Laryngeal (larynx) cancer - Symptoms of laryngeal cancer

Most laryngeal cancers develop near the vocal cords, so one of the first noticeable symptoms is often a change in the sound of your voice. For example, your voice may be unusually hoarse.

Other symptoms include:

• pain when swallowing or difficulty swallowing 
• a lump or swelling in your neck
• persistent cough
• bad breath
• earache
• breathlessness
• a high-pitched wheezing noise when breathing
• unexplained weight loss
• fatigue and weakness

When to seek medical advice

You should visit your GP if you experience any of the symptoms listed above for more than three weeks.

As these symptoms are the same as those for many other conditions, it's unlikely they are caused by cancer. However, it's a good idea to find out the cause of your symptoms by visiting your GP.