Symptoms of Head & Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer is highly treatable if it is detected early. Warning signs of possible head and neck cancer include:

• Trouble swallowing
• Persistent sore throat
• Lump in the neck that lasts for more than a week
• Ear pain, especially when swallowing
• Mouth sore(s) that do not heal
• Change in the voice, such as persistent hoarseness or difficulty speaking
• Spitting up blood
• Change in skin appearance
• Chronic sinus infections that do not respond to treatment
• Frequent headaches
• Facial pain that does not go away
• Trouble breathing through the nose or bleeding from the nose

Remember that these symptoms can also be related to other, non-cancerous illnesses. Only your doctor can determine if the symptoms are caused by cancer. If you are in a high-risk category and notice one or more of these symptoms, you should visit your health care provider for an examination and testing.