Throat cancer, which occurs when cells in the throat begin to divide at an uncontrolled rate, is accompanied by a number of symptoms, many of which are also associated with less serious conditions or other medical problems. Patients who identify the symptoms of throat cancer should make an appointment to see a medical professional in a timely manner, and should not worry that they are wrong; A healthcare professional would rather give a patient a clean bill of health or some antibiotics for a mild sore throat than see a throat cancer patient after it's too late.
Many of the symptoms of this type of cancer involve breathing, swallowing, and eating. The patient may have difficulty breathing, develop high-pitched breath sounds, difficulty swallowing, or feel like they have a lump in their throat that makes eating and drinking difficult. Voice changes, such as hoarseness or changes in pitch, can also accompany throat cancer, and the throat may feel sore, sore, or tender. The lymph glands in the throat can also become swollen.
Other symptoms of throat cancer may include frequent headaches, recurrent sinus infections, persistent sore throat or cough, pain or paralysis in facial muscles, earaches, and unexplained weight loss. Symptoms may be subtle at first and attributed to a more general malaise or a persistent sore throat. More serious symptoms may include nose bleeds or coughing up blood and lumps in other areas of the body, suggesting that the cancer has begun to spread.
A patient suspected of having throat cancer will be examined by a medical professional who will physically examine the throat, interview the patient, and order medical tests, such as throat biopsies and imaging studies, to look for signs of abnormality. increase. If a cancerous growth is detected, a pathologist will determine the type of cancer involved and the stage of the cancer, and the patient will see an oncologist to discuss treatment options.
Throat cancer can be treated with chemotherapy and radiation, and the outlook varies depending on the cancer, the patient, and when the cancer is found. The earlier symptoms are identified, the better the prognosis, as the patient can benefit from early intervention. When discussing throat cancer treatment with a medical professional, patients may ask about all of the options, the prognosis of each option, side effects associated with different treatments, and the amount of time that treatment will require.