Overview

Cancer begins when cells in the body become abnormal and multiply without control or order. These cells form a growth of tissue, called a tumor. A tumor can be benign or malignant. A benign tumor is not cancerous and usually can be removed without growing back. A malignant tumor is cancerous and can invade and damage the body’s healthy tissues and organs.

Risk Factors and Prevention

A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Some risk factors can be controlled, such as smoking, and some cannot be controlled, such as age and family history. Although risk factors can influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do. However, knowing your risk factors and communicating them to your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health care choices.
Two risk factors greatly increase the risk of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer:

• Use of tobacco (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and snuff) is the single largest risk factor for head and neck cancer
• Frequent and heavy consumption of alcohol

Symptoms

Often, nasal cavity or paranasal sinus cancer is discovered when a person is being treated for seemingly benign, inflammatory disease of the sinuses, such as sinusitis. People with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer may experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, people with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer do not show any of these symptoms. In fact, this type of cancer is usually diagnosed only at later stages, because early cancer does not usually cause any symptoms. In addition, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with your doctor.

• Nasal obstruction or persistent nasal congestion and stuffiness, which is often referred to as sinus congestion
• Chronic sinus infections that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics
• Frequent headaches or pain in the sinus region
• Swelling or other trouble with the eyes
• Pain or swelling in the face, eyes, or ears

Surgery

During surgery, the doctor performs an operation to remove the cancerous tumor and some of the healthy tissue around it (called a margin). A surgical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer using surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove all of the tumor and leave negative margins (no trace of cancer in the healthy tissue). Surgery is frequently used to remove cancer of the paranasal sinus and nasal cavity. However, it’s not possible to completely remove the entire cancer; additional treatments may be necessary.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of high energy x-rays or other particles to kill cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. When radiation treatment is given using implants, it is called internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy. Internal radiation therapy involves tiny pellets or rods containing radioactive materials that are surgically implanted in or near the cancer site. The implant is left in place for several days while the person stays in the hospital.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Systemic chemotherapy is delivered through the bloodstream, targeting cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication. Some people may receive chemotherapy in their doctor’s office; others may go to the hospital. A chemotherapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a specific time. The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the individual and the dose used, but can include fatigue, risk of infection, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. These side effects usually go away once treatment is finished.