Nasal cancer: everything about tumors of the nasal cavity and sinuses
Table of Contents
Nasal cancer (tumors of the nasal cavity and sinuses) is part of cancers of the upper aero digestive tract (called VADS cancer). . The VADS cancers account for more than 15 000 new cases per year in France. Nasal cancer is very rare, because it affects 3% of head and neck cancers.
Nasal cancer mainly affects men (8 of 10 cases), more than 40 years.
Faced with cancer, I believe that the more a person shall be advised it will be better equipped to face this ordeal. It will never be easy, at least not before the search takes too enormous progress in the fight against cancer. However, there are ways to alleviate the hardship of treatment and better living the consequences of cancer.
This is to share these solutions I have made this site and wrote my book.
However attention, I am not a doctor. Myself, once the diagnosis came, I addressed myself to my oncologist if I had questions about the disease or treatment. But for the rest, I put all my energy to look for solutions and tips for do not add crisis to crisis and lighten my day.
So, take the items in this article for what they are: simple information about cancer of the nose which you can enter you for a constructive dialogue with your healthcare team. Da general, flee those who promise you “the truth about cancer” plaguing the Internet or elsewhere.
Nasal cancer: what is it?
Cancer of the nasal cavity and sinuses begins in a cell of the nose and sinus cavities.
The nasal designate the nostrils (opening of the nose) and the hollow passage behind the nose; they allow to breathe and feel. Par nasal sinuses around the nose.
What types of tumors of the nose?
Tumors of the nose can be benign, that is to say, the cells cannot migrate to other organs to form metastases. Benign tumors of the nose are: nasal polyp, the inverted papilloma and osteoma nose.
There are several types of nose cancer (malignant neoplasms) and four main groups:
- The carcinoma cell carcinoma,
- Adenocarcinoma (especially among woodworkers)
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma,
- Rare tumors of the nose and sinuses: the olfactory neuroblastoma cancer (also called Esthesioneuroblastoma or nerve tumor of olfactory placode), the sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (frequently referred to by the acronym CNSI), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, the soft tissue sarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, osteosarcoma, the neuroectodermal tumor.
What are the risk factors for tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses?
The development of cancer is difficult to trace, it is often considered to be multifactorial. However, there are elements that increase the risk of getting cancer. For cancer of the nose, possible risk factors are:
- The tobacco,
- The frequent and repeated exposure to chemical products (including wood dust, cooking, textiles, refining of nickel, rubbing alcohol, radium, chromium, formaldehyde)
- Epstein-Barr
- The inverted papilloma…
Be affected by any of these risks does not mean that cancer will appear. This simply means that it is better to exercise vigilance “precautionary” and, when in doubt, talk to your doctor.
What is the prevention of cancer of the nose and malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses?
The essential precaution to prevent malignant tumors of the nose, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is to have in case of known risk factors, regular follow up with her doctor. ENT examination by a medical specialist involved in the prevention strategy. Stopping smoking (active or passive smoking) is also a significant risk reduction factor.In cases of occupational exposure, it must regularly decrease dustiness of workplaces (suction system or wear specific masks). If nasal cancer develops in workers occupationally exposed to products identified as carcinogenic, an application for support under the occupational disease may be requested.
What are the symptoms of nasal cancer and malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses?
Most cancers advance silently, warning signs appear quite harmless which makes early detection difficult. For cancer of the nose, the most classic symptoms are:
- A “cold” or a runny nose and hold (nasal obstruction)
- Nose bleeding,
- A stuffy nose, especially on one side,
- Headache,
- And mucus flow in the throat,
- Pain in the nose, eyes, forehead,
- Incisors that move,
- Net decrease of smell,
- Mass in the face (facial deformation) in the neck,
How is the diagnosis of nasal cancer? What is the detection of malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses?
Nose cancer screening and tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is often different, complementary ways.
After a clinical examination (palpation on the face to look swelling, mass) and an exchange to be informed of the symptoms, a doctor may order tests to confirm or refute the diagnosis of cancerous tumors of the nose, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses:
- Radiograph of the face and neck,
- Analysis of blood with blood count,
- nasal endoscopy,
- Scanner or head and neck CT scan, often associated with a CT scan, which measures the spread of nasal cancer (tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses) to lymph nodes and surrounding tissue,
- MRI…
Depending on the results, a biopsy may be performed. The biopsy can take tissue to examine under a microscope to determine their nature (cancerous or not) and to identify the nature of the tumor. It is essential for the diagnosis.
How to deal with a cancer of the nose?
Facing cancer diagnosis and treatment, a strong sense of loneliness and helplessness is felt.
For all medical aspects, doctors are there to answer. These are the only legitimate interlocutors for the treatment, monitoring and analysis of the evolution of the disease. Although they are often in a hurry, do not hesitate to impose kindly for information and answers to your questions. This is part of their missions to be available for their patients, despite their use of often highly charged time.
However, for non-medical aspects, the information is difficult to get, fuzzy little or tailored advice. Now face the consequences of cancer, it is essential to be prepared to face that test.
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Treatment of nasal cancer and malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses:
There are several types of treatments to fight nasal cancer tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses:
- Surgery is the standard treatment,
- external or internal radiotherapy (brachytherapy)
- chemotherapy (little used alone)
- Targeted therapy…
Treatments can be administered alone or in combination.
These therapies against cancer of the nose (nasal cavity tumors and paranasal sinuses) are determined by the nature of the tumor, its location, its characteristics (rank, stage), and the patient’s general condition.
It is a multidisciplinary committee (SPC) which will establish the patient’s care plan. It brings together complementary areas of specialists: oncologists, radiologists, radiotherapists, surgeons, hospital pharmacists. It is this multidisciplinary commission that will offer the treatment to the patient. Patients receiving treatment against cancer are subjects at risk for venous thrombosis, and major complication pulmonary embolism. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor your options to reduce this risk (anticoagulants like heparin, wearing compression stockings for men and women, etc.).
