Can Cancer of the Penis Make It Smell?
Many men notice a bad odor coming from their penis.
Cancer can affect the penis and has a high mortality rate.
If a man begins detecting a smell from his penis, the first thing that should come to his mind is that the odor is most likely being caused by poor hygiene. (more…)
Foot Drop, No Other Symptoms: ALS or Brain Tumor?
For people with ALS anxiety, foot drop is often at the top of their worries.
They may imagine foot drop and wonder if it’s ALS or a brain tumor causing it. (more…)
Can Cancer Cause Only One Nostril to Be Clogged?
What is the likelihood that when someone has a persistently clogged single nostril that it’s cancer?
When a bothersome symptom occurs on only one side, this can cause a lot of anxiety, bringing to mind the possibility of a malignancy.
A malignant mass on some area of the body very rarely has an opposite side twin. Symptoms from cancer usually appear on one side of the body when left-right quadrants are applicable.
For example, a bleeding or inverted nipple from breast cancer; an eye symptom or leg weakness from a brain tumor; or a nose symptom from a sinus tumor.
Though many cancers cause symptoms that don’t involve sides of the body, such as bloody bowel movements, weight loss, suppressed appetite, fatigue, coughing, a hoarse voice and difficulty swallowing, many symptoms DO involve one side or the other – determined by the cancer’s location.
Cancer in the left lung, for example, might cause pain in the left shoulder, but not the right shoulder.
So when just one nostril is stuffed up – longer than it should be from a cold – this gets some people really worrying about a tumor.
“Although it is possible that a clogged nostril is from a cancer of some kind, cancer is really far down the list of potential causes,” says Gene Liu, MD, MMM, President, Chair, Department of Surgery; Chief, Division of Otolaryngology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Group.
“Astronomically more common than cancer are explanations such as a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates [nasal structure], polyps, fungus/mold, foreign bodies and many benign growths,” explains Dr. Liu.
Benign Growths of the Nasal Cavity
• Cysts – Fluid filled sac.
• Hemangioma – Vascular concentration.
• Inverting papilloma – Wart-like growth.
• Osteoma – Bony overgrowth.
• Polyps – Overgrowth of the mucosal lining of the nasal cavities.
Dr. Liu explains, “Many types of cancer can cause a clogged nostril, but all of them are rare.
“Nasopharyngeal cancer, squamous cell cancer, other cancers involving the mucosal lining, esthesioblastoma and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) are just some of the types that can be found in the sinuses or nasal cavity.”
If you put all these cancers, that can cause one nostril to be blocked, together, they’d comprise a very small percentage of ALL the possible things inside the nose that can stuff up only one nostril.
Want more reassurance? Consider the risk factors for sinus or paranasal cancer:
• Occupational exposure to wood, leather or nickel dust
• Smoking
• Occupational exposure to the chemicals used to make rubbing alcohol
• Occupational exposure to radium-226
• Epstein-Barr virus
• Inverted papilloma. This rare and benign growth has up to a 10 percent chance of malignant ransformation.
Additional Reassurance
Stop thinking that cancer is causing one nostril to be clogged. Paranasal cancers are very rare.
Dr. Liu’s clinical areas of focus cover a broad range including surgery of the head and neck, sinuses and thyroid, and disorders of the ears, salivary glands and vocal cords.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/FREEPIK2
Source: cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/nasal-paranasal/risks/?region=on
Can You Die from a Vocal Cord Spasm Attack?
It’s frightening as heck to have a vocal cord spasm, but what are the chances that the muscles won’t relax in time and you then die of asphyxiation? (more…)
Can Laryngeal Cancer Cause Throat pain WITH Ear Pain?
Laryngeal cancer often causes throat pain, but what are the odds that both throat and ear pain at the same time are caused by a malignant tumor of the larynx?
Throat pain or discomfort without any apparent cause can be very unsettling, even to those who’ve never smoked. (more…)
Cardboard Taste in Mouth After Doing Jumping Cardio Exercise
Does your mouth taste like cardboard or sawdust after doing intense cardio, particularly of an agitated nature such as jumping?
This is likely caused by exercise-induced acid reflux. (more…)
Choroidal Nevus Getting Bigger: Is this Melanoma?
Has your eye doctor said your choroidal nevus is bigger?
Though it’s uncommon for a choroidal nevus to become a melanoma, all eye melanomas were once a choroidal nevus.
What is a choroidal nevus?
A mole or freckle located at the back of the eye, known as a choroidal nevus or retinal freckle, is a type of pigmented lesion that is not visible to the patient.
These lesions are located in parts of the eye that cannot be seen without specialized instruments, such as those used by an ophthalmologist.
People typically remain unaware of the presence of these unless an eye specialist identifies them during a comprehensive eye examination.
These pigmented spots are distinct from birthmarks, as they are not present at birth but develop over time.
While rare in childhood, choroidal nevi can begin to form later in life.
Their presence is often discovered during routine eye exams or when investigating other symptoms.
Despite their rarity in children, these lesions may become more apparent as a person ages or undergoes regular eye screenings.
It’s estimated that two to 13 percent of the population have these “eye freckles.”
They need to be monitored, just as common skin moles need to be, for signs of melanoma.
What’s scary about a choroidal nevus is that the patient cannot examine it, and this can create anxiety and a feeling of powerlessness, while visible skin areas can be easily inspected on a monthly basis.
An ocular oncologist is the ideal physician for routine surveillance of a choroidal nevus, which can be flat or slightly elevated.
Choroidal Nevus Getting Bigger: Does this Always Mean Melanoma?
“Certain criteria of choroidal nevi could raise the red flag for melanoma, such as irregular margins, elevation and growth of the nevus,” says Yuna Rapoport, MD, a board certified ophthalmologist with Manhattan Eye in NYC.
If you were to round up 500 people with a choroidal nevus and follow these interior moles for 10 years, one will have transformed into melanoma.
Or to put it another way, about 1,400 cases are diagnosed every year in the U.S.
Risk Factors
• Initial benign lesion has a thickness of over two millimeters but a base diameter exceeding seven mm.
• Overlying the “mole” is an orange pigment.
• The lesion is located less than three mm from the optic disc.
A choroidal melanoma will get bigger rapidly. However, a choroidal nevus will get bigger slowly – and over a period of several years, and this does not necessarily suggest a malignant transformation.
This gradual enlarging will be more evident in kids with one of these eye freckles, and the growth tends to taper off at around age 11.
Slow growth, then, is not concerning to an ocular oncologist, particularly if this is observed in pediatric patients who do not have other risk factors.
Yuna Rapoport, MD
Manhattan Eye uses state of the art LASIK technology and modern techniques for a safer and more precise correction surgery, and also provides services covering all aspects of eye health.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Can Cardio Exercise Actually Prevent Diabetic Neuropathy?
You know that aerobics is beneficial for diabetic neuropathy, but what about cardio exercise to prevent this condition in the first place?
Diabetic neuropathy is a painful condition of the lower extremities. (more…)
Can Acid Reflux Cause a Vocal Cord Spasm?
A vocal cord spasm is insanely frightening because it prevents you from getting adequate oxygen as you struggle to breathe.
The question is if acid reflux can shoot up high enough to the throat to irritate the vocal cords. (more…)
Malignant Melanoma vs. Benign: The Difference
Have you seen the term “benign melanoma” or “non-malignant melanoma” and thus wonder what the difference is between malignant and benign melanoma?
• “Mela” refers to pigment-producing cells (melanocytes)
• “Oma” refers to mass or concentration.
As far as the prefix and suffix, it would seem that “melanoma” literally means a mere mass of pigment-producing cells. But a mass isn’t always malignant, either.
A benign mass of pigment-producing cells or melanocytes is a nevus (knee-vus) – also called a mole.
A malignant mass of melanocytes – cells growing wildly out of control – is called melanoma.
Why Do We See the Terms “Malignant Melanoma” and “Benign Melanoma”?
Can a melanoma ever be benign?
“I understand the confusion here,” begins Erum Ilyas, MD, a board certified dermatologist who performs adult and pediatric medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology and skin cancer treatment with Schweiger Dermatology Group.
“The answer is no; melanoma is never benign. It is always malignant,” continues Dr. Ilyas.
“However, the history behind this confusing terminology has to do with an old confusing name for another type of spot.
“A Spitz nevus is a type of mole that presents in childhood. It can be mistaken for a melanoma based on how it presents and how it looks under the microscope.”
Spitzoid nevus in child. Expert Rev Dermatol 2009
A Spitz nevus (mole)
“The older name for a Spitz nevus was benign juvenile melanoma. This was a very confusing name — but based on the evolution of understanding melanoma at the time.
“To put ‘benign’ and ‘melanoma’ in the same name was only to indicate that the lesion was benign but can be misdiagnosed as a melanoma.
“Spitz nevi can develop quickly, grow and change — and on biopsy have some features that can be misinterpreted as a melanoma. However, these are overall benign lesions.”
Reason for the Term ‘Malignant Melanoma’
Dr. Ilyas continues, “I understand the confusion, but it’s important to understand that the term melanoma was first introduced in 1838. There was very little understanding of these tumors.
Melanoma. Laurence Meyer, MD/cancer.gov
“In 1910, a young boy presented with a tumor on his nose growing quickly. It was identified as a melanoma, but it was realized that it didn’t behave like a melanoma.
“In 1948, a pathologist by the name of Sophie Spitz described a group of these tumors as ‘juvenile melanomas’ identifying distinguishing features from ‘melanomas’ that occurred in adults.
“In 1954, the name ‘benign juvenile melanoma’ was proposed to distinguish these further. This likely led to true melanomas as being referred to as ‘malignant melanoma.’
Why Does this Confusing Terminology Still Exist?
Dr. Ilyas explains, “The confusion around Spitz nevi does persist because there are types of Spitz nevi that are known to metastasize or spread.
“Typically, Spitz nevi do not spread. The type that is more likely to spread has been termed atypical Spitz nevus.
“However, this is why it is best to leave the distinction to your dermatologist because our training is based on providing the whole picture.
“A substantial portion of our training is in both clinical dermatology — examining, diagnosing and treating patients directly, AND dermatopathology – the examination of specimens under the microscope.
“This permits us to use all pieces of the puzzle to provide the best care possible to our patients.”
Dr. Ilyas has practiced dermatology in the Philadelphia area and Boston for 15+ years and has served as Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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