Health Advice
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- Borderline personality disorder
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- Brain abscess
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- Heart bypass
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- Carbon monoxide poisoning
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- Tics
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- Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC or transferrin) test
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- Vitamins, minerals and supplements
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- Warfarin
- Weight loss (unexpected and unplanned)
- Whiplash
- Wisdom tooth removal
- X-ray
- Yellow fever
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Latest from blog
Every parent’s heart sinks when they receive the dreaded note from school warning about head lice. Don’t worry – Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy in Donabate is here to to give us advice and tips. The first thing to do is to check the child’s head. You will need some tea tree conditioner, a... Read more >
Read moreWe ask Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy Donabate how to make the most of great sunny summer days whilst protecting our skin from harmful rays. Jane says “The Irish Cancer Society SunSmart program has great guidelines to keep us safe. See below for some useful tips and advice” Ways to protect your skin: Shade... Read more >
Read morePollen Highs & Watery Eyes… Talk to Jane Brennan, your Hay Fever Expert in Donabate Are your eyes itchy, red or watery? Is your throat scratchy? Are you sneezing? Do you have itchy ears, nose or mouth? Do you have a blocked or runny nose? Do you wake up feeling exhausted? Hay fever can cause... Read more >
Read moreNHS Choices - Introduction
(25/02/2014)
Head and neck cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer. Each year, around 13,000 new cases are diagnosed in the UK.
There are over 30 areas within the head and neck where cancer can develop, including the:
- mouth (including lip)
- thyroid gland
- voicebox (larynx)
- salivary glands
- nose and sinuses
- throat (pharynx)
Oesophageal cancer isn't classified as a head and neck cancer. Also, eye cancer is classified as an "ophthalmic tumour", rather than a head and neck cancer.
Mouth cancer
Mouth cancer can affect a number of areas in and around the mouth including the:
- lip
- tongue
- inside of the cheek
- floor or roof of the mouth
- gum
- oropharynx, which includes the tonsils, tongue base and soft palate
Cancer of the mouth is the most common type of head and neck cancer, accounting for around 6,800 diagnoses in the UK each year.
Read more about mouth cancer.
Thyroid cancer
The thyroid gland is a small gland at the base of the neck. It releases hormones that have powerful effects on a number of different functions of the body.
The most common symptom of cancer of the thyroid is a painless lump or swelling that develops in your neck.
Other symptoms only tend to occur after the condition has reached an advanced stage and may include:
- unexplained hoarseness
- difficulty breathing and swallowing
- pain in your neck
Read more about thyroid cancer.
Laryngeal cancer
Laryngeal cancer (cancer of the larynx) develops in the tissue of the larynx (voice box).
The main symptom of laryngeal cancer is a change in the voice, such as hoarseness.
Less common symptoms may include:
- difficulty or pain when swallowing
- a persistent cough
- a lump or swelling in your neck
Read more about laryngeal cancer.
Salivary gland cancer
Salivary glands produce saliva, which keeps your mouth moist and helps with swallowing and digestion.
There are three main pairs of salivary glands. They are the:
- parotid glands – which are located between your cheeks and your ears
- sublingual glands – which are located under your tongue
- submandibular glands – which are located under each side of your jawbone
Salivary gland cancer most commonly affects the parotid glands.
Nose and sinus cancer
Nose and sinus cancer affects the nasal cavity (above the roof of your mouth) and the sinuses (the small, air-filled cavities inside your nose and behind your cheekbones and forehead).
The symptoms of nose and sinus cancer are similar to viral or bacterial infections, such as the common cold or sinusitis, and include:
- a persistent blocked nose, which usually only affects one side
- nosebleeds
- a decreased sense of smell
- mucus running from the nose or down the throat
Read more about nose and sinus cancer.
Nasopharyngeal cancer
Nasopharyngeal cancer affects the pharynx (the part of the throat that connects the back of the nose to the back of the mouth).
It's the rarest type of head and neck cancer, with around 240 cases diagnosed each year in the UK.
Symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer can include:
- a lump in the neck – due to the involvement of lymph nodes (glands)
- hearing loss (usually only in one ear)
- tinnitus – hearing sound from inside the body rather than from an outside source
- a blocked or stuffy nose
- nasal discharge
- nosebleeds
Read more about nasopharyngeal cancer.
You can find more information about head and neck cancer on the Cancer Research UK and Macmillan websites.