Although it is a very rare type of cancer in the US, Nasal cancer is nevertheless a disease which should be noted. As with all other types of cancer, the best chances for recovery occur when the disease is identified in the early stages. So we will review some important nasal cancer symptoms.
Of the people in the US who were affected by this type of cancer, most of them were men over the age of 45. Nevertheless it can occur to anyone at any age.
It is believed that there are three major causes of this type of cancer. The first is if you become infected with the Epstein Barr virus. The type of diet you maintain also plays an important role. It appears that things like salted fish, meat and vegetables can play a role. There also appears to be a person’s genetic makeup which can increase the risk.
There are a number of symptoms you should be aware of in regard to nasal cancer. They can include the following:
- A very common symptom associated with this disease is a lump in the neck. This is actually caused by swelling of the lymph nodes.
- A person who is suffering from nasal cancer may have difficulty is swallowing food and that person’s voice may become hoarse.
- If a tumor begins to grow in the nasal passages, it can interfere with breathing and also cause bleeding from the nasal passages. In simple terms a person can develop regular nosebleeds.
- A person who is suffering from nasal cancer may find that his face may become paralyzed on one side.
- In some instances a person can experience ear pain and hearing loss
- The sense of smell can decrease
- Extensive drainage of mucous can occur.
- In addition to ear problems, a person may begin to experience vision problems. This can include bulging eyes and double vision problems.
- Eventually the person may lose his/her sight completely if the disease is left untreated
- Another eye related symptom associated with nasal cancer is excessive watering of the eyes.
- The nasal cancer sufferer may have extensive headaches and pain
- A sensation of ringing in the ears may develop in patients who have developed nasal cancer
If the disease continues to develop and enters a later stage, the patient may experience sudden and unexpected weight loss. There may also be vomiting, nausea and anemia.
Once the disease has been diagnosed, the most effective treatment for it is radiation therapy. It has been very successful at controlling many tumors in this area of the body. However if the cancer has spread beyond the nasal area, it may be difficult to control. In this situation a combination of radiation treatment and chemotherapy would most likely be used.
Surgical procedures may also be an option for the sufferers of nasal cancer. The intent is to open up the appropriate nasal area and gain access to the tumorous tissue. The goal is to remove as much tissue as possible. The treatment may require additional treatments of radiation or chemo.