Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that develops in your throat or voice box. It can be hard to identify, especially in the early stages of the disease, as many of the signs and symptoms can mimic other conditions.
What Are the Early Signs of Throat Cancer
The earliest sign of throat cancer is often a persistent sore throat. However, this can also be a symptom of less serious conditions such as allergies or acid reflux. We recommend that you contact your medical provider for any sore throat that lasts longer than two weeks so that they can determine the cause and provide appropriate treatment.
Additional Throat Cancer Symptoms
As cancer progresses, other symptoms may develop, including:
- Chronic cough
- Hoarseness or other voice changes
- Difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing
- A lump or mass in the mouth, throat or neck
- Pain in the ear or jaw
- Swelling in the eyes, jaw, throat or neck
- Unexplained weight loss
- Headaches
- Bleeding in the mouth or nose
When Throat Cancer Spreads
Left untreated, throat cancer can spread to the lips, mouth, nearby lymph nodes, and eventually further on to cause additional symptoms If it spreads to your lungs, you can experience difficulty breathing or coughing up blood. Whereas if cancer spreads to your bones, you may experience joint pain or even fractures.
When To See a Doctor
If you’ve noticed any symptoms of throat cancer, such as your voice sounding different at work or when talking with the barista at Fortezza Coffee, schedule an appointment with your medical provider. Make a list before your appointment of all your symptoms as well as how long they have been going on. This can help your doctor in assessing what tests may or may not be necessary.
Because throat cancer symptoms overlap with so many other conditions, it’s likely they will work to rule out more common causes first. If throat cancer is suspected, your doctor may recommend imaging tests, an endoscopy and/or a biopsy to collect tissue samples to get an accurate diagnosis.
The good news is over the years mortality rates for throat cancer have decreased. Early detection can help increase your odds of successful treatment and a positive outcome. If you are concerned about any symptoms, contact the specialists at Ear, Nose & Throat Associates today and schedule an appointment.