Head and neck cancer is a number of cancers that develop in or around the throat, larynx, nose, sinuses and mouth.

According to the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, head and neck cancers occur twice as often in men than women, and are more often diagnosed in people over the age of 50.

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Common symptoms may include a lump or a sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty in swallowing or a change or hoarseness in the voice.

Risk factors for head and neck cancers include alcohol and tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco; human papillomavirus (HPV) infections; paan, or betel quid, use among immigrants of Southeast Asia; mate consumption, a tea-like beverage in South America; preserved or salted food consumption; poor oral health; occupational exposure; radiation exposure; Epstein-Barr virus infection; and Asian ancestry.