Busted: 6 Myths About Head and Neck Cancers

1. "Head and neck cancer is only one kind of cancer."

"Any part of your head or neck can get cancer, like your tonsils, sinuses or tongue," explained dentist Jessica Pharar, DMD.

Head and neck cancers include all cancers that start in the mouth and nasal passages and extend through the throat. This includes cancers of the:

• Nose
• Sinuses
• Tongue
• Oral mucosa (like the gums and lining of the cheeks)
• Lip
• Salivary glands
• Tonsils
• Throat (known as the pharynx)

2. "Only old people get head and neck cancer."

Head and neck cancers are more common in people over age 40. But they can occur even in young people, and the number of head and neck cancer cases has been steadily rising about 1% every year.

Those numbers include more young people than ever before, largely because of a rise in head and neck cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV).

3. "Only smokers and drinkers get head and neck cancer."

Heavy alcohol and tobacco use places you at a higher risk of developing head and neck cancer because chemicals in tobacco-containing products can damage the DNA inside your oral cavities, placing you at risk for cancer. Plus, drinking and smoking together increases your risk — the rate of head and neck cancers in people who drink and smoke regularly is 30 times higher than in people who don't.

That being said, smoking and drinking are not the only risk factors. All of the following risk factors raise the risk of developing certain types of head and neck cancers:

• A history of tongue conditions, such as tongue thinning, tongue inflammation, enlarged tongue or burning mouth syndrome
• Chewing products, such as betel quid, and smokeless tobacco, such as chewing tobacco, snuff and dip
• Diets low in fruit and vegetables
• Ultraviolet (UV) exposure, from being outside or in a tanning bed
• Certain genetic conditions like Dyskeratosis congenita and Fanconi anemia
• Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and HPV — HPV is thought to cause up to 70% of oropharyngeal (the back of the throat) cancers in the U.S. alone
• Occupational hazards, like exposure to wood dust and asbestos
• Oral sex
• Reflux diseases, such as acid reflux and GERD

4. "There's no way to prevent head and neck cancer."

Many of the risk factors for head and neck cancers are preventable. You can lower your risk of all head and neck cancers by:

• Quitting smoking and/or drinking alcohol
• Avoiding all oral tobacco products
• Seeing a dentist regularly
• Getting vaccinated against HPV — the HPV vaccine is typically recommended for everyone until age 26, so discuss the vaccination with your clinician.
• Using condoms and dental dams during oral sex
• Limiting UV exposure
• Using sunscreen on your lips
• Eating a healthy diet that includes limiting processed foods and sugars and focuses on fresh fruit and vegetables
• Managing reflux diseases with treatment prescribed by a clinician

5. "Mouthwash causes oral cancer."

Some studies seemed to suggest that mouthwash that contained high levels of alcohol was linked to head and neck cancers. However, there is not enough evidence to support any claim that using mouthwash will cause mouth cancer. More importantly, the possible link in the study was people using mouthwash because they drank and smoked regularly, which are more likely the culprits.

While using mouthwash is unlikely to give you cancer, neglecting oral care could raise your risk of head and neck cancers. There is some evidence that proper oral care can help reduce cancer risk. Plus, with regular check-ups, a dentist may spot changes that could indicate cancer early on.

"If you’re seeing your dentist regularly, we catch head and neck cancer at a much earlier stage, when it's much easier to treat and manage," explained Pharar.

6. "Head and neck cancer always causes symptoms."

Unfortunately, some head and neck cancers can develop slowly over time, without any obvious symptoms. For instance, it typically takes years to develop oral cancer after becoming infected with HPV.

The symptoms of head and neck cancer can also seem like they’re not a big deal, so you may not think they’re anything serious. "Sometimes you'll have a cough or a sore throat that won't go away," said Pharar. Other symptoms can include trouble swallowing, a sore on the lip that won't heal, ear pain or feeling like something is caught in your throat.

You should see a clinician for any persistent symptom — even if it seems minor, like a cough or sore throat — and, most importantly, continue your regular dental check-ups. The people peering into your mouth and throat every six months may be the ones to spot any small change first. Like with any type of cancer, early detection matters.