Head and neck cancers affect the mouth, nose and throat, and they are becoming more and more prevalent.
Every year more than 12,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with head and neck cancers, with Cancer Research UK saying incidence rates have increased by a third since the early 1990s.
That’s largely thanks to the unstoppable march of the ‘HPV’ or human papillomavirus, an often symptomless infection which can trigger the disease.
Now leading cancer expert Dr Jiri Kubes has revealed some of the common, and lesser known, signs in a crucial bid to raise awareness.
Dr Kubes, of the Proton Therapy Center, said: “The earlier we can get people diagnosed, the better the outcome.
“But despite it being the fastest growing type of cancer in the world, there’s still a lack of awareness around head and neck tumours.
“There are certain key symptoms you need to look out for, some of them less well known.
“For example, persistently blocked ears – the type you might get after diving into a swimming pool – or persistent earache could be a sign there’s cancer in and around that area.
“Swelling in part of the neck, or some resistance when touching a part of the neck, could also be an indicator.
“Sore gums, ulcers and pain in your teeth, white or red patches in the mouth are also tell-tale symptoms.
“Most people might shrug it off and put it down to an ulcer. A doctor may also dismiss it and send you to the dentist.
“But it could well be a cancerous lesion that’s growing, and it’s easy to miss.
“A sore throat that lasts more than two weeks, or if you have any voice changes or hoarseness, should ring alarm bells.”
Experts say there’s currently a 90 per cent chance you’ll survive head and neck cancer if you’re diagnosed early.
If you’re diagnosed late, this can go down as low as 40 per cent.
Each year hundreds of British cancer patients fly to Prague for private treatment at the Proton Therapy Center, one of the leading facilities of its type in the world.
For more information, visit https://ukprotontherapy.co.uk/