Causes of Nose Cancer

What Causes Nose Cancer?

More than 1 in 5 nose cancers are linked to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). There are many different types of HPV and most involve the development of growths, or warts around the body. There are lots of different strains of the disease, and different types within each strain; Type 16 is the most common form that is associated with nose cancer.

Smoking increases your risk of developing nose cancer as the smoke from cigarettes contains nitrosamines and many other carcinogenic chemicals that cause cancer both in the nose, the lungs and increases your cancer risk in all areas. The longer you smoke or have smoked for, the more likely it is to lead to cancer, and so giving up now is the best way forward.

Not all nasal cancers are due to smoking or HPV, in fact many are linked to the occupation of those who suffer from the disease. Research has shown that working in certain jobs can increase your risk of developing nose cancer due to the chemicals, dusts or fumes that you that you might be exposed to as a part of your job. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published research that illustrates that around one third of nose and sinus cancers are linked to occupation.

There are a variety of substances that are known to increase the risk of those who work around them. These include:

• Nickel – a metal that is used in the production of stainless steel
• Chromium – a chemical used in textiles, leather, plastic and stainless steel production
• Formaldehyde – a chemical used in the manufacturing of a range of other chemicals, household products and building materials
• Wood dust – the dust given off when certain types of wood are sanded, cut, ground or polished
• Leather dust – the dust given off from leather during its manufacture or when utilising the finished product
• Cloth fibres – tiny, microscopic pieces of cloth that those in textile and associated industries can be exposed to on a regular basis.
• Flour particles – some flour is ground so finely that it can easily escape in to the air or be carried on a breeze around a workplace
• Radium – used for making luminous paints, this chemical emits radiation that can damage cells and cause cancer in some

As our understanding and knowledge of cancer grows with time, experimentation and research, the range of substances that increase the risk of developing nose and other cancers is constantly growing alongside the range of treatments available. It is important to point out that not everyone who is exposed to these substances goes on to develop cancer, and the risks of illness can be reduced with a sensible approach to employee safety.

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