Throat Cancer Symptoms
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Throat Cancer Symptoms
Pain when swallowing may be caused by several conditions, including injuries, infections or the common cold. Persistent discomfort when swallowing, however, may be a sign of throat cancer. The symptoms may vary depending on the type of throat cancer and how far the cancer has progressed. Some of the symptoms that may develop include:
- Pain - Discomfort when swallowing, pain around the teeth and inside the jaw, frequent headaches and ear pain, sore throats or any other unexplained pain in the throat or jaw that does not go away, may be linked to throat cancer.
- Swelling - People with throat cancer often experience swelling in the eyes, jaw, throat or neck.
- Bleeding - Unexplained bleeding in the mouth or through the nose are common throat cancer symptoms.
- Discolored Mouth Patches - Some people notice white (leukoplakia) or red (erythroplakia) patches or lesions on the lining of the mouth.
- Voice Changes - Hoarseness or other changes in the voice that cannot be explained and last for at least two weeks are common throat cancer symptoms.
- Lump - Some people have described a mass or lump in the throat or neck before being diagnosed with throat cancer.
- Difficulty Swallowing & Breathing - Many people with throat cancer experience trouble chewing or swallowing. It may also feel like something is caught in your throat. People with this disease may find that they begin to avoid solid foods as it becomes more difficult or painful to swallow and, as a result, some people lose weight unintentionally.
- Persistent Coughing - Coughing that is not associated with a cold and lasts for an extended amount of time may be a sign of throat cancer.
Understanding Throat Cancer Symptoms
Some of these symptoms may be specific to the region of throat where the cancer develops. For example, most patients with a cancer that starts in the hypopharynx (the region between the epiglottis and the larynx) typically do not experience hoarseness as a symptom. Hoarseness may actually indicate a later stage of throat cancer or be a sign that the disease has spread to the vocal cords.
In addition, many people diagnosed with esophageal cancer often feel like food gets "stuck" in their chest, which is a symptom called dysphagia. Hiccups in combination with dysphagia are often a symptom of esophageal throat cancer.
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