Ear & Throat Cancer

While there are many cancers of the throat, the opposite is true of the ear. Tumors can occur in the inner ear, but most of them are benign, with one notable exception. Tumors of the throat are easier for the patient to see and feel, making an early diagnosis of them more likely than those in the ear.

Laryngeal Cancer

• Laryngeal cancer is a cancer of the larynx or voice box. Symptoms include severe sore throat and/or ear pain, lump in the throat, change in voice or pain when swallowing.

Hypopharyngeal Cancer

• Hypopharyngeal cancer is cancer of the hypopharynx, which is located at the back or bottom of the throat. The symptoms are the same as for laryngeal cancer.

Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer

• Metastatic squamous neck cancer can start anywhere and spreads or metastasizes to the lymph nodes. Symptoms are a lump or pain in the neck that does not disappear.

Squamous Cell Cancer of the Middle Ear

• Squamous cell cancer of the middle ear is difficult to diagnose and is usually well developed when the diagnosis is made. Symptoms are hearing loss, severe pain and bleeding from the ear.

Treatments

• The preferred treatment is surgical removal of the tumor followed by radiation. For those too weak for surgery, radiation will be done alone.