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Nasal and sinus cancer symptoms

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by

Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science

This page was updated on June 6, 2022.

The nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are the most common areas affected by sinus cancers. Symptoms vary depending on where the cancer develops and how significantly it spreads.

Signs and symptoms of sinus cancer

  • A mass in the neck beneath the skin
  • Numbness on the side of the nose, upper lip or cheek
  • Headaches
  • Swelling around the eyes
  • Pain behind the nose
  • A persistent lump or sore inside the nose
  • Lasting changes in vision or vision loss
  • Tumors
  • Nasal drainage from one side of the nose
  • Tearing from one eye
  • Difficulty breathing due to nasal obstruction on one side of the nose
  • Lump on the face or roof of the mouth
  • Nosebleeds that increase with frequency or amount

Sinus cancers may also cause symptoms that often accompany less serious conditions, like the common cold, including blocked sinuses and post-nasal drip.

Next topic: What are the types of sinus cancer?

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