DURING the winter months, many people come down with symptoms of the common cold.
This can often include a sore throat, but experts have warned that it might not always be down to the lurgy.
Head and neck cancers are responsible for over 4,000 deaths a year in the UK, figures from Cancer Research UK state
Lifestyle factors account for around 155,000 cases of cancer each year, the World Cancer Research Fund states.
Close to six million people smoke in England – and tobacco remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death.
Over a million people will contract cancer from cigarettes by 2040 unless there is tough action to stop smoking, Cancer Research UK said last month.
While you might think smoking just causes lung cancer, the NHS states that it can also cause cancer in other parts of the body, such as the throat.
Also referred to as laryngeal cancer, the illness is most commonly identified with a persistent sore throat.
The NHS states that the key symptoms are:
- a persistent sore throat or earache
- a change in your voice, such as sounding hoarse
- pain when swallowing or difficulty swallowing
- a lump or swelling in your neck
- a long-lasting cough or breathlessness
- a high-pitched wheezing noise when you breathe
- in severe cases, difficulty breathing.
Guidance states that you might also experience bad breath, unintentional weight loss or extreme tiredess.
Head and neck cancers are responsible for over 4,000 deaths a year in the UK, figures from Cancer Research UK state.
There are different types, including mouth, voice box and those affecting the thyroid gland.
Throat cancer is a head and neck cancer and the charity states that most of the time, symptoms of the illness are similar to much less serious conditions.
There are around 12,000 cases a year, with tennis star Martina Navratilova having been recently diagnosed.
In November, she discovered an enlarged lymph node in her neck.
Navratilova will undergo treatment on her stage one throat cancer in January.
Caused by the human papillomavirus, it is only located in one part of her throat and has not spread to her vocal chords.
The 66-year-old has also been diagnosed with breast cancer and said the ‘double whammy’ was serious but fixable.
A sore throat isn’t always a sign of cancer and experts previously warned that this can also be a symptom of group of bacterial infections called streptococcal infection.
“The most minor of these is strep throat (bacterial tonsillitis), but they also include more serious ones, like scarlet fever, bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), and toxic shock syndrome,” Dr Gabriela Pichardo of Resilient Health Austin, US, said.
Bacterial tonsillitis can also cause a sore throat, as can throat infections.
A sore throat that doesn’t go away could also be a sign of glandular fever, the NHS website explains.
If you are worried about any of your symptoms you should see your GP.
In the event of an emergency, always call 999 or visit your nearest A&E department.
