ear, nose, and throat disorders
Mouth and Throat Cancer
Symptoms of Mouth and Throat Cancer
Symptoms of mouth and throat cancer vary somewhat depending on where the cancer is located. is usually painless for a considerable length of time but eventually causes pain as the cancer grows. When pain begins, it usually occurs with swallowing, as with a sore throat. People may have difficulty speaking. Squamous cell carcinomas of the mouth often look like open sores (ulcers) and tend to grow into the underlying tissues. The sores may be flat or slightly raised patches, colored red ( Precancerous changes in the mouth ) or white ( Cancers of the lip and other parts of the mouth often feel rock hard and are attached to the underlying tissues. Most noncancerous lumps in these areas are freely movable. Discolored areas on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth also may be signs of cancer. An area in the mouth that has recently become brown or darkly discolored may be a Melanoma . Sometimes a brown, flat, freckle-like area (smoker's patch) develops at the site where a cigarette or pipe is habitually held between the lips. Throat cancertypically causes throat pain that increases with swallowing, difficulty swallowing and speaking, and ear pain. Sometimes, a lump in the neck is the first sign of throat cancer. In most types of mouth and throat cancer, once symptoms make it difficult to eat, people begin to lose weight. 