What disease, where to see a doctor?: Prolonged hoarseness with weight loss, is it esophageal cancer?

'For the past 3 months, I have had a hoarse voice and lost 1 kg. Could you tell me if a long-term hoarse voice is a sign of esophageal cancer? With this symptom, which hospital should I go to?' (M. Long, in Ho Chi Minh City).

Doctor Chu Thi Dung, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Branch 3, replied: Dear Mr. Long! With the symptoms hoarseness lasting 3 months accompanied by unexplained weight loss, these are symptoms that medicine calls red flags, that is, signs that are potentially related to serious illness, requiring early examination and specialist evaluation.

There are many causes of persistent hoarseness.

Photo: AI

What disease can prolonged hoarseness be a sign of?

Dr. Dung said that hoarseness is a manifestation of changes in the function of the larynx, which contains the two vocal cords. Under normal conditions, sound is produced when air passes through the vocal cords, causing them to vibrate. Any change that affects this function can cause hoarseness.

Some common causes of persistent hoarseness include:

Chronic laryngitis : Due to smoking, polluted environment, talking too much, shouting, or prolonged bacterial or viral infections.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) : Acid from the stomach flows back up into the throat, irritating the larynx.

Polyps, nodules or benign tumors of the vocal cords : Found in people who use their voice regularly such as singers and teachers.

Laryngeal nerve injury : Can be caused by thyroid surgery, heart surgery, or tumor compression.

Cancer of the larynx, hypopharynx or thyroid gland : Prolonged hoarseness is a typical sign in these cases.

Esophageal cancer : Not a common cause of hoarseness, however, if the esophageal tumor spreads and compresses the recurrent laryngeal nerve (a branch of the vagus nerve), it can cause hoarseness.

Is prolonged hoarseness a sign of esophageal cancer?

Hoarseness is not a typical symptom of esophageal cancer. However, in some cases, when a tumor in the middle or upper esophagus grows large, it can press on the nerve that controls the voice (the recurrent laryngeal nerve), leading to hoarseness.

In addition, unexplained weight loss is also a suspicious sign of malignancy, including esophageal cancer.

Thus, although not the most common symptom of esophageal cancer, persistent hoarseness with weight loss is still an important sign that needs to be evaluated to rule out serious diseases, especially head and neck cancer or esophageal-laryngeal cancer.

Signs that you need to see a doctor soon

According to Dr. Dung, Mr. Long should go to the hospital as soon as possible if one or more of the following symptoms appear:

• Hoarseness lasting more than 3 weeks.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing.
• Persistent cough, especially coughing up blood.
• Shortness of breath, chest pain.
• Feeling of choking in the throat.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

These symptoms may be a sign of a serious illness, requiring endoscopy, x-rays and further tests for an accurate diagnosis.

If you experience difficulty breathing or chest pain, go to the hospital as soon as possible.

Photo: AI

Where should I go for a check-up in Ho Chi Minh City?

Mr. Long is living in Ho Chi Minh City, he can go to some reputable hospitals below for comprehensive examination and diagnosis:

• Ho Chi Minh City ENT Hospital.
• University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital (if hoarseness persists, accompanied by fatigue and rapid weight loss).
• Cho Ray Hospital...

Advice from the experts

Mr. Long should see a doctor as soon as possible, especially if the hoarseness has lasted for 3 months and there are signs of weight loss. If the cause is benign, such as laryngitis or gastroesophageal reflux, early treatment will help him recover completely. However, if there is a more serious injury, such as a tumor or nerve compression, early detection will help with better prognosis and treatment.

While waiting to see a doctor, you should:

• Limit loud talking and talking too much to avoid further damage to the vocal cords.
• Avoid smoking, alcohol, or other laryngeal irritants.
• Avoid eating spicy, sour or greasy foods (if there are signs of reflux).
• Drink plenty of warm water to keep your throat warm.

I wish you soon get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

'What disease, where to see a doctor?' - Helps you go to the right place, right disease

"Which department should I see if my voice is hoarse for a long time?", "What disease is a constant headache a sign of?", "Do I need to go to a higher-level hospital?", etc. These are very common questions, but they make many people confused and delay in examination and treatment.

From that practical need, the Health section officially launched a new sub-section called "What disease, where to examine?", with the desire to become a reliable companion in early detection of disease and choosing the right place to examine.

Understand the symptoms correctly - worry less about illness

The subsection "What disease, where to see a doctor?" provides concise, easy-to-understand information about common abnormal signs such as: Prolonged cough, insomnia, abdominal pain, digestive disorders... Thereby, readers will know what disease that symptom may be a sign of, when to see a doctor and how much attention is needed.

Suggest reputable and suitable medical examination places

Not only does this section help you understand your illness, it also provides suggestions for appropriate medical facilities, from public hospitals to private clinics with related specialties...

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/benh-gi-kham-dau-khan-giong-keo-dai-kem-sut-can-co-phai-ung-thu-thuc-quan-185250704131536883.htm