Cancer is an illness that has become the worst nightmare for many. It is the most common disease that occurs in every 1 out of 10 people in the world. Cancer is nothing but an uncontrolled growth of the body’s own cells which in turn affects the functioning of the normal cells. These cells deprive the normal cells of nutrients and energy. The uncontrolled growth of cells occupies more space, put more pressure on the nearby organs, blood vessels, nerves, and lymph nodes.
This devastating illness has affected the lives of many. Hence, it has become extremely important to catch this deadly disease at an early stage. One such form of cancer that is difficult to identify is throat cancer. It does not show alarming symptoms and many fail to recognize it. Throat cancer occurs in the lymph tissue of the throat, and the signs may vary based on the position of the tumor.
Listed below are some early warning signs of throat cancer you need to know.
Sore throat
Sore throat is the most commonly ignored symptom as many mistakes it for a normal throat infection. However, if the sore throat is persistent and you are experiencing excruciating pain during swallowing, you must consider seeing a doctor.
Coughing blood
Apart from bronchitis and pneumonia, another reason for coughing up blood is throat cancer. The blood looks bright red in color with a mixture of air and mucus. If you are coughing more blood than normal, you must get yourself checked for throat cancer.
Changes in voice
Cancer cells or tumors can grow around the vocal cords and affect the pitch or tone of your voice. Hence, a noticeable change in voice can form an early diagnosis of throat cancer. The common symptoms include a change in pitch and increase hoarseness in the voice. If the hoarseness doesn’t go away in a week, contact your doctor immediately.
