Throat cancer refers to several types of cancer that may affect the throat and the areas around the throat. These cancers may affect the base of the tongue down to the tonsils and any of the surrounding tissues. These cancers may start anywhere in the throat or may develop from another area of the body as a secondary form of cancer.
In many cases, the symptoms for these types of throat cancer may not appear until a more advanced stage of the disease. For this reason, it is important to make sure periodic examinations are completed in order to rule out potential tumors or masses.
There are several lifestyle factors that can lead to a higher risk of developing throat cancer including unhealthy diets and smoking. Knowing the risks of throat cancer and the symptoms of the disease is one of the best ways to prevent this type of cancer from developing and to get it treated before it has entered a more advanced stage.
Read on for more information about the symptoms of throat cancer.
1. Cough
A cough is one of the first symptoms a person with throat cancer may notice. While a cough that lasts for a couple of weeks is often associated with a cold or allergies, a persistent cough that lasts for longer than two weeks is an indication of thyroid, lung, or larynx cancer.
A cough that lasts more than a few weeks and is not improving should be checked out by your doctor. In addition, if there is blood in the mucus that you are coughing up, an appointment with your physician should be made right away.
