10 Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Reviewed: Dr. Mera
Symptom #3: Dysphagia
Dysphagia is the medical term that is used to refer to difficulty swallowing. It includes the difficulty of initiating a swallowing movement or reflex and the sensation of having food that is stuck in the chest or neck. Since it is a common symptom that is present in older patients, it can sometimes be overlooked.
About 7-10% of individuals over the age of 50 experience dysphagia. In thyroid cancer, patients may develop dysphagia due to direct compression because of the enlarged thyroid gland or involvement of the nerves. Even after the treatment and management for thyroid cancer, many patients continue to experience this symptom as an unintended consequence of radiation therapy or surgery.
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