Seek medical advice immediately.
- Diets rich in Green and Yellow vegetables and fish are known to provide protection against HNC.
- Lip Balm / Sun Protection Lotion (with a higher SPF) can help the onset of HNC. Prolonged sun exposure, more often than not is linked to lip cancer as well as skin cancer of the Head & Neck
The Bottomline:
Adopt a healthy lifestyle, relish simple home-cooked food with ample amounts of leafy greens , exercise daily, lead a stress-free life. Let alone cancer; no ailment will come knocking on your body seeking shelter.
Authored by Dr. Devavrat Arya, Director, Medical Oncologist, Max Hospital, Saket, New Delhi
