Head and neck organ cancer may not be the most common cancer, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less serious. Again, the problem is that many patients underestimate the symptoms of the disease and thus only come to the doctor when the disease is already in an advanced stage.
There are quite a few organs located in the head and neck area. This term covers the respiratory and swallowing systems, the oral cavity and nose, pharynx and larynx, salivary glands and the area around the eyes and ears. It also includes skin tumours located in the head and neck area. Given the relatively close proximity of important organs and sensory centres, it is more than necessary that the treatment of these tumours be as gentle and precisely targeted as possible. Proton therapy is so perfect owing to the precision of the pencil beam focus that, compared to conventional photon therapy, the risk of irradiating healthy tissues, including the spinal cord, is reduced by up to 80%.
Cancer of organs in the head and neck area is more common in men than in women. In this case, the lifestyle of the given individual, together with their surrounding environment, has a great influence on the development of tumours. The biggest risk factor is smoking, both cigarettes and pipes, and even chewing tobacco. Increased alcohol consumption is in second place. The worst consequences can be expected from combining these two bad habits together. Other risk factors contributing to cancer are:
