Patients are told to look out for rare warning signs that they could be suffering from throat cancer caused by a common sexual act.
It's estimated that there will be nearly 60,000 new cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer diagnosed in the USA in 2025, with 12,770 deaths linked to these types of cancer.
Considering the National Cancer Institute estimates the total number of US cancer deaths in 2025 will reach 618,120, throat cancer is one that scientists are scrambling to keep control of.
We've covered the story of Frank Lane, who had an egg-sized lump on his throat analyzed and confirmed as throat cancer.
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The 60-year-old was even more shocked to learn his cancer had been caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and oral sex.
Major celebrities including Stanley Tucci, Michael Douglas, and the late Val Kilmer have all suffered from throat cancer, and while not all have been linked to HPV, Douglas confirmed in 2013: "This particular cancer is caused by HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus."
While Lane was lucky to find the lump in his neck and seek medical assistance before it got any worse, others might not be as lucky in identifying their prognosis early.
As shared by the MD Anderson Cancer Center, numerous rare symptoms might be masking an oropharyngeal cancer diagnosis.
What symptoms does throat cancer include?
Sharing stories from four survivors, football coach Mark Teague said he was orignally unfazed by a small lump on his jaw, explaining: "I’d been aware of it for a while. But I’d had sinus problems all my life, so I didn’t think anything of it. I just assumed it was another swollen lymph node.”
The article expands on how most people with throat cancer won't display any symptoms, although a swollen lymph node or painless lump in the neck are the most common ones you should be looking out for.
Other MD Anderson patients reported losing their voice or noticing white spots on their tonsils, while Miriam Lango, M.D., warned: "Laryngitis, visible abnormalities, and pain are far less common symptoms of throat cancer."
Another rare symptom is ear pain, with Lango continuing: "Though we do occasionally see patients who report ear pain, a type of ‘referred’ pain from the tongue or throat. And, sometimes, people say it feels like something is kind of caught back there."
Is pain a symptom of throat cancer?
Although pain being a symptom of throat cancer is rare, Lango reminds us that it's typically just on one side but "usually not in the middle." She goes on to say: "It tends to be both dull and persistent. Once it’s there, it’s always there. It never goes away. That’s a sign that it should get checked out.”
The general rule is to consult a medical professional when worrisome symptoms don't resolve themselves within two to three weeks. You should seek more urgent medical assistance if you experience swallowing difficulties, involuntary weight loss, problems breathing, changes to your voice or ability to speak clearly, and bleeding in the throat that may be coughed or spit up.
Lango concludes that even though having one or more ove the above symptoms doesn't mean you have throat cancer, it's important to be vigilant because it's easier to treat when caught early: "You’re much more likely to need a combination of treatments — such as surgery plus radiation rather than surgery alone — if you’re diagnosed in the latter stages of throat cancer.
"And that can mean both a longer course of treatment and more side effects. So, early diagnosis can make a huge difference."