What are the early symptoms of laryngeal cancer

Early symptoms of laryngeal cancer may include hoarseness, throat discomfort, cough, and a few patients may have difficulty breathing. If similar symptoms occur and persist for more than two weeks, especially in high-risk groups such as those with a history of long-term smoking and drinking, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Early detection of laryngeal cancer usually has a better prognosis.

1. Hoarseness

One of the typical manifestations of laryngeal cancer in the early stage is hoarseness, which is caused by the tumor affecting the function of the vocal cords or the tissues around the vocal cords. Especially for people who work in professions that require a lot of voice, such as teachers and salespeople, if the hoarseness does not improve significantly, they should be alert to the possibility of laryngeal lesions. It is recommended to go to the ENT department for examination in time if hoarseness occurs for more than two weeks, and perform laryngoscopy to rule out laryngeal tumors.

2. Throat discomfort or foreign body sensation

Laryngeal cancer may cause mild pain or foreign body sensation in the throat in the early stage, especially when swallowing. Some patients describe it as "as if something is stuck in the throat", which is easily confused with common pharyngitis. If the symptoms are ineffective after symptomatic treatment, further imaging examinations such as CT or MRI are required to clarify the cause.

3. Persistent cough or blood in sputum

Patients with laryngeal cancer may experience persistent coughing due to tumor stimulation, and a few patients may have blood in their sputum in the early stages. Once you notice repeated blood in your sputum, you should not take it lightly. In this case, you need to undergo a laryngoscopy, sputum cytology, and, if necessary, a pathological biopsy to confirm whether there is a malignant lesion.

4. Difficulty breathing or swallowing

As the disease progresses, laryngeal stenosis can lead to restricted airflow, resulting in breathing difficulties and even dysphonia. Some patients may experience difficulty swallowing or swallowing pain, especially when eating solid food.

The early symptoms of laryngeal cancer are easily confused with other common laryngeal diseases. Therefore, if the symptoms persist for 2 weeks or more, especially for high-risk people who have smoked, drank alcohol for a long time, have bad eating habits or occupational exposure such as exposure to chemical fumes, they should go to a regular hospital for diagnosis and develop a treatment plan in time.