From The Straits Times    |

5 things you need to know about nose cancer

PHOTOGRAPH: tagota, 123rf.com

Celebrity chef Sam Leong described it as a “lemon-sized lump” behind his nose. The 50-year-old culinary veteran was diagnosed with stage four nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), commonly known as nose cancer, in February 2016. Dr Chao Siew Shuen, an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon from Gleneagles Hospital, tells us more about the disease.

 

1 Not many people get nose cancer
Each year, there are about nine new cases of nose cancer out of 100,000 individuals. This is relatively low compared to other cancers – for instance, the incidence of breast cancer is 6,250 per 100,000 people.

Unfortunately, it is hard to prevent, says Dr Chao. Although early detection through screening can increase your chances of survival. However, regular screening is not necessary unless you have a relative who has had NPC.

 

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2 Family history is a big risk factor
If anyone in your immediate family has been diagnosed with NPC, you have a 15 to 20 per cent chance of developing the cancer. Dr Chao advises all relatives of NPC patients to undergo nose cancer screening, which involves a physical examination of your neck and nasal passage or nasopharynx and detailed analysis of your family history, followed by a battery of blood tests and scans.

3 Eating salty food is known to increase your risk 
Nitrosamine, a chemical found in cured meats, fish and salted eggs, has been found to increase the risk of developing nose cancer. Toxins formed when these foods are processed can induce the formation of malignant tumours in the body.

Cut down on processed and salted food to reduce your risk, says Dr Chao.

 

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4 Pollutants and sinus infections are not risk factors
Haze and air pollution can cause many health problems, but nose cancer is not one of them, says Dr Chao. Individuals with sinus problems or who suffer from hay fever are not at a greater risk of contracting the cancer either.

However, a specific virus, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), has been associated with NPC. The virus is a member of the herpes family and can spread through kissing or sharing food with an infected person. During screening, EBV can be detected in a blood test.
 
 
5 Symptoms may show in your nose, ears or neck 
The development of nose cancer can be easily mistaken for the common cold or cough. Dr Chao says to consult an ENT doctor if the following symptoms persist: blocked nose, frequent nose bleeds, blocked ears, hearing impairment or ringing sounds, lumps along the neck, or blood in your saliva.
    
If you are diagnosed with nose cancer, your primary mode of treatment would be radiotherapy or high-energy radiation, which is used to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy or cancer drugs are used for patients with more advanced stages of the disease. 

If there is remnant cancerous tissue after radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in your nasopharynx that has not spread to rest of body, it can be removed with surgery as a last resort.