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The symptoms and signs of throat cancer often vary from person to person. The most common signs and symptoms of throat cancer are nonspecific. Not every patient will exhibit each sign and symptom, but each patient will usually have at least one or two of the following:
- Voice change or hoarseness of the voice
- Cough (usually chronic)
- Sore throat (usually chronic)
- Throat discomfort (feeling like something is caught in the throat)
- Difficulty swallowing or swallowing problems with certain foods
- A mass or lump in the neck
- Weight loss (unintentional)
- Some difficulty with breathing
- Ear pain
- Constant phlegm production
As stated above, these symptoms and signs are not diagnostic for throat cancer because many other problems can mimic the throat cancer. However, any person who develops these signs and symptoms and has risk factors for throat cancer should immediately discuss them with his or her physician.
"Overview of the diagnosis and staging of head and neck cancer"