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How do I know if I have throat cancer?
As you might expect, throat cancer symptoms can affect your mouth, tongue, tonsils, voice box and windpipe. Some of the most recognizable signs include painful swallowing, sore throat, hoarseness and other vocal changes, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, wheezing and difficulty breathing.
How do you detect throat cancer early?
Signs and symptoms of throat cancer may include:
- A cough.
- Changes in your voice, such as hoarseness or not speaking clearly.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Ear pain.
- A lump or sore that doesn’t heal.
- A sore throat.
- Weight loss.
How Long Can throat cancer go untreated?
The survival of patients with stage T4a larynx cancer who are untreated is typically less than one year. The symptoms associated with untreated disease include severe pain and inability to eat, drink, and swallow. Death can frequently occur due to asphyxiation of the airway from the untreated tumor.
Can you have throat cancer and not know it?
The signs and symptoms of throat cancer may be difficult to identify in the early stages of the disease. Many symptoms associated with throat cancer, such as a sore throat or hoarseness, are the same as those that may accompany a cold.
What is the number one cause of throat cancer?
Smoking: Tobacco smoking is by far the most important risk factor for all cancers of the head and neck, including throat cancer. Regular, long-term, heavy smokers are 20 times more likely to develop a type of throat cancer compared with non-smokers.
Does throat cancer show up in blood work?
Although there is no specific blood test that detects laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer, several laboratory tests, including blood and urine tests, may be done to help determine the diagnosis and learn more about the disease. Laryngoscopy. A laryngoscopy can be performed in 3 ways: Indirect laryngoscopy.
Do you always lose weight with throat cancer?
Weight loss is a common symptom of many cancers, including advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. It is very unlikely to be the only symptom. It may happen because you’re eating less due to pain or difficulty in swallowing.
At what age does throat cancer occur?
While people over the age of 55 are at highest risk for developing throat cancer, it’s growing more common in younger people due to the increased prevalence of HPV. The most common treatments for throat cancers include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
What is the life expectancy of someone with throat cancer?
The 5-year survival rate for this cancer is 76%. If the cancer is only located in the larynx (localized cancer), the 5-year survival rate is 83%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes (regional cancer), the 5-year survival rate is 48%.
How long can you live with untreated throat cancer?
Does throat cancer show up in blood tests?
No blood test can diagnose cancer in the oral cavity or oropharynx. Still, your doctor may order routine blood tests to get an idea of your overall health, especially before treatment. Such tests can help diagnose poor nutrition and low blood cell counts.