Symptoms of head and neck cancer

Most common symptoms Back To Top

• an ulcer or sore area in the head or neck that does not heal within a few weeks
• difficulty in swallowing, or pain when chewing or swallowing
• trouble with breathing or speaking, such as persistent noisy breathing, slurred speech or a hoarse voice
• a numb feeling in the mouth or on the lips
• an unexplained loose tooth
• a persistent blocked nose, or nose bleeds
• a constant sore throat and earache affecting one side
• ringing in the ear, or difficulty in hearing
• a swelling or lump in the mouth or neck
• pain in the face or upper jaw
• pre-cancerous changes can occur in the lining of the mouth, or on the tongue. These can appear as persistent white patches (leukoplakia) or red patches (erythroplakia). They are usually painless but can sometimes be sore and may bleed.

Lymph glands Back To Top

An important common symptom of cancers of the head and neck is swelling of one or more of the lymph glands in the neck.

The lymph glands (also known as lymph nodes) form part of the lymphatic system, which is the body's natural defence against infection. They contain white blood cells that help to fight infection and disease. Lymph glands occur throughout the body but can sometimes be felt as tiny pea-sized lumps in the neck, under the armpits and in the groin.

Diagram of the lymphatic system in the upper body

Cancers in any part of the body can spread into nearby lymph glands. This is particularly common with head and neck cancers, where the lymph glands in the neck can become enlarged. Sometimes the first symptom of a head and neck cancer will be a painless enlargement of one of these glands.

Enlarged lymph glands are much more likely to be due to a harmless infection than to cancer. However, if a lump stays for more than 3–4 weeks, despite a course of antibiotics, it should be examined by a specialist.