Key Facts on Head and Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancer is the 8th most common cancer in the UK. It comes in many different forms and most cases are preventable if you eat a healthy diet and avoid risk factors such as smoking.
Types of Head and Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancer is a general term for various different kinds of cancer that can occur in these parts of the body, including:
- Laryngeal cancer in the voice box
- Oesophageal cancer in the throat lining
- Nasal cavity cancer
- Oral cancer in the mouth
- Nasopharyngeal cancer in the passage between the nose and throat
- Salivary gland cancer
How Common is Head and Neck Cancer?
- Approximately 12000 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed in the UK every year
- About 4000 people die of head and neck cancer every year in the UK
- More than 90% of head and neck cancers could have been prevented as they are linked to avoidable risks such as smoking or a diet lacking in fruit and vegetables
Who is at Risk of Head and Neck Cancer?
- Head and neck cancer is more common in men than women, partly due to differences in lifestyle risks
- Smokers are more likely to be affected, with 64% of laryngeal cancers linked to smoking
- 56% of oral cancers are linked to a diet lacking in fruit and vegetables
- Head and neck cancer is most often diagnosed in older people
- 31% more cases are diagnosed in the UK now than in the 1990s
