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 5 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 (60%)
• Difficulty with breathing through nose (60%)
• Ear ache (40%)
• Feeling vaguely unwell (60%)
• Swelling in neck (80%)
• Blood in mucus discharge from nose or throat (40%)

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

• within 2 weeks (40%)
• between 2 - 4 months (40%)
• more than 4 months (20%)

Only 40% were referred with 1 month!

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

hi dr v i was given a clean bill of heath about 5 months before i was diagnosed, when i told about the nasal discharge with blood spot, my reply was sinus.only when my neck swelled, i was sent for investigation, by a young dr only finnishing her time. hope this information is of some use and sorry its a bit late. all the best for the new year. jimmy.

jimmy, same with my mom, was going to the hospital for months and was told she was fine before diagnosis...its appaling.