Causes and Diagnostic Procedures of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Needless to say, nasopharyngeal cancer is not very common. Also, the exact cause of this cancer is not known; still, there are a few factors that increase the risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma. 

Probable causes of nasopharyngeal cancer:

·         Consuming a diet high in salt-cured fish and meats

·         Being of North African or South Chinese descent

·         Exposure to the EBV or Epstein-Barr virus, a virus that is responsible for glandular fever

·         Regular exposure to hardwood dust at work or other means

·         Having a blood related person such as a parent or sibling with the same condition 

How is nasopharyngeal cancer diagnosed?

When a general physician is approached with symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, he or she will generally ask about the symptoms and perform a few examinations. This involves examining the throat with the help of a light and mirror. If the physician feels that more tests are essential, the patient will be referred to a hospital where a number of tests are carried to check for the cancer and rule out any other conditions. 

Some tests include:

Nasoendoscopy – It is a test wherein a thin, flexible telescope that is the endoscope is inserted into the nose and passed down the throat to identify any abnormalities; a local anaesthetic is used to numb the nose and throat areas. 

Imaging scans – MRI or magnetic resonance imaging scans or CT scans are also used to check for any tumours and find out whether or not the cancer has spread. 

Pan endoscopy – It involves a more detailed exam of the nose and throat and is carried out under administration of a general anaesthetic using an array of small but rigid telescopes that are connected together. 

Biopsy – In case of biopsy, a tissue sample is removed during pan endoscopy to be examined in a laboratory for malignant cells. 

These tests will help the physician to confirm whether or not the patient has nasopharyngeal cancer and they will then find out at what stage the cancer is. Detecting this cancer at an early stage provides immense chances for recovery. 

NP Screen kit is an excellent cancer diagnostic tool that helps detect NPC at a very early stage.

Lifestyle Changes Facilitate Cancer Prevention

Being educated about the causes and symptoms of cancer, detection of cancer, cancer prevention treatment, etc. is crucial in the recent times. When it comes to cancer care Ontario, you can make changes that are as simple as adding more veggies and fruits to your everyday diet or it can just mean putting down the pack of cigars for good. 

Cancer prevention methods

The very first step in the fight against this disease is to have a look at your family history. Studies have reported that about ten percent of cancer cases happen to come from the person’s genetic makeup. On the other hand, good news for you is that 90 percent of cancer cases are in fact controllable by individual efforts. If anyone in your family has had or is having cancer, there are specific tests to confirm or rule out whether you carry the altered genes causing the certain type of cancer. 

Besides genetics, the most significant part of cancer prevention is consuming a well balanced and nutritious diet. In other words, you have to incorporate vegetables and fruits, low fat meat and a lot of whole grains in your diet. Several vegetables like broccoli and tomatoes have antibodies that can facilitate prevention of prostate cancer in men. 

Well, if you are not able to all the servings of fruits and vegetables in a single sitting, try snacking on them at regular intervals all through the day. Since today’s society surrounds itself with processed foods, it is important to read nutrition labels when you purchase something from a store. You have to avoid foods that are high in saturated fats, hydrogenated oils of any kind and high fructose corn syrups. 

As soon as you have found out how to eat in a healthier manner, the next probably step is finding some time to exercise. It doesn’t mean that you have to hit the gym or hire a personal trainer. Exercise can be in simple forms such as vacuuming, playing with children or walking the dog. Doctors recommend at least 30 minutes of physical activity 3-4 times in a week. 

It is vital that you undergo screening tests for cancer every now and then to rule out the disease or if present, detect early and cure it. 

For Cancer Care Ontario has something to offer you. NP Screen Inc provides exclusive cancer screening kits that detect the presence of cancer at a very early stage in an accurate manner.

How to prevent cancer?

These days when cancer is affecting people exponentially, it is important that everyone is educated about cancer prevention, treatment options for cancer, about cancer detection centre, and the like. If you are really concerned about prevention of cancer, make the following lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of cancer:

It is a well accepted fact that your chances of being affected with cancer are largely influenced by the lifestyle choices made. So, make some lifestyle modifications to live free from cancer. 

Avoid tobacco - Using tobacco increases the risk of cancer. Smoking is linked to different types of cancer – lung cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer and kidney cancer. Besides, chewing tobacco is linked to pancreatic cancer and oral cancer. The worst part is that even passive smokers are affected in this regard and are at risk of lung cancer. 

Eat a healthy diet – Having a well balanced healthy diet reduces the risk of cancer. Eat a lot of vegetables and fruits as well as other foods from plant sources like beans and whole grains. Limit the consumption of fat. Diets high in fat seem to be increase the risk of obesity that can increase cancer risk. 

Limit alcohol consumption – The possibility of occurrence of breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer and kidney cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumption and the number of years one has been drinking on a regular basis. 

Be physically active and maintain a healthy weight – This lowers the risk of several types of cancer including prostate, breast, lung, kidney and colon. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes per day or more. The more physically active you are, the better. 

Besides the above discussed points, it is important to keep in mind certain other aspect like practicing safe sex by limiting the number of sexual partners and using condoms during sex because people with HIV or HPV infection have an increased risk of cancer. Moreover, don’t share needles. You might never know who is an infected drug user. Seek professional help if you are really concerned about drug abuse. Have periodical screening tests done for cancer to rule out the disease on and off. Visit a cancer detection centre and know about cancer prevention, treatment options and other crucial elements. 

An effective screening test such as the NP screen is ideal for detection of nasopharyngeal cancer at an early stage.