What are the symptoms of early-stage throat cancer?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 17, 2024
00:00
00:00

The early symptoms of laryngeal cancer vary: some people exhibit typical symptoms while others show atypical symptoms or even no symptoms initially. For glottic laryngeal cancer, one of the earlier symptoms is hoarseness. This type of cancer occurs in the vocal cords area, which can affect closure of the vocal cords during speech, causing hoarseness. Some patients may also experience throat pain, abnormal bloody discharge from the throat, or have difficulties in breathing and swallowing, which could all be symptoms of laryngeal cancer. However, some patients may not show any symptoms in the early stages, especially those with supraglottic or subglottic laryngeal cancer, where early symptoms are not typical. Symptoms might only appear in the mid to late stages. Therefore, it is necessary to use a laryngoscope for examination and to perform a neck CT for a comprehensive evaluation.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
58sec home-news-image

The Difference Between Throat Cancer and Esophageal Cancer

Throat cancer and esophageal cancer have essential differences, starting with the specific location of the disease. Throat cancer primarily occurs in the glottis and the supraglottic area, while esophageal cancer mainly occurs in the esophagus. Typically, the symptoms of throat cancer may be more characteristic, the most common being a foreign body sensation in the throat, throat pain, and hoarseness. Particularly, glottic throat cancer symptoms are more pronounced, which might include persistent and noticeable hoarseness. The primary symptoms of esophageal cancer are pain below the neck, which may be accompanied by difficulty swallowing or swallowing obstruction. For diagnosis, throat cancer is primarily assessed via laryngoscopy, while esophageal cancer is typically evaluated through gastroscopy. In terms of treatment, the approach generally focuses on surgery, potentially supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cheng Fu Wei
Otolaryngology
53sec home-news-image

Precursors of throat cancer

Nasopharyngeal cancer, located behind the nasal cavity and above the oropharynx, is generally difficult to diagnose early due to its concealed location. However, there are early signs, such as nasopharyngeal bloodstained mucus experienced during sniffing, which should raise suspicions of nasopharyngeal cancer. Additionally, early-stage nasopharyngeal cancer may present with unilateral nasal obstruction, which gradually progresses to more severe blockage. Another indication is the presence of a neck lump or enlarged lymph nodes, which also suggests the possibility of nasopharyngeal cancer. Other nonspecific reactions, such as dermatitis, dermatomyositis, or a general skin rash, should also be considered potential indicators of nasopharyngeal cancer. These signs require attention.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
1min 5sec home-news-image

Does throat cancer cause fever?

Patients with throat cancer may develop a fever because the tumor can secrete pyrogens. If pyrogens are released into the bloodstream, they can cause a fever. Another scenario is that throat cancer is accompanied by bacterial or fungal infections, which can also lead to a fever. If the fever is caused by the tumor, using antibiotics alone will not be effective. It is recommended that the patient undergoes active anti-tumor treatment. By effectively controlling the tumor, the body temperature will generally return to normal. If the fever is due to a concurrent infection, anti-inflammatory treatment is advised to effectively control the infection, and the body temperature will gradually return to normal. Therefore, if a patient experiences a fever, it is important to first determine the cause of the fever and then proceed with targeted treatment. Generally, the body temperature will slowly return to normal after treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
50sec home-news-image

Is T2N0M0 throat cancer serious?

Laryngeal cancer T2N0M0 refers to Stage 2 clinical staging of laryngeal cancer. Here, "T" denotes the primary lesion, typically classified as Stage 2. Stage 1 generally refers to the primary tumor, with Stage 2 lesions being larger in scope than Stage 1. "N0" indicates the local lymph nodes, showing that there is no local lymph node metastasis. "M0" indicates there is no distant metastasis. Therefore, laryngeal cancer T2N0M0 represents an early or intermediate stage. Clinically, this stage is usually most suitable for surgery, and the healing and prognosis after surgery are relatively favorable.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
49sec home-news-image

Can throat cancer be cured?

Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor located in the larynx, which can be classified into supraglottic cancer, subglottic cancer, glottic cancer, and transglottic cancer. Any malignant tumor is not incurable; it mainly depends on how early it is detected. If laryngeal cancer is discovered early and treated correctly, promptly, and appropriately, the primary treatments include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, among others. Under these conditions, the survival rate, cure rate, and life expectancy are quite high. However, if the laryngeal cancer has reached an advanced stage and has metastasized to other parts of the body or distant organs, the prognosis is poor, and the survival rate is relatively low.