Head and Neck Cancer Symptoms
The symptoms for head and neck cancer depend on where the tumor is located. For all head and neck cancers, a lump in the neck that does not go away after taking antibiotics can be a symptom.
Click on any of the following to see possible symptoms:
Oral (tongue, mouth)
Throat (tonsil, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal)
Laryngeal (voice box)
Salivary gland (parotid)
- Ulcers or sores in the mouth that don’t heal
- Lumps on tongue or gums
- Loose teeth
- Ear pain
- Lump in the neck
- Difficulty moving the tongue or jaw
- Persistent bad breath
Symptoms of throat (tonsil, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal) cancer
- Lump in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing
- Hoarseness or change in voice
- Ear pain
- Persistent bad breath
- Breathing difficulty
Symptoms of laryngeal (voice box) cancer
- Hoarseness
- Chronic cough
- Difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing
- Lump in the neck
- Ear pain
- Difficulty breathing
Symptoms of sinus/nasal cancer
- Blocked nasal passages
- Unexplained bleeding from the nose
- Lump in the neck
- Numbness in cheek or face
- Double vision
Symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer
- Lump in the neck
- Blood-tinged saliva
- Hearing loss in one ear
- Double vision
Symptoms of salivary gland (parotid) cancer
- Lump or swelling on the side of the face or under the jaw
- Facial weakness on one side
- Lump in the neck
