What’s throat cancer symptoms (Throat cancer diagnosis) – Throat cancer is cancer of the vocal cords, larynx (voice box), or other areas of the throat. How will you recognize throat cancer, what are its symptoms, and which tests do doctors do to identify it, let us know?
What’s Throat Cancer Symptoms | Throat Cancer Diagnosis
Symptoms of throat cancer or vocal cord cancer include abnormal (high-pitched) breathing sounds, cough, coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness or hoarseness, neck or ear pain, sore throat Soreness, swelling or lump in the throat, and weight loss without dieting.
What causes throat cancer?
- Smoking and tobacco use: People who smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products are more likely to develop throat cancer.
- Heavy alcohol use: Drinking too much alcohol over a long period of time can also increase the risk of throat cancer.
- Smoking and drinking alcohol together: People who both smoke and drink alcohol have an even higher risk of throat cancer.
- Age: Most people with throat cancer are over the age of 50.
- Gender: Men are more likely to develop throat cancer than women.
- HPV infection: A virus called HPV can cause throat cancer. It’s the same virus that can cause warts.
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Symptoms of Throat Cancer
Is there something wrong with your throat? Pay attention to your throat. If you have any of these problems for a long time, talk to a doctor:
- Your voice sounds strange: If your voice sounds hoarse or different for more than a few weeks, this could be a sign.
- Difficulty swallowing: If eating or drinking is painful or difficult, something may be wrong.
- Coughing up blood: This is never normal and should be checked out immediately.
- A sore throat that won’t go away: If your throat hurts for more than a few weeks, even after taking medicine, see a doctor.
- A lump in your throat: If you feel a lump in your neck, it’s important to get it checked out.
- A pain in your throat or ear: Sometimes throat problems can cause pain in your neck or ear.
- Breathing problems: If you are making strange sounds while breathing or having trouble breathing, see a doctor.
- Weight loss without trying: If you are losing weight even though you are eating the same amount, this could be a sign of a problem.
Remember: these signs could be caused by other things too, but it is always better to be safe and get it checked by a doctor. Early detection is key!
Finding out if you have Throat Cancer
If you think something is wrong with your throat, your doctor will want to take a closer look.
Looking inside your throat
To see what’s going on inside your throat, the doctor will use a special instrument called an endoscope. This is a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end. This allows the doctor to take a close look at your throat and voice box without doing surgery.
Checking for lumps
The doctor will carefully feel your neck for any lumps or bumps. Sometimes, throat cancer can cause a lump that you can feel on the outside of your neck.
Taking a sample
If the doctor sees something unusual during the examination, they may take a small piece of tissue for testing. This is called a biopsy. A small sample of tissue is sent to a laboratory to check for cancer cells. They will also test the tissue for HPV, a virus that can cause throat cancer.
Taking pictures
To get a better look at what’s going on, the doctor may order some imaging tests. These tests make pictures of the inside of your body.
- X-ray: This is a common test that uses radiation to make pictures of your bones, lungs, and heart.
- CT scan: This test takes several X-rays from different angles to make a detailed picture of your body.
- MRI scan: This test uses magnets and radio waves to make pictures of your organs and tissues.
- PET scan: This test shows how active your body’s cells are. Cancer cells are often more active than normal cells.
These tests can help the doctor see if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
By doing these tests, the doctor can find out if you have throat cancer and what stage it is.
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Throat Cancer Treatment | Cancer Treatment
Throat cancer is cancer of the vocal cords, larynx (voice box), or other areas of the throat that can be treated to cure it completely and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.
As you know throat cancer is a serious disease, but there are treatments that can help.
How is throat cancer treated?
There are three main ways to treat throat cancer:
- Surgery: This means doctors remove the cancer with an operation. If the cancer is small, this may be enough.
- Radiation therapy: This uses powerful X-rays to kill cancer cells. It can be used alone or with other treatments.
- Chemotherapy: These are special medicines that help kill cancer cells. They can be given as tablets or by injection.
Which treatment is best depends on how big the cancer is, where it is and your overall health. Sometimes, doctors use a combination of treatments.
Post-treatment care
After treatment, you may need extra help to recover.
- Speech therapy: If cancer has affected your voice box, a speech therapist can help you learn to talk again.
- Swallowing therapy: You may have trouble swallowing after treatment. A therapist can teach you exercises to help.
- Eating well: It may be hard to get enough food after treatment. You may need special foods or drinks.
It’s important to follow your doctor’s advice and take good care of yourself. With the right treatment and care, many people recover from throat cancer.
Remember, everyone’s experience is different. Talk to your doctor about what to expect and how to take care of yourself.
FAQs: Throat Cancer Symptoms
What are the common signs and symptoms of throat cancer?
Are there any early warning signs of throat cancer that people should look out for?
What symptoms should I watch for if I think I might have throat cancer?
How can I tell the difference between a regular sore throat and a symptom of throat cancer?
Is hoarseness a common symptom of throat cancer?
Could difficulty swallowing be a sign of throat cancer?
What does a lump in the neck mean? Could it be related to throat cancer?
Is coughing up blood a symptom of throat cancer?
Are there any specific symptoms for different types of throat cancer?
When should I see a doctor if I’m concerned about throat cancer symptoms?
What are the early symptoms of throat cancer?
When should you suspect throat cancer?
How to confirm You Have Throat Cancer?
Is there pain in throat cancer?
Conclusion: Throat Cancer Symptoms
Throat cancer is a serious condition in which abnormal cells develop in your throat. Look for symptoms such as persistent throat pain, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or a lump in your neck. If you notice any of these, it is important to see a doctor immediately. Early detection is the key to successful treatment.
References:-
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/throat-or-larynx-cancer
