Head and neck and throat cancer are often caught too late.

Symptoms that many may put down as signs of a head cold turned out to be the early stages of throat cancer for one Christchurch woman.

Cosette Calder, 42, went to her doctor when she had an ear ache, a lump in her throat, coughing, the taste of blood in her mouth, discomfort when swallowing and pain when yawning.

She was referred onto the ear, nose and throat specialist and tests confirmed she had early-stage throat cancer. Read the full article at NZ Herald

About head, neck and throat cancer

  • Smoking and drinking have historically been the main causes.
  • Diagnoses of throat cancer are increasing due to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Medical professionals are hopeful the recent introduction of universal immunisation with Gardasil, will mean this will become less common in future years.
  • Symptoms: a lump in your neck, change in your voice, a growth in your mouth, swallowing problems, changes in your skin.