Throat cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. If detected in early stages recovery rates are of 90% but in most cases the disease goes unnoticed, so it is important to know a little more about it, its symptoms and risk factors to avoid it going undetected. In this OneHowTo article we want to help expand your knowledge on this matter and explain what the early symptoms of throat cancer are and to give you all the basic information about this illness.
Throat cancer can start in this area and extend to the vocal cords, larynx, oesophagus, the lower neck, etc. Once the cancer spreads to other body organs the prognosis becomes more complicated so it is important to detect it early and stop its progress.
A major risk factor for this cancer are habits and environmental factors. Smoking, chewing tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption are key in increasing risk, but also the Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the causes of this cancer. Sexual transmission is a highlighted factor, so if you want to know more we advise you to take a look at our article to see the relationship between oral sex and throat cancer.
Most cancer patients are men over 50 years. Removing the consumption of cigarettes and regular alcohol intake, eating a healthy diet and using protection during oral sex are the main recommendations to prevent it. However, if you're a passive or active smoker it is recommended you go to a doctor for an annual check up.
So what are the early symptoms of throat cancer?
- Loss of voice or persistent hoarseness that does not improve after 1 to 2 weeks of treatment
- Sore throat that even after taking medication shows no improvement after 1 or 2 weeks
- Pain and discomfort in the neck that can be accompanied by lumps in the area
- A cough that may become bloody at times
- Strange sounds and difficulty when breathing which may lead to fatigue and tiredness
- In more advanced cases, difficulty swallowing and weight loss
A significant number of cases of throat cancer become more complicated by not being detected early, hence the importance of reducing or eliminating risk factors, adequate annual health checks and seeing a doctor regarding any possible symptoms.
Quitting smoking reduces the risk of suffering this disease, which is why you should stop to guarantee your well-being.
In the case you present some of the symptoms of throat cancer we have previously mentioned, it's important to go to a doctor to have a check-up and tell you the treatment you need to follow.
You must take into account that depending on the advance of the disease, the way of treating cancer can differ from chemotherapy or some other surgery to get rid of the tumor.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to What are the Early Symptoms of Throat Cancer?, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.
- If your throat hurts for longer than a week, it's important to go to a doctor.
- Throat cancer symptoms can also be symptoms for any other condition in the area, such as inflammation and infectons, that's why it's best to visit a specialist.