It wasn’t a big deal until Jose realized that his throat was persistently sore and its hoarseness wouldn’t go away. In the cancer survivor stories shared by The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the victim suffers from an early stage of laryngeal cancer. An early diagnosis of the disease helps him save his life. Throat cancer refers to the process of abnormal cell development either in the larynx or the pharynx. Some studies consider throat cancer also to affect the esophagus. There are three broad types of throat cancer, including:
Nasopharyngeal cancer: This type of cancer begins in the muscular throat assemblage behind your nose.
Hypopharyngeal cancer: The type of cancer ensues in the part of the throat just above the windpipe.
Oropharyngeal cancer: Oropharyngeal cancer begins in the part of the throat right behind the mouth.
Many people mistake the symptoms of throat cancer with routine sore throat glitches. It’s advised that all persons with persistent throat ache should consult a doctor immediately.
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Here are some unmissable warning signs for throat cancer:
Sore Throat
A usual sore throat is caused by viral infections. These may hurt temporarily, but a sore throat is bound to improve within 3 to 4 days. We’re talking about persisting sore throat here. If you can get it detected, a sore throat can be the earliest sign of throat cancer. Stay super vigilant if you experience a sore throat that won’t get better within days. In most cases, the sore throat gets worse with time.
Swelling on the Lymph Nodes
The clot-like part of your neck is what constitutes the lymph nodes. They are there to protect your body from germs. If you feel your lymph nodes are tender or painful at times, it’s a sign your body is fighting some illness. The question is when to worry about swollen lymph nodes? It’s time to see a doctor when your lymph nodes seem to feel harder. Often, node-hardening would be accompanied by mild fever.
Pain Swallowing
The constant feeling there’s something stuck in the throat, and frequent choking and eating difficulties can be an alarming signs of throat cancer. Mouth, throat, and esophageal cancers are often responsible for a long-term difficulty in swallowing due to the swelling of the lymph nodes.
Online cancer awareness programs for patients help them understand their illness better. The TV show, The Doctor Connect helps connect health professionals with a larger audience looking for medical care and guidance.
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