Dr. Tony Wang - Part 1: Head and Neck Cancer

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07/06/23

Doctor Tony Wang, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center

What Are The Most Common Forms Of Head And Neck Cancer?

Most common cancers of the head and neck include the oral cavity, the oropharynx, the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, and the larynx, and they're all grouped together because they're in the same region so to speak.

And the type of cancer or histology is known as squamous cell carcinoma which occurs in about ninety percent of head and neck cancers.

How Often Do These Cancers Occur?

Head and neck cancers occur about 45,000 cases per year in the United States and about 8,000 patients die secondary to this cancer.

Is There An Awareness Deficit?

Head and neck cancers only occur in about 5% of men and less than 2% in women, so compared to patients who have Prostate, Lung, Breast, or Colon cancers, the incidence is not as high as those cancers, and so perhaps the awareness is just not enough.