Nasopharyngeal cancer – Symptoms and treatment options

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a very rare type of cancer affecting the nasopharynx. It is important to know the symptoms, causes, diagnostic procedures and treatment options in order to be well informed on this type of cancer.

Normally, this cancer is confused with other kinds of cancer that also affect the area such as oesophageal cancer and laryngeal cancer. NPC varies significantly from other types of cancers of the neck and head in terms of causes, occurrence, clinical behavior, and treatment. This cancer is more common in several regions of Africa and East Asia than other parts of the world. 

Nasopharyngeal cancer - Signs and symptoms 

It is not easy to identify nasopharyngeal cancer as the symptoms are much similar to various other less serious health conditions. A lot of people with this cancer do not show any symptoms until cancer reaches an advanced stage.

Major symptoms include:

·         Hearing loss (generally in one ear)

·         Lump in the neck

·         Tinnitus

·         Stuffy or blocked nose

·         Nosebleeds 

If you develop symptoms that worry you, you must see your general physician right away, especially if the condition doesn’t improve after several weeks. While most of the times these symptoms are not likely to be a result of NPC, it is good to get them checked. 

How nasopharyngeal cancer is treated

A range of treatments are available for those suffering from NPC. A few treatments are standard and a few are tested in clinical trials. If a person is diagnosed with NPC, he or she will be taken care of by a team of various specialists that work together. The team will discuss with the patient about the best treatment option in his or her case. 

Major treatment options for NPC are:

Radiotherapy – Radiation is used to destroy cancer cells

Chemotherapy –Medication is used to kill the cancer cells 

In most of the cases, a combination of these two treatments is used. Surgery is generally not used to treat NPC as it is not easy for surgeons to gain access to the affected area. If diagnosed in early stages, there are ample chances for the patient to get complete cure from this type of cancer. 

To detect NPC at an early stage and save the life of a person, it is ideal to undergo NP Screen test, a highly valued and standard test for diagnosing NPC.