Laryngeal Cancer Symptoms You Can Spot While Talking

Compression of the larynx by the tumor can cause a high-pitched sound or noise when breathing.

Hoarseness that persists for more than three weeks is a warning sign that should prompt you to see a doctor. “The larynx is an organ that belongs to the neck and it is through it that oxygen enters the lungs. It's a muscular and phonation organ. That's why having advanced cancer can compromise speech and breathing,” explains oncologist Rodrigo Nery, in an interview with Metrópoles.

In the more advanced stages of the disease, the compression of the larynx by the tumor can cause a high-pitched sound or noise when breathing, although this is not frequent. Among the main symptoms of laryngeal cancer are hoarseness or changes in the voice; difficulty swallowing food; a feeling of something stuck in the throat; persistent pain in the throat or ear; persistent coughing or shortness of breath; and breathing problems. Other warning signs include bad breath, unexplained weight loss or fatigue.

To the newspaper Metrópoles, oncological surgeon José Guilherme Vartanian, coordinator of the Head and Neck Commission of the Brazilian Society of Oncological Surgery, explains that, “although these signs may not be directly related to laryngeal cancer, it is crucial to be vigilant and seek out a specialist doctor for an accurate assessment when you notice any suspicious changes”.