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Dr. Weeks discusses the connection between smoking and head and neck cancers.
Dr. Weeks:
When you think about head and neck cancer, smoking comes right to the forefront. Head and neck cancers are, for the majority of the time, related directly to smoking cigarettes, and smoking has been shown in numerous studies to be one of the most detrimental things that someone can do to their body, and in our specialty, head and neck cancers are usually a direct cause or a direct effect of smoking cigarettes.
Basically, when patients use tobacco on a regular basis, the amount of carcinogenic exposure is concentrated in the head and neck region. We see cancers in all parts of the head and neck that are directly related to these exposures; things like tongue cancers, cancers of the oral cavity, cancers of the voice box, the throat and the lymph nodes of the neck are all directly related to tobacco use and both oral tobacco as well as cigarette smoking.
About Dr. Weeks, M.D.:
Dr. Brian Weeks specializes in diseases of the ear, nose, throat, as well as tumors of the head and neck region, including thyroid, parathyroid, and skull base tumors. He has advanced specialty training in endoscopic sinus surgery, and is a national/international leader in balloon sinuplasty surgery. Additionally, Dr. Weeks has expertise in minimally invasive surgeries of the head and neck, as well as head and neck reconstruction. His role in reconstruction of the head and neck includes management of skin cancers, facial defects and blemishes, and cosmetic imperfections. He also provides extensive knowledge in skin care, facial peels, and facial care products.