What are the early symptoms of throat cancer

Early symptoms of throat cancer usually include hoarseness, foreign body sensation in the throat, difficulty swallowing, and persistent throat pain. If you experience similar symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Early detection and treatment are crucial to improving the cure rate.

1. Hoarseness

Changes in voice are one of the typical early symptoms of laryngeal cancer, especially hoarseness that lasts for more than two weeks. You need to be highly vigilant. Cancer may invade the vocal cords or surrounding tissues, causing pronunciation disorders. People who use their voice frequently in daily life, such as teachers and singers, should pay more attention. When hoarseness persists and is accompanied by other symptoms, it is recommended to seek diagnosis and treatment from an otolaryngologist in a timely manner.

2. Foreign body sensation in the throat

Patients may feel a foreign body sensation in the throat area when swallowing, or even experience difficulty swallowing. This is usually due to local irritation or compression caused by the tumor, which leads to limited nerve and muscle function. If swallowing food is difficult or frequently stuck, it may also be a potential manifestation of cancer and should not be ignored.

3. Persistent sore throat

Some patients experience long-term pain in the throat, especially when eating, which may be a sign of early throat cancer. This may be caused by tumor compression or tissue inflammation. Some patients may also find that the pain radiates to the ears when swallowing, which may indicate that the tumor has expanded.

4. Unexplained weight loss

Although it is not a very typical early symptom, some patients with pharyngeal cancer may experience rapid weight loss due to dysphagia, loss of appetite, etc. If the weight loss is significant in a short period of time, it is necessary to consider whether it is related to cancer, and it is safer to undergo a physical examination as soon as possible.

5. Neck lumps

Some patients who seek medical attention at an early stage may find painless lymphadenopathy in their neck, which may be a sign of tumor spread. Given that laryngeal cancer tumor cells can easily spread through the lymphatic system, abnormal lumps in the neck need to be taken seriously.

If you experience the above symptoms, please seek professional treatment and undergo a comprehensive examination as soon as possible, such as laryngoscopy, imaging examination CT/MRI, and pathological biopsy. Starting with daily health care and reducing high-risk factors such as smoking and alcoholism can also help reduce the risk of disease. Early detection will significantly improve the treatment effect.