Raising awareness of head and neck cancer

Relayée dans l’ensemble des établissements hospitaliers prenant en charge ces pathologies, la 6ème campagne de Make Sense est orchestrée autour de multiples initiatives. De nombreux documents sont à la disposition des patients, de leur entourage, mais aussi du grand public.

The 6th Make Sense Campaign is largerly broadcasted throughout hospitals taking in charge these types of pathologies. It involves a lot of initiatives, brochures, events aimed at informing patients and their relatives but also any people who would be keen on getting information about the cancers.

Head and neck cancer is a way of describing any cancer that is found in the head or neck region, except in the eyes, brain, ears or oesophagus. The cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces inside the head and neck (for example: inside the mouth, nose and throat). There are more than 30 areas within the head and neck where cancer can develop.

Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer in Europe. It is about half as common as lung cancer, but twice as common as cervical cancer. There were approximately 140,000 new patients diagnosed in Europe in 2014.

Despite its severity and increasing prevalence within society, there is little awareness of head and neck cancer, and patient outcomes remain very poor.

• 60% of people with head and neck cancer present with locally advanced disease at diagnosis
• 60% of people diagnosed at an advanced stage die from the disease within five years  However, for those patients diagnosed in the early stages of the disease there is an 80-90% survival rate

Risk factors

• Smoking: Smokers have a higher risk than non-smokers. Actually, a person who smokes will be 15 times more likely to develop head and neck cancer than a non-smoker.
• Alcohol: Men who consume more than three units and women who consume more than two units of alcohol per day are at a significantly higher risk of developing head and neck cancer.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Associated with causing a number of head and neck cancers; it can cause cancers of the throat, tongue and tonsils, otherwise known as oropharyngeal cancers (OPSCC).

Prevalence

Men are 2-3 times more likely to develop head and neck cancer than women; however, the incidence of head and neck cancer in women is increasing. It is most common in people over 40 years old. The connection between HPV and head and neck cancers is increasing in a younger demographic.

Signs and symptoms

The ‘1for3’ definition was developed by leading experts in head and neck cancer across Europe. It states that primary practitioners should refer a patient to a head and neck specialist if they have any 1 of the following symptoms for more than 3 weeks.

Living with cancer

Cancer diagnosis can affect people in many ways. It is very important that people have the right information, can make quick decisions and effectively cope. There are many organisations and support groups, and your specialist nurse and doctor can help you access these.