Words to know: Head and neck cancer
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- The most common type of head and neck cancer. It starts in the flat cells that line the mouth and throat.
- Oral cavity
- The mouth, including the lips, front of the tongue, gums, cheeks, and floor and roof of the mouth.
- Oropharynx
- The middle part of the throat, including the back of the tongue and the tonsils.
- Larynx
- The voice box. It holds the vocal cords and helps protect your airway when you swallow.
- Nasopharynx
- The upper part of the throat, behind the nose.
- HPV
- Human papillomavirus. A common virus that can cause some throat cancers.
- p16
- A protein test on the tumor that shows if a throat cancer is caused by HPV.
- EBV
- Epstein-Barr virus. A common virus linked to nasopharynx cancer.
- Biopsy
- Removing a small piece of tissue to check for cancer under a microscope.
- Lymph nodes
- Small bean-shaped glands that are part of the immune system. Cancer can spread to them in the neck.
- Neck dissection
- Surgery to remove lymph nodes from the neck.
- TORS
- Transoral robotic surgery. Surgery done through the mouth using robotic tools.
- Laryngectomy
- Surgery to remove the voice box. Afterward, you breathe through an opening in the neck.
- Chemoradiation
- Chemotherapy and radiation given during the same period.
- IMRT
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Radiation shaped closely to the tumor to spare healthy tissue.
- Immunotherapy
- Treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer.
- PD-L1
- A protein on some cancer and immune cells. Its level, given as a CPS score, helps decide if immunotherapy may work.
- Perioperative therapy
- Treatment given both before and after surgery.
- Mucositis
- Painful sores and swelling in the lining of the mouth and throat from treatment.
- Xerostomia
- Dry mouth caused by less saliva.
- Dysphagia
- Trouble swallowing.
- Feeding tube
- A soft tube through the belly into the stomach (often called a PEG tube) for food and fluids.
- Osteoradionecrosis
- Damage to the jaw bone caused by radiation. Good dental care lowers the risk.
- Metastatic
- Cancer that has spread from where it started to other parts of the body.
- Palliative care
- Care that eases symptoms and improves quality of life at any stage of illness.
Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.