What Are Common Symptoms of Head and Neck Cancer?
Persistent lumps or swelling in neck can be a sign
Persistent lumps or swelling in neck can be a sign
Head and neck cancer includes a group of cancers that develop in the mouth, throat, larynx, nasal cavity and sinuses, salivary glands, thyroid gland, skin of the head and neck, and related areas. Usually, the cancer begins in the cells that line the surfaces of these areas; the type of head and neck cancer that develops depends on which cells are affected.
Types of head and neck cancer include:
- Mouth cancer, which include lip cancer, oral cavity cancer, salivary gland cancer and cancers of the tongue, tonsils and soft palate (oropharyngeal cancer)
- Laryngeal cancer, which involves tumors of the voice box
- Metastatic squamous neck cancer, which is a tumor that has metastasized to a neck lymph node or nodes from one of the above-mentioned sites
- Nasopharyngeal cancer, which forms in the upper throat behind the nose
- Thyroid cancer, which affects the thyroid gland
Symptoms of head and neck cancer
Symptoms of head and neck cancer can vary according to which type of cancer develops.
The primary symptoms of head and neck cancer include the following:
1. Chronic mouth and throat discomfort that may include a persistent soreness and ulceration of the tongue or gum tissue, or bleeding in the mouth associated with tooth brushing.
2. Lumps or swelling in the neck that does not decrease in size after three weeks may be a sign of head and neck cancer.
3. Symptoms related to swallowing, such as difficult or painful swallowing or feeling like food gets stuck in your throat, are called dysphagia. Dysphagia often results from tumors that block the esophagus or press on the nerves that control swallowing.
4. Chronic hoarseness or change in the quality of voice lasting more than three weeks may be symptoms of throat cancer.
5. Persistent one-sided ear pain or hearing loss when you don’t have an ear infection. This may be referred pain from potential nerve involvement.
6. Nasal congestion, chronic sinus infections or unexplained nosebleeds may be due to a variety of causes, including allergies or respiratory infections. However, if you experience these frequently (especially if you’re not feeling sick), it’s a good idea to see your doctor to check for sinus or nasal cavity cancer.
7. Chronic bad breath (halitosis) that continues despite taking excellent care of your oral health may be a sign of mouth or throat cancer. If your breath is consistently bad, talk to your doctor or dentist.
8. Persistent cough that persists without a respiratory infection or other obvious cause may indicate throat or lung cancer, especially if you’re also coughing up blood.
9. Shortness of breath unrelated to allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions. If you are short of breath and don’t know why, see your doctor.
If you do have any of these symptoms, don’t panic or immediately assume you have head and neck cancer. See your doctor for a diagnosis and, together you can determine the next steps for treatment.
“If it is cancer, recognizing the symptoms and detecting the disease in its earliest stages can increase the likelihood of successful treatment,” says Brendan Gaylis, MD, an otolaryngologist at Scripps Clinic and director of head and neck oncology at Scripps Cancer Center.
“It’s always a good idea to be aware of any unusual changes in your mouth, nose or throat and get them checked out for both your health and your peace of mind.”