What are the symptoms of laryngeal cancer?
Laryngeal cancer symptoms can vary, so if you have any symptoms, especially those that may last longer than two weeks, it is important to get screened. Having symptoms does not necessarily mean you have laryngeal cancer, but if you are diagnosed with the disease and it is detected early, it is often highly treatable.
Symptoms can include:
- A sore throat or cough that does not go away
- Trouble swallowing or pain when swallowing
- Ear aches
- A lump in the neck or throat
- A change or hoarseness in the voice
- Breathing difficulties
- Unexplained weight loss
If you experience any of these symptoms, especially for more than a couple of weeks, talk with your doctor about any concerns you might have.
How is laryngeal cancer diagnosed?
At Miami Cancer Institute, our internationally recognized laryngeal cancer specialists and subspecialists work together across many medical disciplines (known as a multidisciplinary approach) to provide you with the most advanced, comprehensive diagnostics available today – all under one roof and all conveniently located in South Florida.
Our expert multidisciplinary team begins with determining your complete family history and providing you with a thorough physical examination. This includes blood tests and state-of-the-art advanced imaging and laboratory tests, all with a compassionate, patient-centered focus.
When you’re diagnosed with laryngeal cancer at the Cancer Institute, our expert healthcare team uses a variety of personalized tests depending on what is right for you. This can include:
- Endoscopy to view the larynx, upper airways and inside the nostrils, throat and vocal cords
- Biopsy to examine tumor tissues to determine the specific kind of cancer present
- Imaging studies that may include CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans
