papillomatosis

Tumors are abnormal growths in your body. They can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer. Malignant ones are. Benign tumors grow only in one place. They cannot spread or invade other parts of your body. Even so, they can be dangerous if they press on vital organs, such as your brain.

Tumors are made up of extra cells. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as your body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when your body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can divide without stopping and may form a tumor.

Treatment often involves surgery. Benign tumors usually don't grow back.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 200 related viruses. Some of them are spread through sexual contact. Most people have been exposed to HPV. Usually, your immune system controls HPV infections, and they go away on their own and don't cause any health problems, but some need treatment.

There are two categories of sexually transmitted HPV. They are called low-risk HPV and high-risk HPV. Sometimes high-risk HPV infections can stay at the cervix (the lower part of a woman's uterus) for many years. This can lead to cell changes. If these changes are not screened for and treated, they may get worse over time and become cancer.

Low-risk HPVM can cause warts on or around your genitals, anus, mouth, or throat.

High-risk HPV can cause various cancers:

• Cervical cancer
• Anal cancer
• Oropharyngeal cancer, a type of head and neck cancer, also called throat cancer
• Vulvar cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Penile cancer

HPV infections are very common. Nearly all sexually active people are infected with HPV soon after they become sexually active.

Some people get warts from certain low-risk HPV infections, but the other types (including the high-risk types) have no symptoms.

If a high-risk HPV infection lasts for many years and causes cell changes, you may have symptoms. You may also have symptoms if those cell changes develop into cancer. Which symptoms you have depends on which part of your body is affected.

Health care providers can usually find out if you have warts by looking at them.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by a long-lasting infection with a high-risk type of HPV. Screening can prevent cancer by finding out if you need treatment for changes that might happen before cancer, called precancer.

Screening tests for HPV can include:

• For women, there are cervical cancer screening tests that can find changes in the cervix that might lead to cancer. As part of the screening, women may have Pap tests (sometimes called a Pap smear), HPV tests, or both. HPV tests use a sample of cervical cells.
• Your provider may also suggest a colposcopy to check for abnormal cells.

An HPV infection itself cannot be treated. Because HPV causes cancer at other places in the body, testing for the HPV virus can be helpful to make other treatment decisions.

• HPV infection. Talk to your provider about whether you need other tests and how often you should be checked to prevent cervical cancer.
• Warts. There are medicines that you can apply to a wart. If they don't work, your provider could freeze, burn, or surgically remove them.
• Cell changes caused by infection with high-risk HPV. Treatments may include medicines you apply to the affected area or various surgical procedures.

People who have HPV-related cancers usually get the same types of treatment as people who have cancers that HPV does not cause. An exception to this is for people who have certain oral and throat cancers. They may have different treatment options.

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading HPV. If you or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms. The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

Vaccines can protect against several types of HPV, including genital warts and some that can cause cancer. The vaccines provide the most protection when people get them before exposure to the virus. This means that it is best for people to get them before they become sexually active.

Ask your child's provider about when to vaccinate your child against HPV. If you're over age 26 and haven't been vaccinated, talk with your provider about the possible benefits of vaccination.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Your nose is important to your health. It filters the air you breathe, removing dust, germs, and irritants. It warms and moistens the air to keep your lungs and tubes that lead to them from drying out. Your nose also contains the nerve cells that help your sense of smell. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer. For example, the stuffy nose of the common cold can make it hard for you to breathe, sleep, or get comfortable.

Many problems besides the common cold can affect the nose. They include:

• Deviated septum - a shifting of the wall that divides the nasal cavity into halves
• Nasal polyps - soft growths that develop on the lining of your nose or sinuses
• Nosebleeds
• Rhinitis - inflammation of the nose and sinuses sometimes caused by allergies. The main symptom is a runny nose.
• Nasal fractures, also known as a broken nose

Your throat is a tube that carries food to your esophagus and air to your windpipe and larynx. The technical name for your throat is the pharynx.

Throat problems are common. You've probably had a sore throat. The cause is usually a viral infection, but other causes include allergies, infection with strep bacteria or the leaking of stomach acids back up into the esophagus, called GERD.

Other problems that affect the throat include:

• Tonsillitis - inflammation of the tonsils
• Cancer
• Croup - inflammation, usually in small children, which causes a barking cough
• Laryngitis - swelling of the voice box, which can cause a hoarse voice or loss of voice

Most throat problems are minor and go away on their own. Treatments, when needed, depend on the problem.

Voice is the sound made by air passing from your lungs through your larynx, or voice box. In your larynx are your vocal cords, two bands of muscle that vibrate to make sound. For most of us, our voices play a big part in who we are, what we do, and how we communicate. Like fingerprints, each person's voice is unique.

Many things we do can injure our vocal cords. Talking too much, screaming, constantly clearing your throat, or smoking can make you hoarse. They can also lead to problems such as nodules, polyps, and sores on the vocal cords. Other causes of voice disorders include infections, upward movement of stomach acids into the throat, growths due to a virus, cancer, and diseases that paralyze the vocal cords.

Signs that your voice isn't healthy include:

• Your voice has become hoarse or raspy
• You've lost the ability to hit some high notes when singing
• Your voice suddenly sounds deeper
• Your throat often feels raw, achy, or strained
• It's become an effort to talk

Treatment for voice disorders varies depending on the cause. Most voice problems can be successfully treated when diagnosed early.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Breast diseases include various conditions and changes in your breast. Most women experience breast changes at some time. Your age, hormone levels, and medicines you take may cause lumps, bumps, and discharges of fluids that are not breast milk.

Although many women fear cancer, most breast changes are benign, meaning they are not cancer. These breast changes are known as benign breast disease. See your health care provider if you have a breast lump, pain, discharge, or skin irritation. Minor and serious breast problems often have similar symptoms and may need treatment.

Common breast changes and conditions can include:

• Fibrocystic breast changes can include lumpiness, thickening, and swelling, often just before your period. Your breasts may feel painful, swollen, or tender.
• Cysts are fluid-filled lumps that may be tender.
• Fibroadenomas are solid, round, rubbery lumps that easily move when pushed, occurring most in younger women.
• Intraductal papillomas are wart-like benign tumors that grow in the milk duct of the breast.
• Blocked milk ducts.
• Milk production when you're not breastfeeding.

Symptoms depend on the type of breast disease. Benign breast diseases may not have any symptoms, or they could include:

• A lump or firm feeling in your breast or under your arm
• A change in the size or shape of your breast
• Nipple discharge
• Skin changes such as itching, redness or darkening, dimples, scaling, or puckering on your breast or nipple
• Painful, swollen, or tender breasts

See your provider if you're noticing any of these symptoms or other unusual changes. Some symptoms may be warning signs or symptoms of breast cancer.

Some breast changes may be felt or seen. You may notice a change in your breast, or your provider may notice it during a clinical breast exam. Other breast changes may only be found during a screening mammogram or other imaging tests such as an MRI or ultrasound. Your provider may also recommend a breast biopsy to check a suspicious change in your breast.

Some benign breast changes may increase your risk of breast cancer in the future and may need treatment now. Treatment depends on the type of breast disease that you have. Some breast changes may go away without treatment, while others may require monitoring, biopsy, or surgery.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Eyelid disorders include a variety of conditions that affect your eyelids. Your eyelids protect your eyes and help keep them healthy. When you blink, they spread tears across your eyes and help wash away dirt or dust. You also close your eyelids when something comes near your eyes to protect them from injury.

Like other parts of your body, your eyelids can get infected, become swollen, or develop growths or eye cancer.

The cause depends on the type of disorder. Some eyelid disorders may run in families, while others happen for unknown reasons.

There are many kinds of eyelid problems. They can cause swelling, infection, irritation, or change how your eyelids look or move. Some may cause lumps or growths on or around the eyelids.

Eyelid disorders that cause swelling, redness, or infection include:

• Stye (hordeolum). A small, red, painful bump caused by a bacterial infection in an oil gland. A chalazion is a painless lump that may form after a stye.
• Blepharitis. Makes your eyelids red, itchy, or burning and can cause crusty eyelashes. It's often linked to bacteria or skin conditions like rosacea.
• Periorbital cellulitis. A bacterial infection of the eyelid and nearby skin. If it spreads behind the eye (orbital cellulitis), it needs immediate medical care.

Eyelid disorders that affect eyelid position or movement include:

• Ectropion (eyelids turn out). The inner eyelid is exposed, which can cause irritation or tearing.
• Entropion (eyelids turn in). The eyelashes rub against the eye, causing discomfort or damage.
• Ptosis (drooping eyelid). Often caused by weak muscles, aging, or nerve damage.

Eyelid growths include:

• Xanthelasma. Yellowish patches of cholesterol near the inner corners of the eyelids.
• Papilloma. A benign (noncancerous), wart-like skin growth.
• Basal cell carcinoma. The most common eyelid cancer, often on the lower eyelid.
• Squamous cell carcinoma. A less common but faster-growing skin cancer.
• Sebaceous gland carcinoma. A rare but serious cancer of the eyelid's oil glands.

Eyelid disorders that affect blinking or eyelid movement include:

• Blepharospasm. Eyelid blinking or twitching you can't control.
• Myokymia. A minor, occasional eyelid twitch often caused by fatigue or stress.

Symptoms can vary depending on the condition but may include:

• Feeling like something is in your eye
• Burning or stinging
• Watery or itchy eyes
• Red, swollen eyelids
• Blurry vision

Your eye care specialist may diagnose eyelid disorders during an eye exam. They may also ask about your medical and family history to help find the cause.

Treatment depends on the cause of the disorder. Some eyelid conditions get better on their own or may be related to another health condition. Keeping your eyelids clean can help prevent irritation and infection.

If you need treatment, it may include:

• Warm compresses
• Medicines or ointments
• Eye drops
• Surgery (less common)
• Lifestyle changes, such as getting more sleep or cutting back on caffeine