Head and Neck Cancer - Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

Throat cancer usually begins with symptoms that seem harmless enough, like an enlarged lymph node on the outside of the neck, a sore throat or a hoarse sounding voice. However, in the case of throat cancer, these conditions may persist and become chronic. There may be a lump or a sore in the throat or neck that does not heal or go away. There may be difficult or painful swallowing. Speaking may become difficult. There may be a persistent earache. Other possible but less common symptoms include some numbness or paralysis of the face muscles.

Presenting symptoms include

• Mass in the neck
• Neck pain
• Bleeding from the mouth
• Sinus congestion, especially with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• Bad breath
• Sore tongue
• Painless ulcer or sores in the mouth that do not heal
• White, red or dark patches in the mouth that will not go away
• Earache
• Unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth
• Lump in the lip, mouth or gums
• Enlarged lymph glands in the neck
• Slurring of speech (if the cancer is affecting the tongue)
• Hoarse voice which persists for more than six weeks
• Sore throat which persists for more than six weeks
• Difficulty swallowing food
• Change in diet or weight loss