Head & Neck Cancer

Strength in numbers

Though any cancer diagnosis can be hard to contend with, you are not alone. Head and neck cancer may be more common than you think.

Head and neck cancers are the 6th most common cancer worldwide2

They account for about 5% of the world’s cancer cases per year3

In the United States, about 67,000 new cases are predicted for 20214

Over 90% of head and neck cancers begin in cells that line mucus membranes, like the inside of the mouth, nose, and throat. These cancers are called head and neck squamous cell carcinomas—or HNSCCs for short.2,5

PATIENT AND CAREGIVER RESOURCES

During this time, arming yourself with information about your disease can be empowering. National cancer organizations and patient advocacy groups can provide a supportive community to help you get started. Their aim is to help people live longer, healthier lives by advancing research, raising awareness, and providing emotional and financial support to patients and their families.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

Get in-depth information on head and neck cancer, treatment costs and insurance coverage, finding support groups, and ways to advance cancer research.

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HEAD & NECK CANCER ALLIANCE

Get involved with the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA) ambassador program and peer-to-peer program to connect with other people who are living with—or have survived through—head and neck cancer.

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NIH NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

Get more information on head and neck cancer, and the latest news on clinical trials and treatments. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) even has a live chat feature.

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NCCN PATIENT GUIDELINES

Consult comprehensive, up-to-date guidelines that detail the sequential management decisions and interventions that currently apply to HNSCC.

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YOUR UNIQUE HNSCC6

Even within the different types of HNSCC, a number of genetic factors could be contributing to your particular cancer. Understanding which genes are involved in your cancer is important, because it could help your doctor decide on the treatment path that’s best for you.

GENE MUTATIONS6-9

A gene mutation is a change in your DNA. Some mutations can be passed from parent to child, and others are caused by environmental factors and can arise at any time. That’s why regular genetic screening is an important part of HNSCC management. Common mutations in HNSCC include:

GENE OVEREXPRESSION10,11

A gene mutation is a change in your DNA. Some mutations can be passed from parent to child, and others are caused by environmental factors and can arise at any time. That’s why regular genetic screening is an important part of HNSCC management. Common mutations in HNSCC include:

A TAILORED TREATMENT PLAN5,12

Because your treatment plan is dependent on a number of factors, it will be tailored to meet your unique health needs. According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®)—an alliance of cancer centers that are considered the leading authority in how cancer is managed—HNSCC care can include any one or a combination of:

  • SURGERY13

    Your doctor may choose to remove your tumor and any affected tissue.

  • RADIATION THERAPY13

    Radiation is a type of treatment that uses beams of intense energy, such as x-rays, to kill cancer cells.

  • CHEMOTHERAPY14

    Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to destroy fast-growing cells by disrupting the way they grow and divide. While this kind of treatment kills tumor cells, it can also destroy healthy cells in the process.

  • IMMUNOTHERAPY14

    Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses your own immune system to fight the disease.

  • TARGETED THERAPY14

    Targeted therapies act on specific genetic mutations or molecules that may be helping cancer cells grow and survive.

  • CLINICAL TRIALS13

    For people who lack effective treatment options, clinical trials give early access to investigational therapies that may benefit them.

TUMOR STAGE15
CHARACTERIZATION15
STANDARD TREATMENTS15

EARLY

Smaller tumors without local (nearby) lymph node involvement

  • Surgery ± radiation
  • Chemotherapy

LOCALLY ADVANCED

Invasion of surrounding structures or an increased number of involved lymph nodes

  • Surgery
  • Radiation
  • Chemotherapy

METASTATIC

Tumor to spread to distant sites on the body

  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • Immunotherapy

TREATMENT REFRACTORY

Tumors that do not respond to a particular treatment

  • Treatments that work differently from prior therapies
  • Referral to clinical trial for investigational therapy

RELAPSED OR RECURRENT

The return or progression of cancer after a period of improvement or remission

  • Treatments that work differently from prior therapies
  • Referral to clinical trial for investigational therapy

READ MORE ABOUT WHAT THE NCCN RECOMMENDS FOR HNSCC

NCCN PATIENT GUIDELINES

ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CARE

It’s important to advocate for your care and find the right tools and information for your unique needs. Many people feel empowered when they can play an active role in their treatment plan. To help ensure that you get care that’s suited to you, consider asking your doctor the following questions, and having someone with you to help listen and take notes:

Have I had any tests that show the genetic factors behind my cancer? If so, when and how often should testing occur?

What types of genetic tests are available for my type of cancer? Who administers these tests, and how are they performed?

Are there any targeted treatments available or in clinical trials that target these genetic factors?

Are there any clinical trials that I would be eligible for that we should consider?

These are just a few suggestions to get you started. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask any questions you have, and discuss your care plan with your cancer care team.

REFERENCES

  • 1. National Cancer Institute. What Are Clinical Trials? Reviewed February 4, 2020. Accessed October 19, 2021. www.cancer.gov/aboutcancer/treatment/clinical-trials/what-are-trials 2. Vigneswaran N, Williams MD. Epidemiologic trends in head and neck cancer and aids in diagnosis. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2014;26(2):123-141. 3. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel R, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209-249. 4. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 2021. 5. National Cancer Institute. Head and neck cancers. Reviewed March 29, 2017. Accessed June 17, 2021. https:// www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet 6. Malone E, Siu LL. Precision medicine in head and neck cancer: myth or reality? Clin Med Insights Oncol. 2018;12:1179554918779581. 7. Braig F, Voigtlaender M, Schieferdecker A, et al. Liquid biopsy monitoring uncovers acquired RAS-mediated resistance to cetuximab in a substantial proportion of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncotarget. 2016;7(28):42988-42995. 8. Koontongkaew S. The tumor microenvironment contribution to development, growth, invasion and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. J Cancer. 2013;4(1):66-83. 9. American Cancer Society. Genes and cancer. Revised June 25, 2014. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/genetics/genesand-cancer.html 10. National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Overexpress. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/overexpress 11. Burrows F, Shivani M, Wang Z, et al. Antitumor activity of tipifarnib and PI3K pathway inhibitors in HRASassociated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Poster presented at: 32nd EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium; October 24-25 2020; virtual. 12. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Head and Neck Cancers V.3.2021. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Accessed October 19, 2021. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. 13. Cancer.Net. Head and neck cancer: types of treatment. October 2019. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.net/cancer types/headand-neck-cancer/types-treatment 14. American Cancer Society. How chemotherapy drugs work. Revised November 22, 2019. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/chemotherapy/how-chemotherapy-drugs-work.html 15. Chow LQM. Head and neck cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(1):60-72.

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