Experts are seeking to raise awareness of the risk of cancers that affect the head and neck this week.
An awareness week is running across Europe amid concern about growing numbers of cases affecting young adults.
The diseases are linked to smoking, alcohol and viruses transmitted by sexual activity.
The experts say growing numbers of young women are succumbing to head and neck cancers, which mostly affect men over the age of 40.
Professor Jean Louis Lefebvre, president of the European Head and Neck Society, said: “Unlike other cancers there is worryingly low awareness of the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer amongst the general public and healthcare professionals."
Professor Lefebvre, of the Centre Oscar Lambert, Lille, France, added: "By launching this awareness week as part of the Make Sense Campaign, we hope to drive a greater understanding and awareness of the disease, so that we encourage earlier presentation, diagnosis and referral, and ultimately save patients’ lives across Europe."
Professor René Leemans, of the VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, said: “The public need to be educated on the critical risk factors for the disease – smoking, drinking alcohol and, increasingly, a link to certain subtypes of the human papilloma virus, HPV.
“Head and neck cancer can be effectively treated if caught early enough, so it is vital that people are educated on the signs and symptoms of the disease.”
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