Neoplasms of the head-neck district are the seventh most common cancer in Europe, in Italy they represent 3% of cancer cases, with an average frequency three times higher in men and an incidence that increases progressively with age from the age of 50.
In 2020, in Italy alone, 9,900 people were diagnosed with head and neck cancer and 4,100 did not survive the disease, figures that make head and neck cancer the seventh most common cancer in Europe, with an incidence of about half that of lung cancer but twice that of the cervix.
75% of head and neck carcinomas are caused by tobacco smoke and alcohol abuse; other determining factors are prolonged exposures to harmful materials such as wood dust, leather processing, asbestos, nickel, exposure to ionizing radiation and air pollutants and some viruses including human papilloma virus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
The onset of lesions of the mucosa of the oral cavity that do not spontaneously regress in 10-15 days is strongly suspected and requires a specialist maxillofacial or otorhinolaryngological examination as well as the appearance of swellings at the neck or cheeks.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT WITH YOUR HEAD? 1 SYMPTOM FOR 3 WEEKS, 3 WEEKS FOR 1 LIFE
This is the motto of the Italian 2023 edition of the Make Sense Campaign: 1per3 is in fact the rule to always keep in mind when it comes to the symptoms of cervical-cephalic carcinomas, often ignored or associated with seasonal diseases such as a common sore throat or a cold. A quick understanding of the warning signs of the disease is crucial for an early diagnosis, in the presence of which the survival rate rises to 80-90%, against a life expectancy of only 5 years for those who discover the disease at an advanced stage (ibidem). Experts agree that if you have even one of these symptoms for three weeks or more, you should see your doctor: tongue pain, ulcers that do not heal and/or red or white spots in your mouth; sore throat; persistent hoarseness; pain and/or difficulty swallowing; swelling of your neck; stuffy nose on one side and/or loss of blood from your nose.
SEPTEMBER 18-21 PREVENTION DAYS
In this regard, the Department of Otolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Asl of Frosinone has joined the Make Sense Campaign promoted by the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS), and by the AIOCC (Italian Association of Cervical-Cephalic Oncology).
At the ENT and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic located on the second floor of the Spaziani Hospital in Frosinone, from 18 to 21 September (8.30-13.30 am), specialist screening visits will be carried out for the early diagnosis of tumours or suspicious lesions of the head-neck district.
HOW TO ACCESS
The screening day is aimed in particular at those who have injuries or discomfort in the oral cavity, cheeks, salivary glands, ear, other sites of the head or neck and is accessed exclusively by booking at the email address prevenzionetestacollo@aslfrosinone.it.
