Screening

Tests and exams used to find a disease, such as cancer, in people who do not have any symptoms


Early detection

Using an approach that lets head and neck cancer get diagnosed earlier than otherwise might have occurred.

-Many pre-cancers and cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx can be found early, during routine screening exams by a dentist, doctor or by self-exam.

-Regular dental checkups that include an exam of the entire mouth are important in finding oral cancers early.

-The American Cancer Society recommends that doctors examine the mouth and throat as part of a routine cancer-related checkup.

-Along with a clinical exam of the mouth and throat, some dentists and doctors may use special dyes and/or lights to look for abnormal areas, especially if you are at higher risk for these cancers.
-If an abnormal area is spotted, some of these tests may also be used to help determine if they might be cancers (and therefore will need a biopsy) or to choose the best area to sample for a biopsy.

Signs of oral cancer

-There is no simple screening test for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers.

-These cancers are often hard to find and diagnose without complex tests.

-Because the cancers are not common, and the tests require specialized doctors, there is no recommended routine screening tests for these cancers.

-Still, many laryngeal and some hypopharyngeal cancers can be found early.

-They usually cause symptoms, such as voice changes. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

-Many of the symptoms of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers are more often caused by less serious, benign (non-cancerous) problems, or even other cancers.

Still, it is important to see a doctor to find out what is causing your symptoms. The sooner the cause is found, the sooner it can be treated, if needed.

-Most doctors do not recommend routine screening for nasopharyngeal cancer as it is a rare condition.
-There are no simple, non-invasive exams or blood tests that can reliably find this cancer early.
-But in some parts of the world such as China, where nasopharyngeal cancer is common, some people are being screened routinely for this cancer.
-They are first selected because their blood shows evidence of infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. They are given regular exams of the nasopharynx and neck.

-Small cancers of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses usually do not cause any specific symptoms that help to find them early.

-Many of the symptoms of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers can also be caused by benign conditions like infections.

-Because of this, many of these cancers are not found until they have grown large enough to block the nasal airway or sinuses, or until they have spread to nearby tissues or even to distant areas of the body.

-Still, some nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers can be found early.

-Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms. Most of these symptoms are much more likely to be caused by less serious problems.

-Still, it is important to see a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

-Salivary gland cancer is uncommon, so doctors do not recommend testing for it unless someone has symptoms.

-Still, because of its location, in many cases salivary gland cancer can be found early.

-Often patients, their dentists, or their doctors notice a mass or lump within one of the salivary glands (usually on the sides of the face or in the mouth).

-Checking the salivary glands for lumps is often a routine part of general medical and dental checkups.

-Being alert to certain symptoms and not ignoring them might help find salivary gland cancers early, when treatment is likely to be most effective.

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