Symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer

Oropharyngeal cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages. Signs and symptoms often appear as the tumour grows into nearby tissues and organs. Other health conditions can cause the same symptoms as oropharyngeal cancer.

See your doctor if you have these signs or symptoms:

  • a sore throat that doesn’t go away
  • a feeling that something is stuck in the throat
  • difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • constant bad breath
  • a change in how dentures fit
  • a lump in the neck
  • ear pain, with or without jaw pain
  • difficulty speaking
  • loss of appetite
  • fatigue
  • weight loss
  • bleeding inside the throat or mouth
  • pain
  • inability to move the tongue
  • difficulty opening the jaw (called trismus)
  • voice changes

Expert review and references

  • American Cancer Society. Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer. 2014. https://www.cancer.org/.
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology. Oral and Oropharyngeal cancer. 2016.
  • Beadle BM, Rosenthal DI. Multidisciplinary management of oropharynx carcinomas. Bernier J (ed.). Head and Neck Cancer: Multimodality Management. Springer; 2016: 27: 475 - 510.
  • National Cancer Institute. Oropharyngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) Health Professional Version. 2017. https://www.cancer.gov/.

Medical disclaimer

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