Where does head and neck cancer occur?

Head and neck cancer is cancer in the head or neck region.

Head and neck cancers make up about 4% of all cancers in the United States.

Men are more likely to get head and neck cancer, but it’s also seen in women and never smokers.

There are several different locations where head and neck cancer can occur.

Voice Box (Larynx)

Laryngeal cancer = the voice box (larynx)

Throat (Pharynx)

Hypopharyngeal cancer = the lower throat (next to and behind your voice box)

Oropharyngeal cancer = the middle section of your throat, including your tonsils, soft palate and back of tongue

Nasopharyngeal cancer = the space behind your nose

Mouth

Oral cancer = the mouth, cheeks, lips, front of your tongue and the roof of mouth

Nose and sinuses

Nose (nasal cavity) = the openings behind the nostrils

Sinus (paranasal sinus) cancer = the air-filled spaces around or near the nose

Salivary glands

Salivary gland cancer = the salivary glands, the organs in your mouth and throat that produce saliva

Neck

Head and neck cancers can spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, causing a mass.

Catching head and neck cancer early is important. The survival rate of people with stage 1 or stage 2 head and neck cancer is between 70% and 90% .

If you have questions about head and neck cancer, talk to your healthcare provider.

This educational resource was created with support from Merck.