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
The Basics of Head and Neck Cancer
In the Encyclopedia:
Head and neck cancer
Radical neck dissection
Laryngectomy
Laryngeal cancer
Speech disorders
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