Symptoms of head and neck cancers are similar to those associated with other conditions and may seem harmless at first. Common signs include a lump or sore that doesn’t heal, persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. Other symptoms you may experience: bleeding from the mouth, swelling of the jaw, frequent congestion, sinus infections that don’t respond to treatment, headaches, earaches, facial numbness or paralysis, enlarged lymph nodes and an unexplained loss of weight.