Head and Neck Consciousness Week is being celebrated on the fourth week of April based on Presidential Proclamation No. 1676 (2008), with the observance led by the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology and the Department of Health (DOH). This observance aims to increase awareness of the cancer of the head and neck region and to promote prompt diagnosis, correct management and early prevention.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, based from the World Health Organization (WHO). Cancer of the head and neck is also a health concern that needs to be focused on.

Cancers of the head and neck are categorized in the area from which it begins— either in oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity or salivary glands.

There are a number of different factors that can increase your risk of head and neck cancer, among these are alcohol and tobacco use. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk of developing these cancers and other related diseases. Other factors that can increase the risk of head and neck cancers are human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, regular (or frequent) chewing of paan (betel quid), poor oral and dental hygiene, poor nutrition, occupational exposure, radiation exposure and ancestry.

Symptoms includes lump in the neck, change in voice, growth in the mouth, cancer sores that does not go away, difficulty in swallowing, weight loss, changes in the skin and persistent earache.

“Prevention is better than cure,” as health advocates always say. Early detection also is a key to successful treatment in cancer. So what should we do to avoid these cancers? Below are tips to protect your head and neck health:

• Avoid smoking. Tobacco exposes mouth to different substances that exacerbate immune response.
• Limit alcohol drinking. Too much consumption of alcoholic beverages can cause chronic health diseases.
• Eat a well-balanced diet. Proper nutrition contributes in boosting immune function. Nutrients that boost immune system are vitamins A (from liver, egg, meat, cheese, fish, camote, yellow vegetables and fruits), C (mostly in fruits, tomatoes, bell pepper, and dark green leafy vegetables), D (sardines, salmon, tuna, tanigue and other fatty fish, mushroom, egg, beans, and avocado), E (nuts, green leafy vegetables, and vegetable oils), and other essential B-Vitamins such as B6, B9 and B12. Minerals involved in strengthening immune system are iron, zinc and selenium.
• Limit sun exposure. UV rays can damage our skin and cause lip cancer. It is advisable to wear lip balm and sunscreen to protect skin from UV rays.
• Be physically active. Have at least 30 minutes to one hour of physical activity every day. Daily tasks such as household and school chores are considered as physical activities.
• Maintain proper oral and dental hygiene. Check the label of the toothpaste that has a fluoride on it. Fluoride helps prevent cavities.
• Reduce screen time to two hours or less each day. Take at least 7-9 hours of sleep to reduce stress and improve mood.

Campaign awareness regarding its prevention, early diagnosis and treatment should be intensified to promote health and avoid further negative effects both socially and economically. (NO I Vazamija Therese A. Villasi, RND).

References:

American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. (July 2019). Head and neck cancer. Retrieved on 28 April 2021 from https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/head-and-neck-cancer/

Ferlay J, Ervik M, Lam F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, et al. Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2020 (https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed February 2021).

Healthy Pilipinas. (27 April 2021). Head and neck cancer cause. Retrieved on 28 April 2021 from https://www.facebook.com/DOHhealthypilipinas/posts/303653567952498 

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (n.d.) Prevention, causes, and risk factors for head and neck cancer. Retrieved on 28 April 2021 from https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/head-neck/risk-prevention-screening

National Cancer Institute (n.d.). Head and Neck Cancers. Retrieved on 27 April 2021 from https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet

Radyo mo sa Nutrisyon (2 April 2020). Nutrients that are essential in boosting the immune system. Retrieved on 28 April 2021 from https://www.facebook.com/radyomosanutrisyon/posts/3093133917363339