Symptoms of head and neck cancer
Hoarseness of the voice persisting for more than 6 weeks.
Hoarseness usually follows a common cold or even after venting your passions at a particularly intense sporting event. But hoarseness which carries on for more than 6 weeks is an indication that there might be something more worrying going on.
It can sometimes, particularly in a smoker, signal cancer of the larynx or voice box. There may also be some discomfort and a little bleeding resulting in coughing up or spitting blood.
Ulcers in the mouth which last for more than 3 weeks.
Ulcers inside the mouth are really quite common, but usually diagnosed at a relatively early stage because the mouth can be easily examined by the doctor or dentist. Sometimes however people attribute mouth ulcers as simple aphthous ulcers which are caused by stress and anxiety.
When they last longer than three weeks however, they are more suspicious, particularly if the ulcers are painless and if they are associated with other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, or swelling in the cheek or side of the face.
Swellings in the mouth which last for more than 3 weeks.
These too are common and more often than not have a simple explanation and are benign. However, when they persist and when they are painless, they may herald the first signs of cancer developing, particularly when they have been present for several weeks and are becoming more extensive.
Red or white patches inside the mouth.
Swellings inside the mouth are also common and may be attributed to abscesses in the gums, inflammation of the cheek or tongue. However when they persist for more than three weeks, and especially when they are painless or occur in somebody who smokes and drinks heavily, they are more suspicious.
Difficulty or pain on swallowing persisting for more than 3 weeks.
Pain or difficultly swallowing can occur quite innocently when somebody swallows something hard like a fish bone which scratches the surface of the gullet and sets up a temporary inflammation. It can also occur after vomiting when strong stomach acid burns the sensitive lining of the gullet and makes it sore.
However, when such symptoms persist for more than three weeks and have no obvious explanation, and in particular when the symptoms are in somebody over the age of 45, it's important to rule out the possibility of a tumour.
Whilst cancer of the gullet or oesophagus is not very common, and is most often caused by a combination of smoking and drinking, it is quite difficult to treat and absolutely vital that symptoms are investigated as urgently as possible in order to provide the best chance of a cure.