Major Throat Cancer Symptoms

Chronic Sore Throat

Cells that experience mutations in their DNA that cause them to grow and multiply out of control can form a mass when enough of them collect in one tissue. When this occurs in the throat, the individual has developed throat cancer. These malignant cells invade the healthy tissues of the throat and its surrounding structures, which causes damage to the cells that make up these tissues. This cellular damage induces a reaction by the immune system, which produces swelling and inflammation in the mouth, throat, and neck tissues. This inflammation and swelling can cause nearby nerves to become compressed and damaged. This nerve compression can cause patients to develop a sore throat that evolves into a chronic sore throat.

Difficulty Breathing

When an individual inhales air, it moves into the trachea before entering the bronchi tubes inside of the lungs. Air inhaled through the nose also passes through the throat to reach the trachea. A malignant mass that has grown to a significant size inside of an individual's throat tissues can cause a mechanical obstruction in the path of which food takes to reach the esophagus and air to reach the trachea. This malignant mass reduces the amount of space air and food have to move through the throat. The narrowed throat makes it more difficult for a patient to get enough oxygen in their lungs due to a reduced volume of air intake. The brain senses this malfunction and produces the sensations an individual feels when they are having difficulty with breathing.