What are the Symptoms of Throat Cancer

Early diagnosis of cancer helps in the immediate start of treatment improving the chances of recovery. Throat cancer is also known as vocal cord cancer, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the glottis or cancer of the pharynx. Signs and symptoms of throat cancer mimics common cold, flu and allergies, but ignoring them can lead to severely deteriorated health condition. The most common symptom of throat cancer is sore throat or lump in the throat, which does not heal. Persistent cough is another common sign. Read to learn more about throat cancer.
 
Some Common Symptoms of Throat Cancer

• Inflamed or painful jaw.
• Changes in voice, such as hoarse voice.
• Bad breath or high-pitched breathing sounds.
• Abnormal wheezing.
• Persistent sore throat (it won’t go even after the treatment).
• Frequent bouts of coughing.
• Difficulty or pain in swallowing, especially solids.
• Development of lump in the throat, which does not heal for days and sometimes, even weeks.
• Chewing becomes difficult.
• Bleeding or numbness inside the mouth.
• Newly developed lesion on the lip or in the mouth.
• Whitish patches on the gums or tongue.
• Pain in the mouth.
• Swollen lymph glands.
• Swelling or pain in the neck.
• Ear pain.
• Unexplained weight loss.
  

begins in the nose and later on metastases to other areas of the body. Usually, in the beginning, a lump develops on the base of the neck and spreads to its lymph nodes. If a person feels the presence of the lump for more than a week, he/she should see a specialist. Although all lumps are not cancerous, they are considered an indication of developing stage of cancer. Lump in the throat causes pain; the lump enlarges with time and becomes a cancerous tumour.

Possible Throat Cancer Symptoms
 
Some other possible throat cancer symptoms include:

• Feeling of numbness of facial muscles.
• Paralysis of facial muscles.
• Endless facial pain.
• Endless neck pain.
  

If you experience any of the above mentioned signs of throat cancer, it does not necessarily mean that you are suffering from throat cancer. It is advisable that you immediately consult a specialist if you have witnessed any of these symptoms for more than ten days. Early diagnosis of throat cancer is a prerequisite for its effective treatment. Getting yourself acquainted with the symptoms of throat cancer and how it spreads will aid in choosing the right treatment path as well as knowing how to prevent it from spreading.