Nasal Cancer

Nasal cancer is a type of cancer which affects in the nasopharyngeal region; where the auditory lobes intersect with nasal passages. This type of cancer is commonly found in the central parts of Africa and East Asia. It is a rare disease and the cases of nasal cancer that occur in the United States is less than 50, every year.

Causes of Nasal Cancer: There

are primarily 3 major causes of nasal cancer. Infection with the Epstein Barr virus is one of them. Diet also plays an important role in causing this type of cancer. Salted foods such as fish, vegetables and meat might cause nasal cancer. Genetic makeup could also be a reason behind this disease.

Nasal Cancer Symptoms: The symptoms of nasal cancer are enlisted in following paragraphs.

The common symptom or sign which is observed in patients with nasal cancer is a lump in the neck. It is actually the swelling of lymph node, which is affected by cancer cells.

Affected person faces problems in swallowing food and his voice turns hoarse. The difficulty in swallowing is termed as dysphagia.

The expansion of tumor creates obstructions in the path of nasal passages. It results into nosebleed/nasal discharge.

The face of a person affected by nasal cancer might get paralyzed on one side.

Ear pain and hearing loss could also be associated with nasal cancer.

The sense of smell of cancer patients may decrease.

Drainage of mucus from the nose could occur. The mucus may also drain back into the throat or nose.

Along with ear and nose related problems, people suffering from nasal cancer might also get affected with eye problems. Bulging of an eye is one such problem/symptom associated with nasal cancer.

Nasal cancer patients might suffer from the problem of double vision. The medical condition of double vision which is also known as diplopia results into a person seeing (perceiving) two images of a single object.

The problem of nasal cancer may also result into the patient losing his sight partially or completely.

One of the eye-related symptom associated with nasal cancer is watery eyes.

Apart from the symptoms related to eyes, ears and nose, one could also suffer from other problems like loose teeth.

A person may also have difficulty in opening his mouth as a result of nasal cancer.

The production of saliva in excessive amounts is one of the symptoms of nasal cancer.

Nasal cancer also causes headache, fullness in sinuses, throat, etc.

A sensation of ringing in ears is felt continuously by people suffering from nasal cancer. It is one of the many symptoms of nasal cancer patients.

Nasal Cancer Symptoms of Advanced Stage: The symptoms presented below are exhibited by nasal cancer patients of advanced stages.

In advanced stages, patients with nasal cancer show symptoms of cachexia i.e. physical wasting along with weight loss.

Vomiting, nausea and anorexia are few more symptoms exhibited by patients in advanced stages. There is loss of appetite in people suffering from anorexia.

Treatment of Nasal Cancer: The treatment which is deemed as the most effective for patients with nasopharyngeal cancer is radiation therapy. This treatment could be used along with chemotherapy. Surgery is another option for treating the nasopharyngeal cancer. Prof. W.L. Wei who introduced the 'Maxillary Swing' method proves to be useful in cancer treatment. Resection of the nasopharyngeal tumor is carried out in the Maxillary Swing surgery. In this type of surgery, the nasopharynx region is opened by severing connections between skull bones and maxilla. It facilitates the resection of tumors as well as placement/positioning of tubings required for brachytherapy.