Symptoms

Symptoms of Throat Cancer

In some cases, throat (oropharyngeal) cancer does not cause any symptoms in early stages. However, possible symptoms of throat may include:

  • A lump in the neck
  • A sore throat that persists
  • Pain or difficulty with swallowing
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Voice changes
  • Trouble moving the tongue
  • Ear pain
  • A dull pain behind the sternum
  • Coughing up blood
  • Trouble opening the mouth fully
Tonsil, base of tongue and soft palate cancer symptoms may include:
  • The sensation of a foreign body in the throat 
  • Sore throat
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • A lump or enlarged lymph node in the neck