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Throat cancer symptoms vary from person to person and often depend on where the cancer first develops.

Early signs of oropharyngeal throat cancer

Most throat cancers are oropharyngeal cancer and occur in the back of the tongue and the tonsils. The early symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer include:

• A persistent sore throat.
• A dull earache on one side.
• One tonsil that is larger and/or shaped differently than the other. This is called tonsil asymmetry.
• Difficult and/or painful swallowing.
• Blood-tinged mucus.

Late signs of oropharyngeal throat cancer

Symptoms of throat cancer that signal a more advanced disease are:

• A painless lump in the neck that can often be seen and felt from the outside. This lump may be a lymph node that is swollen with cancer cells. In many cases, the lymph node grows larger than the primary tumor. Swollen lymph nodes are also a common sign of infection, so patients are often treated with antibiotics first. When the lump does not respond to these drugs, doctors to look for other causes, including oropharyngeal cancer that has spread to lymph nodes.
• Persistent coughing.
• Difficulty moving the tongue or opening the mouth.
• Spitting up blood.
• Hoarseness or other voice changes. 

Other conditions with similar symptoms

Almost all symptoms of throat cancer can also be caused by much less serious conditions like allergies, bronchitis, laryngitis and strep throat. If a symptom goes away on its own or with a treatment like antibiotics, it is almost always one of these conditions.

If a symptom persists for more than two weeks or does not go away despite appropriate treatment, it may be a sign of a more serious condition. These patients should see a specialist, such as an ear, nose and throat doctor.

How does throat cancer feel?

Throat cancer is usually painless and doesn¡¯t cause symptoms in the early stages. When patients can feel throat cancer, they usually describe it as a pinpoint pain on just one spot of the throat. They also can have a dull earache, typically on the same side of the throat as the cancer. Painful swallowing is another symptom many patients report.

Throat cancer screening

Most throat cancer screenings can be performed by dentists. Dentists can look for symptoms such as sores and red or white patches in the throat. They also have special tools that can help identify areas of concern that can¡¯t be seen with the naked eye.

Symptoms of other throat cancers

Other types of throat cancer can have slightly different symptoms. Learn more about:

• Hypopharyngeal cancer symptoms
• Laryngeal cancer symptoms
• Nasopharyngeal cancer symptoms

Learn more about throat cancer:

• Throat cancer overview
• Throat cancer diagnosis
• Throat cancer treatment