When to See the Doctor

While these symptoms do not mean you have cancer, it is a good idea to see your doctor about the following:

• A lump in the neck or head. Head and neck cancers spread to lymph nodes under the skin that become enlarged and painless. Enlarged lymph nodes can also mean an infection. A doctor should see any lump in the neck or head that lasts for two weeks or more.
• A sore throat or cough that does not go away.
• Change in the voice, hoarseness or an inability to talk loudly.
• A lump or a sore in the mouth or on the lips or gums that doesn't go away.
• Frequent nosebleeds, headaches, or sinus infections that do not clear up.
• Nasal congestion or difficulty breathing.
• Bringing up blood-colored or rusty-colored mucous or saliva.
• Swallowing or chewing problems almost every time you attempt to swallow food or water.
• Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue.
• Pain in the upper teeth or dentures that suddenly no longer fit well.
• Persistent earache. Constant pain in or around the ear can be a sign of infection or tumor growth pushing on nerves.

More on Cancers of Head and Neck

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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.