Could Neck Pain Indicate Cancer?
Neck pain is something many people experience. Most of the time, it’s caused by things that can be fixed. But if your neck pain gets worse and lasts a long time, you might start worrying if it could be a sign of cancer.
Cancers in the head and neck are not super common, but they do happen. They make up about 4% of all cancer cases in the US. They’re more common in men and often affect people over 50 years old.
Even though most neck pain isn’t caused by cancer, it’s still important to know the signs of neck cancer. That way, you can see a doctor if you have any of those signs and get checked out properly.
Could Neck Pain Be a Symptom of Cancer?
Sometimes, if your neck hurts a lot and it won’t go away, it could be a sign that something serious might be going on, like cancer in your head or neck. But don’t freak out just yet, because it could also be something less scary. Look out for things like a lump, swelling, or a sore in your neck that just won’t heal. According to experts, this is the most common warning sign of cancer.
Other signs to watch out for include:
- Weird white or red patches inside your mouth, on your gums, or tongue
- Strange pain or bleeding in your mouth
- Having a hard time chewing or swallowing
- Bad breath that won’t go away
- Constant throat or face pain
- Getting lots of headaches
- Feeling numbness in your head or neck
- Your chin or jaw swelling up
- Feeling pain when you move your jaw or tongue
- Trouble speaking or a change in your voice
- Ear pain or ringing sounds in your ears
- Finding it hard to breathe
- Always having a stuffy nose
- Getting nosebleeds often
- Weird stuff dripping out of your nose
- Feeling pain in your upper teeth
Remember, these signs could mean other things besides cancer, so don’t panic right away. But if they stick around or get worse, it’s important to see a doctor. They can run tests to figure out what’s really going on with your health.
Factors Contributing to Neck Cancer
The main reasons people get head and neck cancer are drinking too much alcohol and using tobacco, like cigarettes or chewing tobacco. Actually, about 3 out of 4 cases of head and neck cancer happen because of alcohol and tobacco.
Other things that can raise your chances of getting head and neck cancer are:
- Not taking good care of your teeth and mouth
- Being around asbestos (a harmful substance)
- Being exposed to radiation
Most of the time, head and neck cancer starts in places like:
- Your mouth
- Salivary glands (which make spit)
- Your voice box (called the larynx)
- Your throat (called the pharynx)
- Inside your nose and the spaces around it (called nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses)
Other Factors That May Contribute to Neck Pain
There are plenty of reasons why your neck might hurt that have nothing to do with cancer, such as:
1. Strained muscles: Doing too much physical activity, sitting or sleeping in a weird position can make your neck muscles ache.
2. Cervical spondylitis: As you get older, the disks in your neck wear down, leading to stiffness and pain.
3. Herniated discs: Sometimes the soft part of a disk in your spine pushes out through a tear, causing pain.
Other common causes of neck pain are:
- Injuries like whiplash from accidents.
- Bone spurs growing in your neck bones.
- Diseases like meningitis or rheumatoid arthritis.
In Conclusion…
If your neck hurts, it could be a sign of cancer in your head or neck, but there are lots of other reasons too, like non-cancer problems. If your pain sticks around or you notice strange things happening, go see your doctor. They’ll ask about your health history and might do some tests to figure out what’s going on.
To lower your chances of getting head or neck cancer, quit drinking and smoking, and make sure to take good care of your teeth and mouth.
Disclaimer:
Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Corrections to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or products you obtain through this article or others.
