An oncologist has warned that a “common” minor symptom could actually be a red flag sign of a deadly cancer. The expert urged people to seek medical help if they experience this symptom and it “won’t go away”.
A sore throat is quite a normal symptom that many people experience from time to time. It is often linked to seasonal illnesses such as colds and flu.
While this is, therefore, not usually anything to worry about, a sore throat that persists for three weeks or longer should be investigated.
This is because it could be a sign of tonsil cancer – a type of mouth cancer.
More than 10,000 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer in the UK last year, according to the Mouth Cancer Foundation.
Nearly one in four of those cases of mouth cancer were found on the tonsils.
Symptoms of tonsil cancer include pain and difficulty swallowing, a hoarse voice and ear pain. Doctor Jiri Kubes, a radiation oncologist at the Proton Therapy Centre, says a persistent sore throat that won’t go away could also be a sign of the disease.
“It’s really important to get anything unusual that has been lingering for more than three weeks checked out,” he said.
“Sore throats are very common and can be down to a number of illnesses, but if yours is lingering and doesn’t improve or gets worse, a doctor will be able to examine you and refer you for further tests if necessary.
“Tonsil cancer is rare but if it is cancer, early detection of the disease is so important in improving outcomes.” Tonsil cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that affects the two glands at the back of the throat.
Other symptoms of the disease include a painless lump in the neck. Certain lifestyle factors including smoking and drinking a lot of alcohol can increase risk.
It can also be caused by and infection with a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV). If you experience any symptoms and your doctor is worried it could be caused by cancer they will want to examine you.
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According to Cancer Research UK, this can involve looking at the back of your throat using a small mirror that they put into your mouth. They will check for swollen lymph nodes in your neck.
The only way to be sure of a diagnosis of cancer is to take a small amount of tissue (biopsy) from the abnormal area. They can also test your cancer cells to check for HPV infection.
Treatment for tonsil cancer could include:
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy with radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy)
- Targeted and immunotherapy drugs.
If you experience any symptoms of tonsil cancer you should speak to your GP.
