Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon SymptomsOther SymptomsSelf-CheckWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Symptoms
Other Symptoms
Self-Check
When to See a Provider
Throat cancer symptoms often include visible sores, a swollen tongue, and lumps in the throat or neck. Thickened white patches on the lining of thepharynx(throat) are usually the earliest signs of cancer or a precancerous condition in the throat.
Throat cancertypically starts in the squamous cell layer of mouth tissue.Risk factors include smoking, as well as infection withhuman papillomavirus (HPV), especially certain strains.Read on to learn about throat cancer symptoms and see pictures so you know what to look for.
A White Patch
Some throat cancers begin as oralleukoplakia, a general term for a white patch in the mouth that doesn’t have a known cause.
Leukoplakiasores are premalignant lesions, which means they’re not cancerous yet but could develop into cancer. Most cases are benign and some go away on their own, but others will progress to become cancer.
Oral leukoplakia are typically asymptomatic, but you should see a healthcare provider if they don’t go away within two weeks.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoKlaus D. Peter, Gummersbach, Germany
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Klaus D. Peter, Gummersbach, Germany
A Red Patch
Other throat and mouth cancers show up as red patches callederythroplakias. These are rare, isolated, velvety patches in the mouth and/or throat that typically show up in older adults.
Erythroplakia lesions are usually premalignant and many of these red patches become cancerous, so it’s important to get them checked out. They often are linked to tobacco and alcohol use.
Sometimes, lesions are a mix of red and white, referred to as erythroleukoplakias.Although the lesions most commonly occur on the floor of the tongue, they can also develop on tissues behind the back teeth, including the upper throat.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet and ©Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet and ©Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2023.
Throat Ulcers
A classic sign of oral cancer is a persistent rough patch that looks like a sore and has a raised border. It can appear on the tongue, the tonsils, or the top of the mouth.
Unlike some ulcers and other lesions likecanker sores, these are minimally painful. They still should be checked if they don’t heal on their own (usually 10 days for oral tissues to regenerate). A tissuebiopsy(sample of the affected cells sent to a lab) may be needed to check for cancer.
A Lump in the Throat
A primary tumor of the throat can appear as a nodular mass on the floor of the mouth, tongue, tonsil, or wall of the throat. A mass on the side of the neck is the most common symptom of throat cancer. It appears on only one side and is larger than a swollen lymph node.
The mass will tend to be irregular, fixed, and relatively painless, but can interfere with swallowing and make you feel like you have something caught in your throat. This is most common in people with a long history of smoking.
A Lump in the Neck
Metastasisis the spread of cancer from its original location. Head and neck cancers can spread through the lymphatic system, which is another circulatory system of the body that plays a key role in immunity and fighting infection.
If throat cancer spreads through the lymph vessels, it will likely land in the lymph nodes of the neck. There, it can produce non-tender masses (lymphadenopathy) and then seed new tumors in other parts of the body.
When a primary tumor grows to a large size, it can cause difficulty swallowing or talking, earaches, headaches, spitting up blood, and sometimes partial airway obstruction.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoZay Nyi Nyi / Getty Images
Zay Nyi Nyi / Getty Images
A Swollen Tongue
Some throat cancers, specifically those associated with a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, cause a swollen tongue. Infection with HPV is one of the major causes of throat cancer. About 10% of men and 3.6% of women have oral HPV.
The symptoms of HPV-associated throat cancer include long-lasting sore throat, earaches, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, pain when swallowing, and unexplained weight loss.The persistence of symptoms is a telltale sign, particularly in younger people who do not smoke.
Human papillomavirus is an infection that can be prevented. TheHPV vaccineis very safe and effective at preventing infections, genital warts, and precancers.
Hardened Tissues
These lesions typically start in the mouth and gums, but can also involve the throat. They can cause burning sensations after eating spicy foods, pain when eating, and difficulty opening the mouth.
Other symptoms may also suggest throat cancer. These can include:
Weight loss and persistent fatigue may result from swallowing problems, poor nutrition, or metastasis. You may also notice hoarseness or other changes in the voice if cancer spreads to the larynx.
Coughing up blood is extremely rare. It can result from tumor cells eroding into blood vessels. This is a sign of end-stage disease with a grim prognosis.
Can You Check for Throat Cancer at Home?
Making regular dental visits can also be a good way to monitor for any unusual growths or lesions. Your dental professional is trained to check for signs of oral cancer.
If you find concerning symptoms, tests may be needed for adiagnosis of throat cancer. These include a physical exam to feel for swollen lymph nodes and other nodules, and testing for HPV. Other procedures, such as an endoscopy to visualize the throat or a biopsy, may be ordered.
Testing for genetic mutations also may be needed to inform diagnosis and treatment.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you experience unusual or persistent symptoms suggestive of throat cancer, like white spots or a lump in the throat, speak to your healthcare provider about getting further testing. Seek immediate care if you have a fever or cough up blood.
You may have an increased risk of throat cancer if you have:
Summary
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Oropharyngeal cancer treatment (adult) (PDQ®)–patient version.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer.Leukoplakia.MD Anderson Cancer Center.What is leukoplakia? Symptoms, risk factors and treatment.World Health Organization Interational Agency for Research on Cancer.Erythroplakia.Wadde KR, Gajare PP, Sachdev SS, Singhavi HR.Prevalence and Malignant Transformation Rate of Oral Erythroplakia Worldwide - A Systematic Review.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2024 Jan-Jun;14(1):76-80. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_181_23Habib Rahman AF, Ahmad Fahmi AK, Ahmad Tarmizi NE, Hui Heng C, Mohan Singh AS.A Red Flag: A Case of Oropharyngeal Cancer Masquerading as an Ulcer of an Infective Origin.Cureus. 2023 Dec 12;15(12):e50411. doi:10.7759/cureus.50411MD Anderson Cancer Center.What does throat cancer look like?Zhou H, Lei PJ, Padera TP.Progression of Metastasis through Lymphatic System. Cells. 2021 Mar 12;10(3):627. doi: 10.3390/cells10030627Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Reasons to get vaccinated against HPV.Shih YH, Wang TH, Shieh TM, Tseng YH.Oral submucous fibrosis: a review on etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(12):2940. doi:10.3390/ijms20122940American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.Oral Cancer Symptoms and Types.Moffitt Cancer Center.What does throat cancer look like?Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat Cancer Diagnosis.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat Cancer Causes & Risk Factors.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Oropharyngeal cancer treatment (adult) (PDQ®)–patient version.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer.Leukoplakia.MD Anderson Cancer Center.What is leukoplakia? Symptoms, risk factors and treatment.World Health Organization Interational Agency for Research on Cancer.Erythroplakia.Wadde KR, Gajare PP, Sachdev SS, Singhavi HR.Prevalence and Malignant Transformation Rate of Oral Erythroplakia Worldwide - A Systematic Review.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2024 Jan-Jun;14(1):76-80. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_181_23Habib Rahman AF, Ahmad Fahmi AK, Ahmad Tarmizi NE, Hui Heng C, Mohan Singh AS.A Red Flag: A Case of Oropharyngeal Cancer Masquerading as an Ulcer of an Infective Origin.Cureus. 2023 Dec 12;15(12):e50411. doi:10.7759/cureus.50411MD Anderson Cancer Center.What does throat cancer look like?Zhou H, Lei PJ, Padera TP.Progression of Metastasis through Lymphatic System. Cells. 2021 Mar 12;10(3):627. doi: 10.3390/cells10030627Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Reasons to get vaccinated against HPV.Shih YH, Wang TH, Shieh TM, Tseng YH.Oral submucous fibrosis: a review on etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(12):2940. doi:10.3390/ijms20122940American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.Oral Cancer Symptoms and Types.Moffitt Cancer Center.What does throat cancer look like?Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat Cancer Diagnosis.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat Cancer Causes & Risk Factors.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Oropharyngeal cancer treatment (adult) (PDQ®)–patient version.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer.Leukoplakia.MD Anderson Cancer Center.What is leukoplakia? Symptoms, risk factors and treatment.World Health Organization Interational Agency for Research on Cancer.Erythroplakia.Wadde KR, Gajare PP, Sachdev SS, Singhavi HR.Prevalence and Malignant Transformation Rate of Oral Erythroplakia Worldwide - A Systematic Review.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2024 Jan-Jun;14(1):76-80. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_181_23Habib Rahman AF, Ahmad Fahmi AK, Ahmad Tarmizi NE, Hui Heng C, Mohan Singh AS.A Red Flag: A Case of Oropharyngeal Cancer Masquerading as an Ulcer of an Infective Origin.Cureus. 2023 Dec 12;15(12):e50411. doi:10.7759/cureus.50411MD Anderson Cancer Center.What does throat cancer look like?Zhou H, Lei PJ, Padera TP.Progression of Metastasis through Lymphatic System. Cells. 2021 Mar 12;10(3):627. doi: 10.3390/cells10030627Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Reasons to get vaccinated against HPV.Shih YH, Wang TH, Shieh TM, Tseng YH.Oral submucous fibrosis: a review on etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(12):2940. doi:10.3390/ijms20122940American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.Oral Cancer Symptoms and Types.Moffitt Cancer Center.What does throat cancer look like?Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat Cancer Diagnosis.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat Cancer Causes & Risk Factors.
National Cancer Institute.Oropharyngeal cancer treatment (adult) (PDQ®)–patient version.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV and oropharyngeal cancer.
World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer.Leukoplakia.
MD Anderson Cancer Center.What is leukoplakia? Symptoms, risk factors and treatment.
World Health Organization Interational Agency for Research on Cancer.Erythroplakia.
Wadde KR, Gajare PP, Sachdev SS, Singhavi HR.Prevalence and Malignant Transformation Rate of Oral Erythroplakia Worldwide - A Systematic Review.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2024 Jan-Jun;14(1):76-80. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_181_23
Habib Rahman AF, Ahmad Fahmi AK, Ahmad Tarmizi NE, Hui Heng C, Mohan Singh AS.A Red Flag: A Case of Oropharyngeal Cancer Masquerading as an Ulcer of an Infective Origin.Cureus. 2023 Dec 12;15(12):e50411. doi:10.7759/cureus.50411
MD Anderson Cancer Center.What does throat cancer look like?
Zhou H, Lei PJ, Padera TP.Progression of Metastasis through Lymphatic System. Cells. 2021 Mar 12;10(3):627. doi: 10.3390/cells10030627
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.Reasons to get vaccinated against HPV.
Shih YH, Wang TH, Shieh TM, Tseng YH.Oral submucous fibrosis: a review on etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(12):2940. doi:10.3390/ijms20122940
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.Oral Cancer Symptoms and Types.
Moffitt Cancer Center.What does throat cancer look like?
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat Cancer Diagnosis.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat Cancer Causes & Risk Factors.
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