Common Symptoms of Throat Cancer
March 10, 2010 by uttoransen
Filed under Disease and Conditions
Throat cancer is a group of cancerous condition of the pharynx and larynx. These are again associated with carcinoma of the lips, mouth and nasal cavity. By histological appearance, throat cancer belongs to squamous cell carcinoma where the squamous cell lining of pharynx and larynx goes into anaplasia. Rarely, it may be adenocarcinoma. Metastasis generally occurs to the lymph nodes of the neck (submandibular is the most common place). The cause of throat cancer is mainly tobacco smoking and Human papilloma virus (HPV). Common symptoms of throat cancer are –
- Hoarseness of voice – this is the main complain in laryngeal carcinoma. Vocal cord is present in the larynx and the cancerous condition leads to defective movement of vocal cord. So, there is hoarseness.
- Persistent sore throat – dull pain in the throat that does not wane off even after a full course of antibiotics. The cancer cells destroy the nerve endings of the pharynx and larynx causing constant pain in the throat.
- Recurrent cough – recurrent bouts of cough are also noticed due to constant irritation in the throat. Cough can be associated with copious mucous expectoration. It may be sometimes mixed with blood also.
- Palpable lump – swelling may be present in the throat, neck or rear aspect of the mouth. It is firm to hard when palpated and the surface is irregular. Initially the lump is freely moveable. At the later stage of the throat cancer, it gets fixed with the surrounding structure.
- Pain in the ear – as the cancerous cells traverses through the fascial layers, irritation of the auditory and facial nerve occurs. This may lead to pain in the ear and frontal part of the face.
- Breathing difficulty – when the tumor is large enough to block the trachea, the patient may suffer from difficulty in respiration.
- Weight loss – no obvious reason can be found for persistent weight loss. Patient with throat cancer may present to a doctor for the first time complaining of pain in the throat and remarkable loss of weight.
- Bleeding from the nose and throat – as the thin blood vessels are destroyed, bleeding from the nose or through the throat can occur. The distinctive feature of a throat cancer is that there will be painless bleeding.
- Small nodules in the neck region – when the localized cancer of the throat metastasizes to adjacent lymph gland of the neck, small nodules can be felt in this area (just below the angle of the jaw, and mentum).
- Difficulty in swallowing – when the tumor grows in size and blocks the esophagus or encompasses it, patient can suffer from difficulty in swallowing.
- Headache and pain in upper teeth – these can happen when the cancer cells engulf the trigeminal nerve. There may be pain in the back of the eyeball.
- Facial palsy – paralysis of the muscle of the face can occur when facial nerve is involved. There may be masked face, closure of the eyelid and drooling of saliva from angle of the mouth.
These are the common symptoms of throat cancer. The symptoms may vary in patients according to the size of the tumor and the degree of metastasis.
I have a friend who got cervical cancer because of HPV. right now she is under going chemotherapy and some anti-cancer drugs. . *
hi Jay Hunt,
am sorry to hear that, hope she successfully fight the cancer and recover from it
Hey,
What are the chances for a person to survive a throat cancer.
My mother, she is 54 yrs of age. Since the past month she has been complaining about traces of blood when she spits. We ignored it in the beginning thinking it to be a temporary damage to the thraot causing it. But it persisted for over a month, for like four days in a week. we do not know what to derive from it. She recently went for a medical check-up and nothing unusual was reported. She has not suffered any of the above mentioned symptoms yet, but we are thinking that the blood mixed in the spit might be an indication to an early stage of throat cancer. Kindly reply an put light upon the subject and the neccesary directions for us to put to use.
Thanking you
R.Harshini
hi i am ramesh and i am suffering from cough that suddenly occurs whenever i come in contact with the low temperature generally whenever i go to an A.C room a sudden cough occur in my body after spending one to two hours in that A.C room.
IS THIS THE SYMPTOMS OF THROAT CANCER OR NOT?
Its not a sign of throat cancer. Dont assume things. Its a kind of allergy that you are suffering from. You have to avoid A/c conditions. Also I hope there are treatments for allergies which can go for 2-3 years and make your body to get adusted with the allergents. Better you consult an ENT specialist for further information.
I drink a lot of hot beverages like black tea. I am a skinny 18 year old. I have been experiencing very slight discomfort while swallowing food – I can feel the left part of my neck while swallowing. I am also experiencing very slight shortness of breath, but my mother has always complained of shortness of breath (she doesn’t have Asthama). What, in your opinion, is my condition. Any chances of throat cancer. Thanks.
Hi,
I live in kolkata India I am having sore throat for few weeks now, it seems to be a common cough and cold.Do you think I am in a risk of throat cancer.Please note I do smoke . I am a bit worried can you suggest me what should I be doing .
I am suffering from pain i my throat within a week till now,I felt something in my throat whenever I swallow food or even my saliva alone.I tried to open my mouth and let my tongue out and I saw some like small nodules in the deeper part of my tongue.I have cough from time to time and sometimes a headache occur.Please tell me if this is a possible symptom of throat cancer.
Hi. I am a regular smoker. The skin inside my mouth is turned to be white. Is there any possibility of a throat or mouth cancer? Please explain what should i do at this moment.
hello sir my mother is about 45 years old.nd she have problem in swallowing in food.nd with the liquid she can easily swallowed taht.and also durin eating food pain ocuurs internal side.nd also bleeding ocuurs once.bt there was nothing -ve result in dr.report.plzz reply me sir..what type of symtoms she have..plzzzzzz..
hi. my name is rakith. i’m suffering with a pain in my throat and also in d ears. consulted with d doctors and gave me a normal medicine and a cough syrup…
is this throat cancer?????
sir i have throat pain for 7 months and cold too.. i checked up to several doctors all said nothing to take cancer check up and all… have this tablet the pain will go of… i undergo throat check up there to the said noyhing to worry…
sir my question is if cold is continous wil it make cancer sir? i am a college student sir.. please give me an answer.. i am just 20 years old sir
After having throat cancer how long can one alive?
I pavan 22 years old have problem with my voice form one month my voice is not comming loudly that means voice is changed.i want to know what the problem pls send me a solution
hi i am rajesh and i am suffering from cough that suddenly occurs whenever i come in contact with the low temperature generally whenever i go to an A.C room a sudden cough occur in my body after spending one to two hours in that A.C room.this is my problem has been creating since 4years.
IS THIS THE SYMPTOMS OF THROAT CANCER OR NOT?
Please refer to a local doctor, the articles are for information only. Only a doctor can answer your question.
hey i have hoarse voice since childhood but nowadays i get blood in cough.
is it cancer?
my name is hunny i m 4rm jharkhand ranchi from 1 year i m suffering from cough n wid throat problem.whenever i swallow food my throat starts burning.i really dont know wat 2 do i m really panic pls heip me.
hi this is thanuja i am suffering from thorat problem pain in back of the earand pain in throat past from many months i have consan many ENT doctors they say that is gastic problem now i am facein gproblem of cheewing the food the pain is in the back of ear and down last teeth what is my problem wither it is a cancer
hi sir this is thanuja about my pain in thorat of right side of the my body i have this problem from about 3 years they have taken CT sacan X Ray of my head and neck the report was normel ENT doctor say that it is only gastic problem but now from three day i have pain in back of ear of right side and i can cheew the food wether it is thorat cancer
Hi sir am dinesh,oftenly suffering from throat pain and cough(for nearly a month)is tis cancer?plz rply.
one of my friend [14] just got throat bleeding & neck pain. is it a cancer?
Helo,sir/madam
i hav d few lines which i wud like 2 mention u,sir 4rm a past few weeks, i am sufferin 4rm a nose blockd problem,4 which i find dificult 2 breath n d cough problems also…wich cmes out wit a stinky smells…n a blood mix wit cough….there is also a bit o throat irritation bt it does nt makes problms in sweling fuds…as i’ve cnsulted wit the doctor..they said dat it is the problms of allergies…bt m stil scard ,so can u plz tel me is diz d realy sign of throat cancer…
Helo,sir
from a past few mnths m sufferin a noseblockd problms,n throat irritation,bt do nt have d problms in breathing or swelling fuds..i had cnsulted wit doctor many times bt they said that it is d problms of irritations..bt i also scared due d cough problms wich comes out wit d mix of blood n also a cough cmes out wit bad smells…so cn u plz help me …smetimes i usd d get scare ,coz d symptoms are very much similar 2 d thyroat cancer….plz help me out wit diz …
Helo Sir
For past 2 or 3 years i am having a throat problem. pain while swallowing on the right side , dryness, infection, i feel that my food pipe is constricted and i cannot swallow dry food. I have visited the ENT doctor 4 times, he has given me medicines but its effects are for some months and the it starts again, i m very confused.Pliz advise & help
Hi Doctor,
My girlfriend has got throat pain for the past 1 week.She took medicines but the pain still persisits.
can u suggest ?
hi vijay,
this is only an informational article, you must visit your local doctor for more details,