Nose cancer (paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer)

Common symptoms of nose cancer include:

• decreased sense of smell or anosmia (loss of smell)
• pain or pressure behind your nose
• a blocked nose, often only on one side
• nose bleeds, often only on one side
• a lump on your face, in your nose or in your mouth
• otitis media (middle ear infection), often only in one ear
• regular headaches

Other symptoms include:

• facial numbness
• swelling in your eye or vision problems
• fever (a temperature of 38°C or higher)
• painful or loose teeth
• night sweats
• pain or pressure in your ear
• unexplained weight loss

These symptoms can be caused by other conditions, so having these symptoms does not always mean you have nose cancer.

There is no known cause of nose cancer. There are some risk factors that can increase your chance of having nose cancer, including:

• smoking or vaping
• drinking alcohol
• breathing in certain dusts such as wood or leather dusts
• breathing in certain chemicals

Some viruses also increase your risk of nose cancer, such as:

• human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be caught through oral sex
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes glandular fever

Another possible cause of nose cancer is genetic inheritance. This means that you are more likely to have nose cancer if a close family member has had it.

Nose cancer is more common in males than it is in females. It's also more common in people over 45 years of age.

You should see your doctor if you have:

• had any symptoms of nose cancer for more than 2 weeks
• symptoms of nose cancer that continue to get worse
• eye problems such as double vision or blurred vision

To diagnose nose cancer your doctor will ask you about your medical history and examine you.

Your doctor may refer you for further tests, including:

• nasal endoscopy — a small, flexible tube with a camera on one end is used to look in your nose
• biopsy — a small sample of tissue is removed and examined in a lab to check for cancerous cells
• imaging — a CT, MRI or PET scan is used to get images of the inside of your nose and surrounding areas

Treatment for nose cancer will depend on:

• the type of cancer
• the size of the cancer
• the location of the cancer
• the stage of the cancer (whether the cancer has spread)
• your medical history
• your age and general health
• your preferences

Treatment options for nose cancer include:

• surgery — if your cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, surgery can remove the tumour
• radiation therapy — this uses radiation to destroy the cancer cells and is often used if your cancer is small
• chemotherapy — this uses medicines to destroy the cancer cells
• a combination of these treatments

After your treatment is finished you will need regular check-ups with your doctor. Nose cancer can come back, so it's important that you see your doctor regularly to help detect any changes early.

After being treated for cancer, it's common to feel anxious that your cancer will return. If you are struggling, you can seek support from:

• your doctor
• a therapist
• other people who have been through cancer

Nose cancer can cause various complications.

Metastasis

Nose cancer can metastasise (spread to other parts of your body) and cause complications. The earlier nose cancer is diagnosed, the lower your chance of metastasis.

Complications of treatment

Treatment for nose cancer can cause side effects and complications such as:

• changes to your sense of smell and taste
• fatigue
• difficulty speaking
• dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• pain and numbness
• vision changes
• lymphoedema (fluid build-up)

Nose cancer can't be prevented. You can reduce your chance of having nose cancer by:

• avoiding smoking
• reducing your alcohol intake
• protecting your nose from the sun
• avoiding exposure to dusts and chemicals, especially in the workplace
• staying up to date with your human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations

• Head and Neck Cancer Australia (Opens in new tab) offers information for people affected by nose cancer and their families (Opens in new tab).
• Cancer Council Australia (Opens in new tab) provides services and support to people affected by cancer (Opens in new tab).
• Cancer Australia (Opens in new tab) has more information on living with cancer (Opens in new tab).
• Head and Neck Cancer Australia (Opens in new tab) provides information on nose cancer in languages other than English (Opens in new tab).

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

• Our Mob and Cancer (Opens in new tab) offers support and information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people living with cancer (Opens in new tab).
• You can also call 13YARN (Opens in new tab) (13 92 76) for support.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.