What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer in the throat

Persistent foreign body sensation in the throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, pain, etc. may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. You should seek medical attention for professional examination as soon as possible. The symptoms of thyroid cancer vary depending on the severity of the disease. Early symptoms may not be obvious, but you need to be alert to some subtle discomfort.

1. Persistent foreign body sensation or pressure

Thyroid cancer may cause a foreign body sensation or pressure in the throat, especially when the tumor begins to grow and presses on surrounding tissues and organs. This sensation is usually not relieved by coughing or swallowing, and gradually worsening may be a sign of developing disease. If this happens, seek medical advice as soon as possible to get a thyroid function test and imaging tests, such as ultrasound or CT scans.

2. Hoarseness or voice changes

Thyroid cancer may affect the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which can damage the nerve that controls the vocal cords. Hoarseness or a thickening of the voice is typical and should be considered a sign of serious disease, especially if it persists for several weeks. This symptom often indicates more serious disease progression and requires laryngoscopy as soon as possible to determine whether the vocal cords are affected.

3. Difficulty swallowing or sore throat

The manifestation of dysphagia may be due to the tumor compressing the esophagus or surrounding tissues, causing swallowing discomfort, or even pain in severe cases. At the same time, some patients may feel radiating pain, especially pain radiating to the ears. If accompanied by decreased appetite and weight loss, further examination of the tumor stage is required.

4. Neck lumps or swollen lymph nodes

A common early sign of thyroid cancer is an irregular, hard mass in the neck, especially one with unclear borders and enlarged lymph nodes. The mass in the neck may gradually increase in size, and a fine needle aspiration biopsy is required to confirm whether it is a metastasis of thyroid cancer.

Promptly identifying throat discomfort symptoms and seeking medical help is the key to early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer. If you experience the above symptoms, you should seek a specialist for a detailed examination as soon as possible to identify the cause and receive appropriate treatment. This will help improve prognosis and quality of life.