From the Guidelines
Throat and neck cancer symptoms include a combination of persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, ear pain, voice changes, a lump in the neck or throat, unexplained weight loss, and persistent cough, which can significantly impact morbidity, mortality, and quality of life if left untreated. These symptoms occur because cancer cells grow uncontrollably in the throat tissues or lymph nodes of the neck, interfering with normal function 1. According to the clinical practice guideline for evaluation of the neck mass in adults, additional characteristics of history and physical examination suspicious for malignancy include age over 40 years, tobacco and alcohol use, pharyngitis, dysphagia, otalgia ipsilateral to the neck mass, oral cavity or oropharyngeal ulcer, recent voice change, recent hearing loss ipsilateral to the neck mass, nasal obstruction and epistaxis ipsilateral to the neck mass, unexplained weight loss, history of treatment for head and neck malignancy, nontender neck mass, tonsil asymmetry, and skin lesions on the face, neck, or scalp 1.
Some key symptoms to look out for include:
- Persistent sore throat or throat pain
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Ear pain (otalgia) on the same side as the neck mass
- Voice changes, such as hoarseness
- A lump or mass in the neck or throat
- Unexplained weight loss
- Recent hearing loss on the same side as the neck mass
- Nasal obstruction or epistaxis on the same side as the neck mass
- Unexplained weight loss or fatigue
It is essential to seek medical attention promptly if you experience any of these symptoms, especially a neck mass or persistent sore throat, as early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes for throat and neck cancers 1. Primary care clinicians should educate and counsel patients about the signs and symptoms of recurrence and refer them to a head and neck cancer specialist if these symptoms are present 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Throat and Neck Cancer
The symptoms of throat and neck cancer are not explicitly mentioned in the provided studies. However, the studies discuss the treatment and pathogenesis of head and neck cancer, which can provide some insight into the potential symptoms.
Treatment-Related Symptoms
- Radiation therapy and chemoradiation therapy can cause numerous side effects in the oral cavity, paranasal sinuses, and pharynx, including oral mucositis, dental plaque, and caries formation 2
- These side effects can have deleterious consequences on patients' quality of life
Pathogenesis and Risk Factors
- Head and neck cancer is associated with smoking, alcohol abuse, human papillomavirus infection, and complex genetic and epigenetic predisposition 3
- The occurrence of head and neck cancer is often characterized by delayed diagnosis, recurrence, metastasis, relapse, and drug resistance 3
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Surgery and radiotherapy are the standard treatments for most patients with early-stage head and neck cancer 3
- For recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer, the first-line treatment is platinum-based chemotherapy combined with the antiepidermal growth factor receptor drug cetuximab 3
- Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of head and neck cancer, and its efficacy has improved with technical progress and the concurrent application of chemotherapy 4