An Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Kwabena Agyenim-Boateng, has shed light on the need for increased awareness of head and neck cancers, warning that changing lifestyle practices are contributing to the growing prevalence of the condition.

According to him, the rise in these cancers, particularly among younger people, makes education on risk factors, symptoms and early detection increasingly important.

Speaking on GTV on July 27, 2026, Dr Agyenim-Boateng explained that head and neck cancers refer to cancers affecting different areas within the head and neck region.

He said these include cancers of the nasopharynx, which is the back of the nose, the paranasal sinuses located in the bones close to the nose, the oropharynx at the back of the mouth, deeper parts of the throat, the voice box and the oesophagus, where food passes before reaching the stomach.

“There is an increase in the prevalence of these conditions. The other important thing is that there are now new lifestyle practices that are predisposing, especially our younger ones, to these head and neck conditions,” he said.

The ENT specialist noted that the head and neck region plays a critical role in human health because it supports several essential functions, including eating, breathing, smelling, tasting, hearing and communication.

“The head and neck region contributes so much to overall health and well-being. When you are talking about eating, it is your head and neck region, your sense of smell, your ability to taste, your ability to hear, and your ability to breathe”, he noted.

Dr Agyenim-Boateng added that communication, which is central to human relationships, can also be affected when the head and neck region is affected by disease.

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“As you speak, communication is the lifeline of relationships. So all these functions of the human body are affected when the head and neck region is in trouble,” he said.

He stressed the seriousness of cancers affecting these areas because of the vital roles they play in everyday life.

“Head and neck cancers become so important. I tell people when your hand is cut off because of a cancer or something, you live…. For whatever other reason, if your leg is cut off, you may still live but you can’t cut off your head and live,” he said.

Dr Agyenim-Boateng urged the public to pay attention to unusual symptoms affecting the head and neck region and seek medical attention early to improve the chances of successful treatment.

World Head and Neck Cancer Day, observed annually on July 27, to raise awareness about the disease, emphasize early detection, and educate the public on risk factors and symptoms.

JKB/VPO

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