The short answer
Head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist surfaces inside the head and neck, such as the mouth, throat, and voice box. They can also start in the salivary glands, sinuses, or nearby tissues. Tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, and HPV infection raise the risk.
Head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells lining the moist (mucosal) surfaces of the head and neck.
They can form in the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses and nasal cavity, or salivary glands.
Tobacco and alcohol use are the two most important risk factors, and using both together raises risk more.
Infection with certain types of HPV, especially HPV type 16, is a risk factor for cancers of the tonsils and base of the tongue.
Subjective: What you might experience
This section describes the symptoms and history a patient might report to their doctor.
A sore in the mouth or throat that doesn't heal, or a lump in the neck.
Persistent sore throat, hoarseness, or change in voice.
Trouble swallowing, chewing, or moving the jaw or tongue.
Ear pain, nasal congestion or bleeding, or a white/red patch in the mouth.
Risk history
tobacco and alcohol use, HPV infection (especially oropharynx), sun exposure for lip cancer.
Objective: Tests and findings
Head and neck exam including the mouth, throat, and neck lymph nodes.
Endoscopy (laryngoscopy/nasopharyngoscopy) to view areas that can't be seen directly.
Biopsy of the tumor or a suspicious node for tissue diagnosis, with HPV/p16 testing for oropharyngeal tumors.
Imaging
CT, MRI, and/or PET to define extent and detect spread.
Dental and nutritional evaluation before treatment.
Interactive anatomy guide
Explore where cancers start and how they are found, on an interactive body map.
Open the anatomy guideAssessment: Staging and prognosis
Diagnosis confirmed by biopsy; most are squamous cell carcinomas.
Staged with the TNM system; HPV status affects staging and prognosis in oropharyngeal cancer.
Subsite (oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, etc.) shapes the treatment plan.
Assessment of effect on speech, swallowing, and breathing.
Plan: The treatment approach
Surgery, radiation, or a combination depending on site and stage.
Chemotherapy added with radiation (chemoradiation) for more advanced disease.
Targeted therapy or immunotherapy for certain recurrent/advanced cases; clinical trials.
Speech, swallowing, dental, and nutrition support during and after treatment.
Tobacco/alcohol cessation and long-term surveillance.
These are simplified, educational SOAP-style summaries showing the kinds of findings clinicians document when evaluating each cancer, based on National Cancer Institute resources. They describe typical diagnostic criteria and workups — not a real patient, and not medical advice. Real clinical notes are individualized. Always rely on your own care team. Based on National Cancer Institute educational content. Educational only — not medical advice.
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Common questions
What are head and neck cancers?
Head and neck cancers are a group of cancers that usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist surfaces (called mucosal surfaces) inside the head and neck, such as the mouth, throat, and voice box. These are called squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. They can also begin in the salivary glands, sinuses, or the muscles or nerves of the head and neck, but those types are much less common.
Where in the head and neck can these cancers form?
They can form in the oral cavity (mouth), the throat (pharynx), the voice box (larynx), the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, and the salivary glands. Each area has its own parts, such as the tonsils and base of the tongue in the throat, or the vocal cords in the voice box.
What causes head and neck cancers?
Alcohol and tobacco use are the two most important risk factors, especially for cancers of the mouth, hypopharynx, and voice box. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk than people who use only one. Infection with cancer-causing types of HPV, especially HPV type 16, is a risk factor for cancers of the tonsils and base of the tongue.
What are the symptoms of head and neck cancer?
Symptoms may include a lump in the neck, a sore in the mouth or throat that does not heal and may be painful, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice. These symptoms can also be caused by other, less serious conditions, so it is important to check with a doctor or dentist.
Can head and neck cancers be prevented?
People at risk, particularly those who use tobacco, can talk with their doctor about ways to stop using tobacco to lower their risk. Avoiding oral HPV infection can reduce the risk of HPV-associated head and neck cancers. There is no standard or routine screening test, but dentists may check the mouth for signs of cancer during a routine checkup.
Are brain and thyroid cancers considered head and neck cancers?
No. Cancers of the brain, the eye, the esophagus, the thyroid gland, and the skin of the head and neck are not usually classified as head and neck cancers, even though they are located in that region of the body.
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Sources last checked: 2026-07-21 what this meansLast updated: 2026-07-21Next planned review: 2027-07-21
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How this page was created
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes. We do not employ clinicians and do not intend to — our work is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and checked line by line against the sources listed on it. That confirms the sources support what the page says. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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