Ear Cancer

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The term cancer, implies uncontrolled growth of cells in the human body. Any cell or group of cells displaying such characteristics are termed as 'cancerous' cells. These cells spread across the human body in three different mediums and tend to affect other cells, tissues and organs.

* Uncontrolled Growth: An uncontrolled growth is said to have occurred when cells divide at an enormous pace, thereby plaguing other cells and tissues around them.
* Invasion: Cells that display cancerous characteristics have uncontrolled growth in terms of size and numbers. These cells literally invade tissues and organs around them.
* Spread: The cancerous cells sometimes also spread to other locations of the body through the medium of blood and lymph.

There are variable reasons that cause such cancerous growth. Many a times, cancer is hereditary, as the nature of cells is passed from one generation to another. Infections, tobacco smoke and radiation are other prominent causes of cancer. There are many different types of cancers depending upon the tissues and organs that they affect, such as breast cancer, skin cancer, heart cancer, head and neck cancer. Ear cancer, which is a rare type of cancer, occurs inside the inner ear and sometimes on outer ear.

What is Ear Cancer?
Ear cancer is observed both in the inner ear and on the outer ear, in the form of tumors and abnormal growth. These cancerous cells are medically termed as squamous cell carcinoma. Often Basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, which are types of skin cancers, appear on the skin of the ear and are mistaken for ear cancer. Cancer experts, surgeons and physicians are able to spot the difference between skin and ear cancer.

Types of Ear Cancer
Ear cancer is not restricted to one part of the ear. It can be observed in different parts, where depending on the condition, cancerous cells depict different behavior. Cures and symptoms thus vary for every type of ear cancer.

* External Ear Cancer: External ear cancer appears in the form of progressive ulcer. Sometimes, it is seen in the from of a patch of crusty skin. This cancer appears on the upper edge of outer ear and can be treated with help of surgery.
* Ear Canal Cancer: Ear canal cancer appears in the ear canal, especially on the outer parts. This type of cancer also appears in the interiors of the ear canal, in the from of a tumor. Ear canal cancer, which is in the initial stages, can be treated with a surgery known as Mastoidectomy.
* Middle Ear Cancer: Ear cancer also appears in the middle ear. This type of ear cancer is especially painful as there is prominent blood discharge and deafness. Middle ear cancer appears at the entrance of ear canal. It can be treated with the help of biopsy and surgery.
* Glomus Tumor: This type of tumor, though harmless in initial stages, should be treated properly, as progressive growth of such a tumor results into painful tumors in the middle ear.

Ear Cancer Symptoms
Ear cancer symptoms differ from type to type. The following are some of the common ear cancer signs that occur in initial stages of cancer.

* Emergence of tumor or progressive ulcer
* Swelling or lump on neck
* Ear ache
* Hearing loss
* Discharge from ear often full of blood
* Facial paralysis in rare cases
* Ringing sensation in the ear
* Dizziness

Ear Cancer Remedies and Cures
There are 3 prominent remedies that can be used to cure ear cancer.

* Surgery: Surgery is a remedy that is often used in the initial stages of ear cancer. The surgeon literally cuts the cells and tissues that depict cancerous behavior.
* Radiation: In case where the cancerous cells have started spreading, radiation can be used very effectively. Radioactive rays having a high volume of energy, are directed into the ear, in order to kill cancerous cells.
* Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a method of treatment, where drugs are used to kill cancerous cells that have started spreading. This remedy is used as last option as it severely affects the patient's health.

Read more on:

* Cancer Treatments
* Alternative Cancer Treatments

The biggest drawback of ear cancer is that the symptoms are mistaken for other ailments. Hence, it is extremely important that one consults a physician and a cancer specialist, right after the symptoms occur.