Nasal and Sinus Cancer vs. Hay Fever: Understanding the Symptoms

07:31 PM

Saturday 10 June 2023

Books – Sayed Metwally
There are many things that people can be allergic to, including foods, medicines, and animals.
At this time of year, pollen becomes the main trigger for allergic reactions, with hay fever affecting around one in five of us, according to the British Express.
Symptoms of this common condition can include a stuffy nose, watery eyes, and loss of smell.
However, these are also symptoms of a lesser-known cancer, which can be fatal if not treated in time.
According to the NHS, cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses is a “rare” form of the disease.
It affects the nasal cavity (the space behind your nose) and the paranasal sinuses (the small air-filled cavities inside your nose, cheekbones, and forehead).
Cancer is also known to spread to the lymph nodes – a network of glands throughout the body that drain fluid and waste products.
One of the most common symptoms of nasal and sinus cancer is a stuffy nose that “just won’t go away.”
Unlike the symptoms of an allergic reaction, it usually affects only one side.
Other common signs of cancer include:
nosebleeds
Decreased sense of smell
Mucus is running from your nose – it can be bloody
Mucus drains into the back of your nose and throat.
These symptoms can be similar to more common, less serious conditions, such as a cold or sinusitis.”
As with most types of cancer, symptoms of nasal and sinus cancer can become more severe and the disease progresses.
In its later stages, it can cause partial loss of vision, swollen glands in the neck, and facial pain.
The NHS says a “bulging” eye is also a serious sign of the disease.
Other late symptoms of nasal and sinus cancer include:
Numbness in the face that does not go away, especially in the upper cheek
Swollen glands in the neck
double vision
swollen eye
A teary eye that does not go away
Pain or pressure in one ear
A persistent bump or growth on your face, nose, or roof of your mouth.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should speak to a doctor, especially if they “persist”.
The NHS advises: “It is very unlikely to be caused by cancer of the nose or paranasal sinuses, but it is worth getting checked for.”
Allergy symptoms can include:
Runny nose or sneezing
Pain or tenderness around your cheeks, eyes, or forehead
Coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath
Itchy skin or a raised rash
Diarrhea
feeling sick
Swelling of the eyes, lips, mouth, or throat.
More specifically, hay fever can cause sneezing, coughing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy, red or watery eyes, itchy throat, mouth, nose, and ears, loss of smell, pain around the temples and forehead, headache, earache, and fatigue.
If you experience any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, you should contact your doctor:
A skin rash that may include itching, redness, swelling, blisters or crusting of the skin
whistling
Tightness in the chest or throat
Difficulty breathing or speaking
Swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat begins.