Throat cancer is a condition that occurs when cancerous tumors grow in your throat and voice box. The tumors also develop in the tonsils which are at the back of the throat. These are the organs that aid you in speaking, breathing, and swallowing. The illness develops when genetic mutations take place in the cells of your throat, voice box and, tonsils. The cells grow faster and live longer than the healthier ones. They accumulate and lead to the growth of a tumor.
The throat is also known as the pharynx. It is a muscular tube that starts behind your nose and ends in your neck. The sickness begins within the flat cells lining the inside of your throat. The other name for the voice box is the larynx, which is right below the throat; it is the organ that produces sound when you speak. The larynx is vulnerable to throat cancer.
1. Ear Pain
Ear pain is one of the symptoms of throat cancer. It is a condition common in children. They become irritable and tend to rub their ears frequently.
Children with this condition show symptoms such as fever, a hard time sleeping, pain in the ears, loss of appetite, tugging the ear, loss of balance, and difficulty in their response to sound. A few adults also show this sign of throat cancer. Earache symptoms in adults include a fluid draining from the ear, temporary loss of hearing, and pain in the ears.
Ear pain does not immediately mean you have throat cancer. Other possible causes of the pain are allergies, smoking, excess mucus, colds, and change in air pressure. Ear pain as one of the throat cancer symptoms that people often overlook. Ensure you see a doctor whether your pain is slight or severe.
2. Enlarged Neck Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes store the white blood cells in the body. The cells kill organisms that invade the body. The lymph nodes play the role of blocking any viruses, bacteria, and diseased cells that go through lymph channels.
Lymph nodes are there throughout the body in the armpits, either side of the groin, and on both sides of the neck. Each of these parts become swollen due to infections or illness. If you have throat cancer, your lymph nodes will swell in the neck area. Enlarged neck lymph nodes is also a sign of ear infection, a cold, or an infected tooth.
3. Hoarseness
Hoarseness is a red flag that you have throat cancer. It is the condition where your voice changes abnormally. It is the weakening or change of your normal voice. In most cases, your voice sounds rough, strained, and an unusually high or low pitch. Some risk factors for throat cancer such as excessive intake of alcohol, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, and heavy smoking lead to hoarseness. A hoarse due to throat cancer is as a result of smoking tobacco.
Hoarseness is also among the signs of shouting, lung cancer, flu, cold, and environmental issues like low humidity. Before dealing with hoarseness as a symptom of the cancer of the throat, you should see a doctor.
4. Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers are due to the development of a tumor in the mouth, the tonsils, the part connecting your mouth to the windpipe, and the salivary glands. The ulcers tamper with your proper eating, swallowing, chewing, talking, and drinking habits. Tumors are not easy to detect and may develop as a result of other conditions. Mouth ulcers also characterize a yeast infection or breast cancer treatment.
Visit your dentist for a checkup if you notice any changes in your mouth. You should avoid acidic drinks and spicy foods. Quit smoking and drinking, use a soft toothbrush, do not use mouthwash, and rinse your mouth with salty water.
5. Unexplainable Weight Loss
Drastically losing weight is among the easily noticeable signs of throat cancer. Tiredness and weakness accompany the disease. When throat cancer patients lose weight, they also experience cachexia. It is a combination of loss of muscles and weight loss.
The illness affects your ability to eat well due to mouth sores, difficulty in chewing, trouble swallowing, and loss of appetite. You also develop an intense dislike for certain meals. To deal with such weight loss, you can see a dietitian. They will guide you on what and when to eat. Relieving weight loss as a symptom of throat cancer is essential for cancer care.
6. Eye Swelling
Eye swelling occurs when there is excess edema of the connective tissues. Throat cancer causes inflammation and increase of the fluid edema. The swelling affects either the upper and lower eyelids or either of them. It is sometimes painful and other times not.
Other conditions that accompany eye swelling are eye discharge, redness, sensitivity to light, watery eyes, and a scratchy sensation. Other causes of eye swelling are eye injuries and eye infections. It is a symptom of conditions such as ocular herpes and orbital cellulitis. For you to be sure that your eye swelling is a sign of the disease, ensure you visit an eye specialist.
7. Bleeding in the Mouth
Bleeding in the mouth characterizes throat cancer in many patients. It occurs when the tumor develops and blocks normal mouth pathways. Sometimes it occurs when the growth presses on the nerves in the mouth.
You can spot bleeding in the mouth by bruises or blood, bright red dots on the tongue, and bloody discharge from the mouth.
Confusing cancer of the throat with other diseases is easy. A bleeding mouth is not a reliable sign as it also characterizes the periodontal disease, a low platelet count, and sores in the mouth. It is essential to ensure the bleeding is as a result of the illness.
8. Chronic Cough
A chronic cough is a persistent cough that lasts up to one month. It is a dry and non-productive cough. It triggers laryngospasms that leads to difficulty in breathing. A chronic cough is a sign of laryngeal cancer
Tumors in the throat trigger the cough reflex and stimulate a chronic cough. Throat tumors also hinder airflow and breathing becomes difficult. A persistent cough is accompanied by a dire need to clear your throat.
A non-productive cough occurs as a result of conditions such as whooping cough, common cold, and bronchitis. Patients with asthma also have a persistent cough. It is paramount to determine the cause of a cough before starting throat cancer care.
