Sign 3: Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing, medically known as dysphagia, is another alarming sign of throat cancer. This symptom may present as a sensation of food getting stuck in the throat or chest, or it may feel like you’re choking on your food.
Dysphagia can significantly affect a person’s ability to eat and drink. In severe cases, it may lead to weight loss due to difficulty in consuming enough food. However, it’s crucial to remember that while difficulty swallowing can indicate throat cancer, it’s also a common symptom of other conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal spasms.
The critical factor is persistence. If you frequently find it challenging to swallow, or if the difficulty persists despite treatments for other conditions, you should consult your doctor. A persistent problem with swallowing is not a symptom to be ignored, as it could be an early indication of throat cancer. (3)