Early symptoms of throat cancer

Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 03, 2024
00:00
00:00

The early symptoms of laryngeal cancer vary depending on the type, as laryngeal cancer is categorized into three types. The most common type, accounting for over 80%, is glottic cancer. The early symptom for this type is primarily hoarseness, making it the type of laryngeal cancer where symptoms appear earliest. The other two types are supraglottic and subglottic cancer. These types are less likely to show early symptoms, or the symptoms may not be typical and easily noticeable or taken seriously. The main symptom is a foreign body sensation in the throat, which is often mistaken for pharyngitis or laryngitis and not given due attention. Therefore, when experiencing persistent hoarseness or a noticeable foreign body sensation in the throat, and if throat discomfort persists, it is advised to visit the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department of a hospital promptly for an examination with an electronic laryngoscope. This can help in the early detection, exclusion, and diagnosis of the condition.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
44sec home-news-image

Pre-cancerous symptoms of throat cancer

Laryngeal cancer is a common disease in otolaryngology and a type of malignant tumor, which is divided into primary laryngeal cancer and secondary laryngeal cancer. The main clinical symptoms of laryngeal cancer in its early stages often include hoarseness, cough, and lymph node enlargement, among others. Patients can use indirect laryngoscopy or electronic nasopharyngoscopy to detect tumors located in the pharyngeal area, and a local pathological biopsy can be performed for diagnosis. When the tumor is identified as malignant, it is essential to initiate prompt and active treatment. The common method is to surgically remove the detected tumor to achieve clinical cure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
47sec home-news-image

Does throat cancer cause coughing?

Throat cancer is a relatively common malignant tumor in the head and neck area, with many clinical symptoms. Some patients may experience coughing and throat pain, followed by a foreign body sensation and hoarseness. Some may suffer from swallowing obstruction and breathing difficulties. Currently, the common diagnostic methods include laryngoscopy and CT scans of the laryngeal area. Under the guidance of laryngoscopy, a tissue sample can be taken for a pathological biopsy, which enables clinical and pathological staging and typing. Subsequent targeted treatments will be required. The common treatment methods include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The treatment plan should be determined based on a comprehensive consideration of the patient's condition and physical health.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
53sec home-news-image

Is throat cancer prone to metastasize to the lungs?

Laryngeal cancer is a relatively common type of malignant tumor in the head and neck region. In its advanced stages, laryngeal cancer tends to metastasize, though the likelihood of metastasis to the lungs is relatively low. The most common type of metastasis occurs in the cervical lymph nodes, but some patients may also experience liver metastases, and bone metastases are also possible. The specific details of metastasis vary from person to person. It is crucial to seek medical attention from an otolaryngologist as soon as the disease manifests. If metastasis has occurred, the condition is generally more advanced and severe. In terms of treatment, most patients primarily receive a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, while some may only undergo palliative treatment, which generally has poorer outcomes.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
47sec home-news-image

Is throat cancer easy to treat?

Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor in the larynx, clinically mainly squamous cell carcinoma. Currently, the main treatment is comprehensive treatment centered around surgery, including surgical radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Laryngeal cancer can be completely cured if detected early. It is divided into three types: supraglottic, glottic, and subglottic cancer. Glottic cancer, due to the early and noticeable symptom of hoarseness, is usually detected early, thus the clinical treatment outcomes are relatively good. Therefore, laryngeal cancer is among the malignant tumors with relatively good treatment outcomes, and is considered relatively easy to treat. In summary, the current treatment outcomes for laryngeal cancer are still quite good.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
43sec home-news-image

The most common type of laryngeal cancer

At present, laryngeal cancer is classified based on anatomical location into three main types, with glottic cancer being the most common. Supraglottic and subglottic cancers are relatively less common. The primary symptom of glottic cancer is hoarseness, which can be noticeable in the early stages. Therefore, generally, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the better the treatment outcome may be. Additionally, laryngeal cancer is also classified by pathological types. The main pathological type is squamous cell carcinoma. Overall, surgical treatment is the most important, but depending on the patient's stage and type of cancer, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy might be necessary.