Throat Cancer Signs & Symptoms
If you are having difficulty with your speech, breathing, or when you swallow it could be a red flag that points toward throat cancer symptoms. You should not jump to conclusions. Your first step should be to make an appointment with head and neck doctors in LA. Throat cancer specialists Los Angeles are experts in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers that affect the throat. Early detection is key for the best prognosis.
What are Throat Cancer Symptoms?
It’s common to have pesky problems involving your throat, such as that annoying tickle you get when it’s dry or a cough from post nasal drip. However, throat cancer symptoms will be persistent. Head and neck cancer doctors Los Angeles look for the following signs of cancer affecting the larynx, or voice box, the pharynx, otherwise known as the throat, or the tonsils:
- A sore throat that won’t go away
- An unexplained earache
- A change in the way you speak
- A hoarse voice
- Trouble swallowing
- A sore or lump that won’t go away and is only on one side of your neck
- Unexplained weight loss
If your primary care physician hasn’t been able to give you any answers, turn to head and neck cancer doctors in Los Angeles.
How is Throat Cancer Diagnosed?
When you make an appointment with our ENT doctor Los Angeles, they’ll begin with a consultation. This will give your specialist the opportunity to discuss your symptoms. They’ll also perform a physical evaluation. Additional testing, such as a biopsy, a CT scan, an MRI, a PET scan, and a barium swallow test will throat cancer specialists Los Angeles with vital information to confirm a diagnosis or pinpoint other conditions that could be at the root of your symptoms.
What Happens After a Throat Cancer Diagnosis?
If throat cancer is confirmed, head and neck cancer doctors Los Angeles will create an action plan to treat your condition. Chemotherapy for head and neck cancer treatment Los Angeles is the most common alternative. Other treatment options include radiation and medical trials. Chemoradiation combines chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Drugs may be recommended for targeted therapy that focuses on eliminating the type of proteins that are prevalent in throat cancer. Immunotherapy is another form of treatment that uses your body’s immune system to attack cancerous cells. Surgery may also be recommended.
Your Treatment Will be Designed for You
If your throat cancer symptoms are confirmed, you will have a personalized plan that will be created for you. A combination approach may be recommended.
Chemotherapy for head and neck cancer treatment Los Angeles may begin by administering radiation and chemotherapy. Surgery may be next. As research continues, new therapies could make a difference for you. The sooner you see head and neck doctors in LA about your throat cancer symptoms, the sooner you can find answers to help you on the road to better health.