Referral to a specialist for symptoms of nasal and paranasal sinus cancer

Your GP should arrange for you to see a specialist if you have symptoms that could be due to nasal or paranasal sinus cancer. Depending on your symptoms and other factors, this might be an urgent suspected cancer referral.

You will see a specialist as soon as possible. Ask your GP when this is likely to be.

Seeing your GP

It can be hard for GPs to decide who may have cancer and who might have a more minor condition. For some symptoms, your doctor may ask you to wait to see if the symptoms get better or respond to treatment, such as antibiotics.

Your GP might arrange for you to have some tests first. This will help them decide if you need to see a specialist.

UK referral guidelines

There are guidelines for GPs to help them decide who needs a referral. The following is a summary. Your GP will use these guidelines as well as their own experience and judgement.

Your doctor (or sometimes your dentist) might refer you to a specialist urgently if you have:

• recent symptoms in one side of the nose such as a blockage or a bloody discharge for no reason
• a lump in the head and neck area for more than 3 weeks for no reason
• an undiagnosed lump that has changed over a period of 3 to 6 weeks
• a pain in one side of the head and neck for more than 4 weeks for no reason, such ear ache
• loose teeth for no reason

Remember, these symptoms can be caused by other conditions, and do not necessarily mean that you have nasal and paranasal sinus cancer. But it is important to get them checked out.

Other symptoms

Your GP will consider any other symptoms that you are having, so do mention these. They might also take into account whether you have any risk factors that affect your chances of developing nasal and paranasal sinus cancer.

If you're still worried

Sometimes you might feel that your GP is not concerned enough about your symptoms. If you think they should be more concerned, print this page and the symptoms page. Ask your GP to explain why they don’t think you need a referral.

Contact your GP again if your symptoms don't get better or you notice any new or unusual symptoms. 

What should I do if I don’t get my appointment?

If your GP has referred you, ask them when you should get your appointment. Contact them again if you don’t get one. Or some hospitals have a referral service you could try contacting if you know which hospital you are going to. Explain that you are waiting for an urgent suspected cancer referral.

Waiting times

Your hospital is working towards waiting time targets. For example, a target to find out whether you have cancer or not. And there are targets to start treatment if you are diagnosed with cancer. These are slightly different depending on where you live in the UK.