7 silent signals of head and neck cancer you shouldn't ignore

Head and neck cancers arise in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat or larynx. As per the National Cancer Institute, about 72,680 people in the United States will be diagnosed with major types of head and neck cancer in 2025 and about 16,680 people will succumb to the disease. Recently, British rock star David Roach was diagnosed with head and neck cancer whose symptoms were fever and cough. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, if you find yourself facing any of these seven silent symptoms, you must seek medical help immediately.

If you develop an ulcer anywhere near the mouth, including your tongue and it lasts for more than three weeks, then you need to seek medical advice. As per Dr Jonathan Kentley, an NHS dermatologist at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, in the mouth and throat, squamous cell carcinoma can develop as a result of smoking or exposure to the HPV (human papillomavirus).

Lumps in the neck can develop due to a variety of reasons such as stress on the neck. However, if you develop a lump on the neck that doesn't go away after two to three weeks, then it must be checked by a professional. These lumps are mostly painless and since had and neck cancers spread through the lymph nodes, it can cause them to swell and become a lump.

Head and neck cancer can develop in more than 30 parts of the head and neck. About 9 out of 10 head and neck cancers start in squamous cells that line the surfaces inside the head and neck like the mouth, nose and throat. Thus, the development of a lump on the lip can be an early sign of lip cancer, which is a type of head and neck cancer. If not a lump, even thickening of the lips persistently is a sign that must not be ignored.

If you develop a red patch called erythroplakia or a red and white patch called erythroleukoplakia anywhere inside the mouth, then a doctor's attention is required. These are considered precancerous lesions that have a higher risk of developing into oral cancer.

A sore tongue that hasn't healed for more than two weeks is a warning sign for tongue cancer. It can be accompanied by other symptoms like pain, bleeding or even lumps, so be on the lookout for those.

Pain in the throat, constant hoarseness and an increasing difficulty in swallowing even the smallest and softest of things can be a sign of head and neck cancer.

A completely white patch in the mouth, known as leukoplakia must also be evaluated by the doctor. These typically develop on the gums, inside of the cheeks or the tongue. Smoking or chewing tobacco can be the cause of this condition which can lead to cancer.