Bleeding/blood in nose after treatment? (Nasopharyngeal cancer)

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Ag123
Ag123 Member Posts: 54 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hello, 

Hope everyone is well.

I guess my question is how long do you expect the post-treatment effects (including nasal bleeding/scarring) to go away, and if they do occur after say one year of radiation, are they indicative of reccurence?

Details: My dad has nasophangeal cancer was treated with radiation and chemo (finished in August. He had his CT and PET scans in November and they came back negative). He still has some of side effects from radiation like the dry mouth, dry coughing (almost like irritating type of cough from dryness it seems), thick mucus, phlegm. But, lately he had mentioned to me he sees some blood from his nose when he cleans it or gets congested. That's concerning for me the most based on my online research and his initial symptoms in the first time (he used to see blood when he's congested too).

His nose get stuffy sometimes. He did have an infection recently too though (had fever and classic symptoms). I am not close to him all the time and I did not ask him about specific because I didn't wanna scare him that his tumor could be coming back (though I fear that any signs of bleeding or clotting or scarring in there mean tumor coming back/growth?). His bleeding isn't acute it looks more like dried blood in drainage and such. 

 

He is shceduled for another scan soon. I just am here to get a feel if this is ever normal or if anyone experienced this this long after their radiation. 

 

Thank you!

Comments

  • nikolaf
    nikolaf Member Posts: 50
    #2
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    My husband has nasal/septal

    My husband has nasal/septal SSC T4N0M0. He had a subtotal rhinectomy and 6 weeks of radiation and cisplatin. He has also been bleeding a little when we clean out the cavity.  And he has more mucous. So far the Drs haven’t said anything about it. We think it’s just his allergies inflaming the cavity, producing more mucous, making the area sensitive, and way to bleed. His nose bleeds before he was diagnosed were much worse. It could be allergies. If you are concerned, please call his drs and ask. 

  • Kenny-
    Kenny- Member Posts: 99 Member
    #3
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    Ag123, I have the same symptoms. I'm 2.5 years out. I'm also very concerned whenever I see "blood streaked mucus". At one time, I had a lot of blood, and I freaked out and went to see the doctor. The ENT scoped me and saw nothing. I have been scoped more than 15 times by various doctors - all saying the same thing - there's no evidence of recurrence. They seem to point out that nose bleeds post radiation are pretty common. The blood vessels break and bleeding occurs. As long as it's not persistent bleeding it is normally fine. They also advised close follow-up by the ENT. 

    It's normal to have anxiety as I have it all the time. But also, if you feel uncomfortable, just have the ENT scope it. I've came to a point where I just trust that all is normal until my next visit to the ENT. 

    Hope this helps.

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    #4
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    Nasal Endoscopy

    To determine if there is any local recurrence the best is to have a nasal endoscopy done, in addition to the CT/PET. In a sense this is better than any imaging procedures (which are limited by resolution). It shows not only if there is any tumor left, or enlarged regional lymph nodes, but also shows how the nasopharyngeal and oral mucosa (epithelium) are recovering.

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