Table 2.

Summary of symptoms, presenting complaints, clinical findings and medical language of head and neck cancer.

Site (Often significant because of symptoms’ persistence and unilaterality)	Patient Symptom (may complain of physical signs with symptoms related to a physical change)	Physical signs on examination and/or the location of the symptoms	Medical Language (symptoms)
Mouth	Sore tongue Tongue numbness Tongue swelling Mouth swelling Mouth sore Burning Blood in saliva Blood in mouth Discomfort Toothache Gum pain Tingling Taste changes	Dentures not fitting Loose tooth Associated neck or oral cavity/mouth/lip/palate/gum/mucosa/tongue/periodontal, lump, mass, enlargement, swelling, lymph node, tumour lesion, ulcer, white patch, red patch, plaque, abnormality, fast growing, non-healing Oral thrush	Paraesthesia
Throat	Choking episode/feeling Difficulty swallowing Feeling in the throat Feeling of something in the throat Pain with swallowing Painful swallowing Sensation of lump in the throat Sore throat Painful throat Throat discomfort/irritation Trouble swallowing Snoring Change in voice Regurgitation	Associated throat/tonsil/pharynx/base of tongue or neck, lump, mass, enlargement, lymph node, swelling, ulcer, patch, lesion, abnormality, tumour Asymmetry/Asymmetrical Unilateral Bilateral	Foreign body sensation in throat Regurgitation Dysphagia Odynophagia Reflux Globus sensation Hot potato voice
Nose	Blocked nose Catarrh/mucus Decreased sense of smell Malodour Mucus production Nasal congestion Nasal discharge Nasal obstruction Nose bleed Stuffy nose Bloody discharge from the nose Sinusitis Runny nose	Nasal wounds Septal ulcer Sinus fistula Nasal stenosis Associated neck lump, mass, enlargement, lesion, swelling, lymph node, ulcer, patch, lesion, abnormality, tumour Purulent Skin lesion	Epistaxis Anosmia Rhinorrhoea Nasal Haemorrhage Paraesthesia Mucopus Sinusitis symptoms
Ear	Draining ear Ear pain Earache Hearing loss Hearing impairment Trouble hearing Unusual sensations in ear Tinnitus Ringing of one of my ears Dizziness Plugged ear	Normal otoscopy Otitis Media Secretory otitis media Associated neck or, lump, mass, enlargement, swelling, lymph node, ulcer, patch, lesion, abnormality	Tinnitus Hearing impairment Otalgia Paraesthesia Radiation to ear
Neck	Pain	Associated neck or primary site lump, mass, enlargement, swelling, lymph node, ulcer, patch, lesion, abnormality Thyroid gland, salivary gland, submandibular, parotid, lateral neck cyst Mass Enlargement Unilateral Lump – a physical sign may be asymptomatic (no symptoms associated with the lump)/non tender	Asymptomatic
Head\Face	Face pain Numbness Headache Weakness of part of the face Tingling	Facial droop Drooping of part of the face Associated neck or primary site, lump, mass, enlargement, swelling, lymph node, lesion, patch, ulcer, abnormality Cranial nerve palsies Cranial neuropathies Ulcerated or pigmented skin lesions	Cephalgia
Eyes	Blindness Double vision Eye pain Visual decline Watery eyes	Swollen lid Swollen eye Associated neck or primary site, lump, mass, enlargement, swelling, lymph node, lesion, ulcer, patch, abnormality Eyelid swelling Orbital mass Ptosis Exophthalmos	Diplopia Epiphora
Trachea/Larynx	Cough Difficulties breathing Noisy breathing Short of breath Sudden difficulty breathing Trouble breathing Blood in my sputum	Associated neck or primary site, lump, mass, enlargement, swelling, lymph node, lesion, ulcer, patch, abnormality	Dyspnoea Stridor Haemoptysis
Larynx specific to voice	Change in voice Hoarseness Voice changes Voice/speech problem	Associated neck or primary site, lump, mass, enlargement, swelling, lymph node, lesion, ulcer, patch, abnormality	Dysphonia
Jaw	Difficulty moving jaw Jaw pain Dental pain Loosening of teeth Mobile tooth Trouble chewing Trouble opening mouth	Associated neck or primary site, lump, mass, enlargement, swelling, lymph node, lesion, ulcer, patch, abnormality Dental mobility Dental displacement Dental loss	Trismus
General (local or distant to primary cancer/constitutional)	Discomfort Soreness Painful Tingling Numbness Weakness Fatigue Fever Itch Night sweats Weight loss	Skin growth Associated neck or primary site, lump, mass, enlargement, swelling, lesion, ulcer, patch, abnormality	Unintentional weight loss Impaired general status Insomnia