Early diagnosis is important to treating mouth cancer successfully.

Nasopharyngeal cancer can present in different ways, often mimicking a 'run of the mill' sore throat, blocked nose, toothache or even ear ache. It wold be useful to know how the different mouth cancers present. I would be grateful if you could answer the appropriate questions.

For those who had a nasopharyngeal cancer, how did it present? Choose as many answers as did apply to your own case, (or if you are a carer: to the one you care or cared for).

Question:
Had excessive discharge or buildup of mucus in the nose or throat?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had blood in mucus discharge from nose or throat?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had difficulty with breathing through nose?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had ear ache?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had difficulty swallowing?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Noticed a difference in speech?

Choices:
Yes, I noticed this
Yes, friends/family also noticed this
No

Question:
Had a swelling in neck (lymph node)?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Felt vaguely unwell (tired, 'out of sorts')?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Who referred you to a specialist for further investigation?

Choices:
Dentist
Doctor
2nd opinion Doctor

Question:
How long after you noticed 'something not right', was it before you were referred to a specialist?

Choices:
within 2 weeks
between 2 - 4 weeks
between 5 - 8 weeks
between 2 - 4 months
more than 4 months

 

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

interesting results so far...

Based on 4 participants so far, the frequency of presentation as reported above is:

• Difference in speech noticed (100%)
• Excessive discharge or buildup of mucus in the nose or throat (50%)
• Difficulty with breathing through nose (50%)
• Ear ache (50%)
• Feeling vaguely unwell (50%)
• Swelling in neck (35%)
• Swelling on tongue (30%)
• Blood in mucus discharge from nose or throat (25%)

The delay before you were referred to a specialist after you noticed 'something not right':

• within 2 weeks (25%)
• between 2 - 4 months (50%)
• more than 4 months (25%)

Only 25% were referred with 1 month!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,