Symptoms

People with head and neck cancer often experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, people with head and neck cancer do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with your doctor.

• Swelling or sore that does not heal (the most common symptom)
  
  
• Red or white patch in the mouth
  
  
• Painless lump or mass in the neck
  
  
• Mass or bump in the head and neck area
  
  
• Persistent sore throat
  
  
• Foul mouth odor not explained by hygiene
  
  
• Hoarseness or change in voice
  
  
• Nasal obstruction or persistent nasal congestion
  
  
• Frequent nose bleeds and/or unusual nasal discharge
  
  
• Difficulty breathing
  
  
• Double vision
  
  
• Numbness or weakness of a body part in the head and neck region
  
  
• Pain or difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the jaws or tongue
  
  
• Ear and/or jaw pain
  
  
• Blood in the saliva or phlegm (mucus discharged in mouth from respiratory passages)
  
  
• Loosening of teeth
  
  
• Dentures that no longer fit
  
  
• Unexplained weight loss
  
  
• Fatigue

People who notice any warning signs should consult a doctor and/or dentist right away. When detected early, cancers of the head and neck have a much better chance of cure.

Because many of these symptoms can be caused by other, noncancerous health conditions as well, it is important to receive regular health and dental screenings; this is particularly important for people who routinely drink alcohol or currently use tobacco products or have used them in the past.

In fact, people who use alcohol and tobacco should receive a general screening examination at least once a year. This is a simple, quick procedure in which the doctor looks in the nose, mouth, and throat for abnormalities and feels for lumps in the neck. If anything unusual is found, then the doctor will recommend a more extensive examination using one or more of the diagnostic procedures mentioned in Diagnosis.