Commonly Held Myths of Head and Neck Cancers Debunked

Authored by Dr. Yash Mathur, Consultant- Head, Neck and Oral Robotic OncoSurgeon, HCG Cancer Center, Borivali, Mumbai

When it comes to health, information is power. However, misunderstandings and myths can frequently obscure our knowledge and hinder efficient prevention and treatment. By its name itself, Cancer evokes one of the deepest fears in humans, which needs to be changed, particularly regarding head and neck cancers (HNC).

Anybody at any age can be affected by head and neck cancer, regardless of their origin, composition, or rate of growth. Misconceptions and culturally quoting myths related to HNC can delay the diagnosis process, leading to poor treatment outcomes. Breaking these myths would help a lot in improving health management and treatment outcomes. Below are a few common myths around HNC:

Myth 1: It is easy to detect HNC symptoms.

It is assumed that HNC symptoms are easily noticeable, however in initial phases HNC symptoms include sore throat, hoarseness in voice, difficulty in swallowing, swelling etc. which can easily be associated with other conditions. Paying attention to these symptoms and regular checkups can prove beneficial for early diagnosis of head and neck cancer.

Myth 2: HPV positive cases are same in both males and females.

It is known that males are more at risk to develop HPV Positive OPSCC than their female counterparts. This is due to the fact that men had more lifetime oral and vaginal sexual partners than females, which have been identified for its development. Apart from that, lagging HPV vaccine recommendations for males also become one of the reasons for increased number of its cases in males.

Myth 3: HNC prevails in excessive drinkers and smokers.

While smoking and alcohol consumption are among the major risk factors for HNC, still other factors like Human Papillomavirus infection, poor oral hygiene, and longer exposure to hazardous chemicals at the workplace , prolonged exposure to radiation, direct sun stand as some other significant factors that contribute to the onset of HNC.

Myth 4: The only treatment for HNC is surgery.

Though surgery is one of the options to cure HNC, it is not the lone one. The plans almost always have multifaceted treatment procedures and are invariably tailored to suit the best interests of the patients. These may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, etc. The site, type, and stage of the cancer and the health conditions of the patients are the deciding factors for the choice of treatment.

Myth 5: HNC are always fatal.

In HNC , early detection and timely intervention, coupled with continuous advancements in medical technology, have improved survival rates and played a critical role in successful outcomes. Different treatment options like robotic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy,  have helped patients relive healthy lives.

Dispelling myths around head and neck cancer is vital for early detection and proper treatment, thus it is very important to set the record straight and separate facts from fiction. It is important to be mindful of the fact that anyone can be at risk and not just people who smoke or drink; and even though there is a gendered aspect to head and neck cancer, both genders should opt for preventative care. When it comes to ailments like cancer, we cannot afford to lose time and so we need to combat all types of misinformation to save as many lives as possible. There are many videos and articles floating around in the internet offering unsolicited advice thus it is important that accurate scientific knowledge prevail over myths.