H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Head and Neck Program

Prevention and Screening

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the signs of head and neck cancer?

Head and neck cancer may present itself as

• Ongoing nasal congestion
• Pain or bleeding from a lesion inside the mouth
• Blood in the sputum
• Hoarseness or noticeable changes in the voice
• Significant trouble swallowing
• Nose bleeds
• Ongoing earache
• A lump in the neck
• A non-healing sore on the lips or in the mouth
• A non-healing mole or sore on the skin

Signs of skin cancer include:

• Discoloration or changes in a  pre-existing mole
• A sore on the skin that is discolored, crusting, ulcerated, or fails to heal

A=Asymmetry One half unlike the other half.	A=Asymmetry
B=Border Irregular, scalloped or poorly defined border.	B=Border
C=Color Varied from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black, sometimes white, red or blue.	C=Color
D=Diameter Larger than 6 mm (millimeters) as a rule (approximately the diameter of a pencil eraser).	D=Diameter

What puts a patient at risk for head and neck cancer?
Smoking is related to the development of head and neck cancer. Individuals who smoke have at least a 10 times greater risk for developing cancer of the mouth, throat and voice box than does someone who does not smoke. Other risk factors include extensive use of alcohol, exposure to radiation and with skin cancers, exposure to excessive sunlight, especially in fair-skinned individuals.

Lifetime Cancer Screening and Prevention Center  focuses on helping people determine their risk for cancer, finding cancers early – when they are most treatable – or preventing them entirely. Lifetime is the first stop when it comes to eliminating cancer in our community.