I'm a Cancer Survivor

At the end of 2025 I was diagnosed with a very rare, but aggressive cancer to the mouth.  In early 2026 the cancer was removed surgically, the mouth reconstructed and followed by extensive radiation treatment to the facial area.

Although the experience was very traumatic and I am left me with serious scars and anxious memories, I have life in abundance for which I am most grateful.

Herewith some cancer awareness information regarding Head & Neck cancers.

About Head & Neck Cancers

“Head and neck cancer” is a broad category that includes several cancers that start in regions of your head and neck. Most start in squamous cells that make up the moist tissue lining your mouth, throat (pharynx), voice box or nasal cavity. Providers classify them as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

If you have head and neck cancer, your oncologist will work with you to determine the best treatment options. The goal is to fight the disease while preserving those parts of your body that help you speak, eat and make facial expressions. The earlier it’s caught and treated, the better your chances of getting rid of the cancer for good.

Types of head and neck cancers

Head and neck cancers include cancers in your mouth, parts of your throat (nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx) and other related structures:

• Oral cancer: Cancer that forms in your lips, gums, tongue, the lining of your cheeks and lips, the top and bottom of your mouth, or behind your wisdom teeth.
• Salivary gland cancer: Cancer of your salivary glands, which produce spit.
• Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer: Cancer that forms in the hollow area inside of your nose (nasal cavity) or the hollow spaces in the bones surrounding your nose (paranasal sinuses).
• Nasopharyngeal cancer: Cancer of the upper part of your throat (nasopharynx).
• Oropharyngeal cancer: Cancer of the middle part of your throat (oropharynx), including your tonsils and the base of your tongue.
• Hypopharyngeal cancer: Cancer of the bottom part of your throat (hypopharynx).
• Laryngeal cancer: Cancer of your voice box (larynx), which contains your vocal cords.

How common are head and neck cancers?

About 4.5% of cancer diagnoses worldwide are head and neck cancers. Most head and neck cancers affect males over 50. But this may be because this group is more likely to have risk factors associated with these cancers, like a history of tobacco use.

In the U.S., instances of tobacco-related head and neck cancers have fallen. Head and neck cancers related to HPV (a type of sexually transmitted infection) are on the rise. Alongside this shift, more people getting diagnosed are under 50.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14458-head-and-neck-cancer