Early symptoms of laryngeal cancer

There are many symptoms associated with laryngeal cancer, including difficulty swallowing and a change in the voice. Learn about other early symptoms of laryngeal cancer.

Laryngeal cancer refers to cancer of the larynx, vocal cords, and other parts of the throat. Laryngeal cancer often begins in the flat cells that line the inside of the throat. If you have difficulty swallowing and a change in your voice, these signs may indicate laryngeal cancer.

What are the early symptoms of laryngeal cancer?

Early symptoms of laryngeal cancer
Laryngeal cancer can be difficult to detect in its early stages, but the main symptoms of early laryngeal cancer are:

Sore throat that does not go away.
swelling in the neck;
pain in the ear.
Other early symptoms of laryngeal cancer may include:

change in your voice
Difficulty swallowing
Weight loss.
persistent cough
swollen lymph nodes in the neck
humming sounds
earache
Hoarseness.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any of these symptoms and they don’t improve after two to three weeks.

Types of laryngeal cancer

Although all types of throat cancer involve the growth of abnormal cells, the type must be determined in order to find the most effective treatment plan:

Squamous cell carcinoma: This type of throat cancer affects the flat cells lining the throat.
Adenocarcinoma: This type of throat cancer affects the glandular cells and rarely occurs.
Nasopharyngeal cancer: This cancer develops in the pharynx, which is the hollow tube that runs from behind your nose to the top of your windpipe.

Risk factors for laryngeal cancer

Factors that can increase your risk of developing early symptoms of laryngeal cancer include:

Tobacco use, including smoking.
Excessive alcohol use.
Infection with a sexually transmitted virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables.
Suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Throat cancer prevention
There is no sure way to prevent throat cancer, but to reduce your risk of throat cancer, you can do the following:

Quitting smoking: Quitting smoking can be difficult, but you can follow many strategies to quit smoking, such as: taking medications and replacing nicotine products.
Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables: The vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of throat cancer.
Protect yourself from HPV: Some types of throat cancer are thought to be caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV).