Your head and neck are vulnerable to developing cancer

These specific vegetables are the best to consume for prevention

- CHESHIRE QUE, RND, RN, RD

Breast and lung cancers are the most common types of cancer that we hear about. But did you know that the uppermost part of the body is also vulnerable to the abnormal mutations of cells that turn cancerous? While it may not be genetically associated, there are surprisingly simple measures that we can take to prevent the occurrence of head and neck cancer.

Head and neck cancer can occur anywhere in the mouth or oral cavity; pharynx where the food passes through; larynx which plays a role in breathing, swallowing and producing sound or voice; nose or nasal cavity; sinuses that humidify and warm the air we breathe and produce mucus to protect against infection; and the salivary glands that produce saliva.

Studies have shown that smoking and alcohol drinking pose a great risk of developing head and neck cancer. Have you heard of betel nut chewing? This practice originated in Southeast Asia and is even practiced in the Philippines. Betel nut, also known as areca nut, is chewed with other ingredients such as tobacco for its stimulating and narcotic effects. This practice also increases the risk of developing head and neck cancer.

The last week of April is Head and Neck Consciousness Week in the Philippines. It was former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who declared the Presidential Proclamation No. 1676, directing the Department of Health and the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery to take the lead in planning and organizing activities that will create awareness during the head and neck consciousness week.