Mobile phones are an indispensable part of our daily life. We end up spending hours on our phones without realizing the damage it is doing to us. The human body absorbs energy from organs which leads to various health risks, which may also include brain and skin cancer.
And while we know a lot about other types of cancer, many people may not have heard of ear cancer before.
To shed more light on this, Prof. Dr. Raj Nagarkar, MD, Head of Oncology and Robotic Services at Manavata Panasik Cancer Centers, told specialist medical website onlymyhealth whether cell phones could be the cause of ear cancer.
According to the website, ear cancer can affect the inner and outer ear; It usually begins as a skin cancer in the outer ear or in the ear canal, but it can also develop in the eardrum, temporal bone, ossicles, mastoid, facial nerve, and inner ear organs for hearing and balance.
According to Dr. Nagakar, this includes several types of ear cancer, including:
– basal cell carcinoma
– skin cancer
-Adenoid cystic carcinoma
– adenocarcinomas
– squamous cell carcinoma
Ear cancer symptoms:
Ear cancer symptoms vary depending on which part of the ear is affected. It is important to understand some of the symptoms of ear cancer in different parts of it.
1. The outer ear
The earlobe is also called the pinna, and the outer entrance to the ear canal is all part of the outer ear. Signs on the outer ear include scaly skin despite moisturization, white lumps under the skin, bleeding and skin sores.
2. ear canal
The ear canal is a tube that runs from the outer ear to the eardrum. Some signs of the ear canal include a bump at or near the entrance to the ear canal, discharge from the ear and hearing loss.
3. Middle ear
The middle ear contains three small bones: the hammer, the incus, and the stirrup. Signs of middle ear cancer include bloody discharge from the ear, ear pain, and hearing loss.
4. Inner ear
The inner ear consists of three main parts: the cochlea and the semicircular canals. Signs of inner ear cancer include ear pain, dizziness, hearing loss, and headache.
Ear cancer causes:
There are certain factors that may increase the chances of developing ear cancer. Being in the sun for hours without using sunscreen puts a person at risk of developing skin cancer and can lead to ear cancer. Inflammatory responses associated with ear infections may affect cellular changes that may also lead to cancer.
The link between cell phones and cancer:
Mobile phones emit radiation in the form of radiofrequency radiation or radio waves; It is widely used. Given the number of people using mobile phones, any small increase in cancer risk is cause for concern. Ionizing radiation (a high-energy form of radiation that mobile phones emit) has been found to cause some cancers of the brain and central nervous system. Many different types of studies have also been conducted to determine whether mobile phone use is harmful to human health. Radiation from a mobile phone also causes different types of skin cancers.
Tips for safe use of mobile devices:
Limit your time on the phone because long-term exposure to high-energy radio frequency signals can damage brain, skin, and ear cells.
Use a loudspeaker, headset or hands-free device instead of placing the phone next to your head because it reduces the risk of electromagnetic radiation exposure to brain cells.
– Avoid calls in places with low signal reception because mobile devices increase the transmission strength if the signal reception is weak.
Keep your phone away from your head while you sleep.
Ear cancer diagnosis:
Ear cancer is often misdiagnosed as an ear infection. If an ear infection is diagnosed but the patient has persistent discharge from the ear or a malignancy is suspected, a second opinion is recommended.
Tissue outside or in the middle ear where any suspicious growth was observed is sent to a laboratory to check for cancerous cells. This is referred to as a biopsy. Depending on the location of the affected area, the biopsy can be done under local or general anesthesia so that no pain is felt during the procedure.
Reaching carcinomas in the inner ear may be more difficult. This makes it difficult to perform the biopsy without damaging the surrounding tissue. To determine if cancer is present, imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan are of great help.
Ear cancer treatment:
Treatment is usually determined by the size and location of the cancerous growth. Surgery is the most common treatment for ear cancer. Depending on the severity and location of the cancer, different types of surgeries are used. Skin cancers on the outside of the ear are usually surgically removed. If large areas are removed, reconstructive surgery may be needed.
Cancer of the ear canal or temporal bone requires surgery followed by radiation therapy. The extent of the tumor determines how much of the ear is removed; In some cases, the ear canal, bone, and eardrum must be removed. Depending on how much they removed, the doctor may be able to reconstruct the ear. Hearing is not significantly affected in most cases. If hearing is affected, one may need to use a hearing aid.
Practicing sun safety, such as using sunscreen, staying in the shade and avoiding tanning beds, as well as spending a few hours on the phone, can reduce your risk of skin cancer, which can develop into ear cancer. And in case of any symptoms it is always a good option to seek medical advice.