Don’t Ignore the Signals!

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Early detection can save lives!

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“Worldwide, head and neck cancer is the 7th most common cancer overall. It’s the 5th most common cancer in men and the 12th most common in women”

World Cancer Report

Head and neck cancer refers to a group of cancers that form in areas such as the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses, nasal cavity or salivary glands. These cancers can be challenging to treat because they develop in small, complex areas of the body that support essential functions, including breathing, swallowing and speaking.

Most head and neck cancers develop from risk factors such as long‑term exposure to tobacco and alcohol.

A portion of head and neck cancers are related to human papillomavirus (HPV)

Video source: thebrainmaze

]]> https://headandnecknetwork.com/the-difference-between-benign-vs-malignant-tumors/feed/ 0 https://headandnecknetwork.com/robotic-surgery-for-head-and-neck-cancer/ https://headandnecknetwork.com/robotic-surgery-for-head-and-neck-cancer/#respond Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:45:49 +0000 https://headandnecknetwork.com/?p=1957 The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical platform that uses a minimally invasive surgical approach and is manufactured by Intuitive Surgical. The system is used for surgical procedures including prostatectomies, cardiac valve repair and renal and gynecologic interventions. Robotic surgery can be used as part of minimally invasive surgery in the head and neck.

Robotic surgery is particularly useful for procedures in the oropharynx (back of the mouth). The robot which is controlled by the surgeon can be used to remove tumors which would otherwise require large obvious incisions. This improves recovery and minimizes the potential negative affects on functioning such as speech and swallow.

In 2012, It was used in an estimated 200,000 surgeries.
The system is called “da Vinci” in part because of Leonardo da Vinci’s study of human anatomy, eventually led to the design of the first known robot in history.
Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved, FDA-approved, procedure used to remove benign and malignant tumors from the throat, base of tongue, and tonsils, particularly for HPV-related cancers. Using high-definition 3D cameras and precise robotic arms, surgeons access the throat through the mouth, eliminating the need for external incisions or jaw splitting.

Polyphenols are naturally occurring micronutrients found exclusively in plant-based foods (herbs and spices, fruits, nuts and seeds, vegetables, cocoa powder and coffee)

Emerging evidence highlights the synergistic potential of polyphenols and exercise in modulating molecular pathways critical for brain function, tumor suppression, and healthy aging. Both interventions independently influence oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, metabolic regulation, and neuroplasticity—key processes implicated in head and neck cancers (HNCs) development, neurodegeneration, and lifespan determination. Recent studies reveal that polyphenols, through their antioxidant and epigenetic-modifying properties, enhance neuronal resilience, suppress tumorigenesis, and improve metabolic homeostasis. Simultaneously, exercise activates signaling cascades, promoting neurogenesis, immune modulation, and anti-cancer effects. The molecular crosstalk between polyphenol intake and physical activity appears to amplify protective mechanisms, offering novel therapeutic strategies for brain health preservation, HNCs management, and metabolic optimization. The review critically examines the interconnected pathways influenced by polyphenols and exercise, their combined impact on brain function and tumor suppression, and discusses the translational potential for extending healthy lifespan through integrated lifestyle interventions.

When combined, polyphenols and exercise exhibit a synergistic effect, amplifying protective mechanisms against neurodegeneration, head and neck cancers, and age-related metabolic dysfunctions.

Full article: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1624047/full

Introduction:
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), has still a high mortality rate even if several multimodal treatments have been developed in the advanced stages.

Areas covered:

In recent years, immunotherapy was introduced for the treatment of advanced and metastatic HNSCC with favorable effects on survival and quality of life. Currently, pembrolizumab plus or less chemotherapy is recommended in patients with CPS > 1 in metastatic HNSCC, while nivolumab is used in the second line setting for platinum-refractory disease. However, despite the benefits of these agents, most patients progress after immunotherapy. New approaches to overcome HNSCC immune escape are ongoing, involving antibodies against other immunological locks such as LAG-3, TIGIT, TIM-3, and CD134 (OX40). Moreover, T-lymphocyte activators like GITR and vaccine strategies based on peptides, DNA and RNA against HPV-positive HNSCCs, tumor-associated antigens, dendritic cells, and personalized cancer vaccines have been recently developed.

Expert opinion

Future research is crucial to determine the optimal setting for treatment with immunological checkpoint inhibitors further new prognostic biomarkers. This review discusses both completed and ongoing clinical trials with PD-1/PDL-1 and new checkpoint inhibitors and immunotherapies. It also addresses mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy, potential therapeutic strategies to overcome this resistance, biomarkers and side effects.

Pasquale Vitale, Ilaria Di Giovanni, Chiara Tammaro, Roberta Spedaliere, Evzen Amler, Alois Necas, Marianna Scrima, Michele Caraglia & Raffaele Addeo

Full article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13543784.2026.2627205

Link Pubmed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41634980/

The strongest risk factors are:

• tobacco
• alcohol consumption
• infection of human papillomavirus (HPV)

Early diagnosis can save your live!

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Head and neck symptoms include:

• persistent sore throat
• lumps in the neck or mouth
• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• voice changes/hoarseness
• non-healing mouth sores
• persistent ear pain.

Other symptoms include:

• nasal obstruction
• bleeding
• unexplained weight loss
• facial numbness

Don’t ignore the symptoms. Early diagnosis can save your life!