together, we face it
hope, support, awareness
ABOUT Head & neck Cancer
Symptoms
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness/changes in voice
- White/red patches inside mouth
- Pain in ears, neck, or throat,
- Unhealed mouth/throat sores
- Lumps/swelling in neck or face
SELF EXAM GUIDE
Early detection and diagnosis are crucial to the successful treatment of head and neck cancers. When detected early the survival rate is over 80%; however, more than half of all cases are found later. Learn more about performing a HNC self exam.
risk factors
Alcohol and tobacco use are the two most important risk factors for head and neck cancers. At least 75% of head and neck cancers are caused by tobacco and alcohol use.
what is it?
Cancers that are known collectively as head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces inside the head and neck (for example, inside the mouth, the nose, and the throat).
Note: Cancers of the brain, eye, esophagus, and thyroid gland, as well as those of the scalp, skin, muscles, and bones of the head and neck, are not classified as head and neck cancers.
how is hnc treated?
The treatment plan for an individual patient depends on a number of factors, including the exact location of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, and the person’s age and general health. Treatment for head and neck cancer can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of treatments.
People who are diagnosed with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer may be treated differently than people with oropharyngeal cancers that are HPV-negative.
About Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that involve patients. Through clinical trials, doctors and researchers find new ways to improve treatments and the quality of life for people with diseases.
If you or your loved one have been diagnosed with head or neck cancer and need treatment, clinical trials are an option to consider. Trials are available for all stages of cancer.
Head & Neck Cancer Stories
Survivor stories can provide hope, education, and a realistic view of life beyond treatment. We have nearly 70 survivor and caregiver stories on our website (through our Ambassador program), and we hope to begin featuring other survivors’ stories as well!
For now, learn more about our Ambassadors and their head & neck cancer journey.
Our Mission
to provide hope and support to individuals impacted by head and neck cancer, to raise awareness about prevention and early detection, and to advocate for improved patient outcomes.
Latest Alliance Blog
10 Things Your SLP Wishes You Knew About Head & Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancer and its treatment can affect the things we often take for granted: eating a meal, swallowing a sip of water, speaking to a loved one, using your voice, or breathing comfortably. When those things change, life
Alphabet Soup? No, It’s Precision Medicine
Alphabet Soup? No, It’s Precision Medicine HPV. EGFR. PD-L1. TMB. TILs. ctDNA. These aren’t just random letters. They’re part of a field called precision medicine, and they may have already shaped the cancer treatment you received, even if nobody explained
Beyond Cancer Treatment: Why Radiation Causes Dry Mouth, and What Researchers Are Exploring
Sponsored content provided by MeiraGTx for educational purposes and reviewed for alignment with the Head & Neck Cancer Alliance mission. For many head and neck cancer survivors, finishing treatment doesn’t mean the hard part is over. Months or years later,
Clinical Trials
Our work would not be possible without our sponsors and partners. Please see below to learn more about our partners and the clinical trials that are underway to help head and neck cancer patients. For more information about clinical trials and where to find trials that might apply to you or a loved one, visit our Clinical Trial Finder or click on any of the trial opportunities below. Featured Clinical trials are meant to provide educational information about trials and not endorse any particular trial.
Follow us!
Registration is open for the 2026 Head & Neck Cancer Alliance Survivorship Symposium! This free event takes place July 18 in Boston and online, bringing together survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and advocates. www.headandneck.org/symposium
Eating. Swallowing. Speaking. Breathing. Head and neck cancer treatment can affect all of it, and when those things change, life changes.
Did you know you should start seeing a speech-language pathologist at diagnosis, not after things get hard? SLPs are on the front lines of recovery, helping patients protect and rebuild the functions that matter most. They shared 10 things they wish every head and neck cancer patient and caregiver knew. Read the full story here: https://www.headandneck.org/blog-10-things-slp/
The NANORAY-312 Clinical Trial is testing an investigational medication for head and neck cancer in people 60 years of age and older who are not able to have surgery. For more information, visit
https://clinicaltrials.jnj.com/en/study-detail/NCT04892173
* Sponsored post
For head and neck cancer (HNC) survivor Trish, holiday events and meals meant planning ahead to stay nourished. Watch the full video to see Trish and dietitian Kanisha Parikh make recipes and discuss nutrition during and after HNC and thyroid cancer (TC) treatment: https://bit.ly/4wBzuRf #MoreThanHNC #headandneckcancer #ad
