An oncologist has urged Britons not to ignore a sore throat that lasts more than three weeks, as it could be an early sign of head or neck cancer. Dr Jiri Kubes, medical director at Prague's Proton Therapy Centre, said that while most sore throats are caused by viral infections or allergies, a persistent one warrants further investigation.
According to Cancer Research UK, around 12,800 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed annually in the UK, making it the eighth most common cancer. Dr Kubes noted that early symptoms can be subtle, including persistent hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or a feeling of something stuck in the throat.
“People assume it's just an infection or acid reflux, especially if they're otherwise healthy,” Dr Kubes said. “But when a sore throat won't go away - and it doesn't respond to normal treatments - it's time to investigate.” He advised seeing a GP if symptoms last more than three weeks, particularly if the soreness is on one side or accompanied by ear pain without infection.
Risk factors include smoking and frequent alcohol consumption, but Dr Kubes highlighted rising cases in younger people with no obvious risk factors, often linked to HPV infections. He emphasised that most sore throats are harmless, but early detection is key: “Cancers in this area are very treatable when caught early, especially with targeted therapies like proton beam treatment.”
