If you or someone in your family has been told to have an increased risk of mouth or throat cancer, then it’s important to make sure that you ask the question: “what are mouth and throat cancer symptoms and signs.”
Cancer is a terrifying disease which happens when abnormal cells in your body begin to form, multiply, and divide uncontrollably in a particular part of the human body and then possibly migrate to other parts. Eventually, the cells begin to form growths called tumors, and those tumors grow and multiply. Mouth and throat cancers can occur around the lips, tongue, throat, and voice box, along with many other areas.
The Types of Mouth and Throat Cancer:
There are several types of mouth and throat cancer which can occur. For instance, one of the most likely types by far is something known as a squamous cell carcinoma. This accounts for about 90% of mouth and throat cancers. Squamous cell cancers begin within the inside of the pharynx and mouth, and they can begin to go deeper into lower layers of the skin over time.
Other forms of less common cancer in the mouth and throat might include tumors that develop around the salivary glands, known as lymphoma. While cancers in the mouth and throat won’t always develop and spread to other locations throughout the body, if your cancer does spread, then there’s a good chance that the problem will begin to grow first throughout the lymph nodes within the throat. After the neck is infected, the cancer might spread throughout other areas in the body.
Understanding Mouth and Throat Cancer:
If you’re wondering “what are mouth and throat cancer symptoms and signs” then you should also know something about how this condition is recognized and diagnosed. For instance, the first thing to know is that cancers in the throat and mouth are more likely to occur in men than women. In fact, the risk for men is almost doubled. Additionally, while these types of cancer can happen at any age, they’re more common in people over the age of 45.
When you go to your doctor to discuss the issue of mouth and throat cancer, you will often find that he or she will ask you about the symptoms you might have been experiencing, and any medical history you’re aware of. If you’ve been experiencing problems like a frequent cough or sore throat, then your doctor might recommend taking a small biopsy of the area causing problems to check for cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of Throat Cancer:
People often hope that understanding the signs and symptoms of throat cancer will help them to catch the issue early on. However, it can be difficult to recognize throat and mouth cancers, because the symptoms are very vague. For some, the signs might be as simple as a sore throat, or a painless lump on the mouth, lip or throat. Other people might notice swelling around their jaw, hoarseness in their voice, or difficulty with swallowing and chewing that wasn’t there before. Unexplained bleeding or pain can also be a sign of mouth and throat cancer.
