Head and neck cancers
Head and neck cancer risks and symptoms
Understand the symptoms and key risk factors for the group of cancers known as head and neck cancers.
Last updated:
Sources and references 
Every person with head and neck cancer has a different experience, so discuss your treatment options with your doctors. The information in this booklet may answer some of your questions and help you with what to ask your treatment team.
If you are concerned about any symptoms, see your general practitioner (GP) without delay. For oral cancers, your dentist may also be able to give you advice and refer you to a specialist.
What are the risk factors for head and neck cancers?
The main factors that increase the risk of developing the most common head and neck cancers are:
- smoking tobacco (including cigarettes, cigars and pipes)
- drinking alcohol
- having had human papillomavirus (HPV).
If you drink and smoke your risk is higher than just drinking or smoking. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are at higher risk. Visit aboriginal.cancercouncil.com.au/staying-healthy/smoking. Research suggests that vaping and e-cigarettes may potentially also increase oral cancer risk, due to carcinogenic substances, increased inflammation risk and possible damage to oral tissue.
Other risk factors account for a smaller proportion of head and neck cancers. These risk factors include:
- having persistent sores or red or white patches in the mouth
- chewing tobacco, snuff, betel nut, areca nut, paan or gutka
- breathing in asbestos fibres, wood dust or certain chemicals
- poor dental health
- having a weakened immune system
- having had radiation therapy to the head or neck area in the past
- having too much sun exposure (for lip cancer and skin cancer)
- having a parent, child or sibling with head and neck cancer (possibly because you have similar lifestyle factors)
- inheriting a condition linked to head and neck cancer (e.g. Fanconi anaemia, Li-Fraumeni syndrome)
- having had Epstein-Barr Virus (also called glandular fever).
Talk to your doctor if you are worried about any risk factors.
What are the symptoms of head and neck cancers?
In the early stages, head and neck cancers may have no symptoms. Many of the symptoms of head and neck cancers are common for other illnesses, so they don’t necessarily mean you have cancer – only tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Mouth (oral) cancers
- mouth pain
- pain when swallowing
- a persistent sore or swelling in the mouth, or the area not healing after having a tooth extracted
- a sore throat that doesn’t get better
- unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth
- red or white patches on the gums, tongue or mouth
- bad breath
- changes in speech or trouble pronouncing words
- difficulty chewing or swallowing food or moving the tongue
- weight loss
- loose teeth, or dentures that no longer fit
- earache
- a lump in the neck.
Throat (pharyngeal) cancers
- a lump in the neck
- a persistent sore throat or cough
- difficulty swallowing or opening the mouth wide
- pain when swallowing
- coughing up bloody mucus
- bad breath
- weight loss
- voice changes or hoarseness
- dull pain around the neck
- earache
- feeling that your air supply is blocked
- numb face
- a blocked nose
- hearing loss
- headache
Voice box (laryngeal) cancers
- a persistent change in the sound of your voice, including hoarseness
- a sore throat that doesn’t get better
- difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing
- coughing all the time
- difficulty breathing
- weight loss
- pain in the ear
- a lump in the neck.
Nose (nasal cavity or sinus) cancers
- reduced sense of smell
- a persistent blocked nose or ear
- frequent nosebleeds
- lots of mucus in the throat or the back of the nose
- frequent headaches or sinus pressure
- difficulty swallowing
- loose or painful upper teeth
- a lump on the face or in the nose or mouth
- numb face, upper lip or inside mouth
- pressure or pain in ears
- a bulging or watery eye
- double vision or complete or partial loss of eyesight
- a lump in the neck.
Salivary gland cancers
- swelling or a lump near the ear, jaw or lip, or inside the mouth
- left and right sides of the face or neck looking different
- drooping, numbness or muscle weakness on one side of the face (palsy).
Sources and references
This edition has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative.
We thank the reviewers of this booklet: Dr Malinda Itchins, Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Royal North Shore Hospital and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Cynleen Kai, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare, VIC; Dr Naveed Alam, Thoracic Surgeon, St Vincent’s Hospital, Epworth Richmond, and Monash Medical Centre, VIC; Helen Benny, Consumer; Dr Rachael Dodd, Senior Research Fellow, The Daffodil Centre, NSW; Kim Greco, Specialist head and neck cancers Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Marco Salvador, Consumer; Janene Shelton, xxx Foundation Australia – Specialist head and neck cancers Nurse, Darling Downs Health, QLD; Prof Emily Stone, Respiratory Physician, Department of Thoracic Medicine and xxx Transplantation, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; A/Prof Marianne Weber, Stream Lead, head and neck cancers Policy and Evaluation, The Daffodil Centre, NSW.
We would also like to thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
References
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (US), NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines): Head and Neck Cancers, Version 2.2025.
- J-P Machiels et al., “Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx: EHNS–ESMO–ESTRO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment
and follow-up”, Annals of Oncology, vol. 31, iss. 11, 2020, pp. 1462–75. - P Bossi et al., “Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: ESMO–EURACAN Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up”, Annals of Oncology, vol. 32, iss. 4, 2020, pp. 452–65.
- C Resteghini et al., “Sinonasal malignancy: ESMO–EURACAN Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up”, ESMO Open, vol. 10, iss. 2, 2025.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Cancer Data in Australia 2025, AIHW, Canberra, viewed 29 October 2025, aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia.
Head and neck cancers
Cancer Council 13 11 20
Call us to talk to a specially trained health professional for free and confidential support and information.
Guide to best cancer care
This head and neck cancers guide explains the standard of high-quality cancer care that all Australians can expect, from diagnosis, to treatment, recovery, and living with cancer.