Nasopharyngeal cancer is the cancer of the nasopharynx. The nasopharynx includes the upper throat and the nasal passages. A genetic mutation causes healthy cells to grow and multiply without limit.
Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Several types of tumors can form cancer of the nasopharynx, the upper part of your throat behind your nose.
The most common type of nasopharyngeal cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is caused when cells that line the surfaces of our body become damaged and grow out of control. This throat cancer can be difficult to detect early: the location of the nasopharynx makes it difficult to examine and symptoms of NPC often mimic other conditions.
Rare in the United States, nasopharyngeal cancer is fairly common in parts of Asia and North Africa. See your doctor if you notice unusual nasal congestion or have blood in your saliva, a lump in your neck or a bloody discharge from your nose.
Recently Answered
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answeredNasopharyngeal cancer cannot be completely prevented. However, cutting back on salt-cured foods and preserved meat products can reduce your risk of developing nasopharyngeal cancer. At present it is not possible to be vaccinated against the Epstein-Barr virus, but it may someday be.
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered
It is unknown what exactly causes nasopharyngeal cancer. However, the Epstein-Barr virus is known to significantly increase chances of getting the disease. Genetic factors, like having a parent with the cancer, may also be a contributing factor in developing the condition.
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered
The first symptom of nasopharyngeal cancer is usually ear pain. Other symptoms include blood and pus discharge from the nose, a lump in the neck, and frequent ear infections. Headaches, face pain, and double vision are also symptoms. In rare cases, nasopharyngeal cancer may cause partial face paralysis.
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered
Nasopharyngeal cancer affects the body by blocking the nose or eustachian tubes. This causes the symptoms associated with the ears and nose. Also, if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, as it often does, then it causes a lump in the neck. Nasopharyngeal cancer will grow and spread to new parts of the body if left untreated.
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered
The first step in diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer is a physical examination. The doctor will feel your neck for lymph node swelling and ask you which symptoms you are experiencing. Symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer are often indicative of some other condition, so other possibilities will be looked into first. When nasopharyngeal cancer is considered, often you will be sent to an ear, nose and throat doctor, who will examine the nasopharynx for peculiarities with an endoscope. At this time, a biopsy may also be performed to confirm cancer.
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered
Yes, you should discuss your symptoms with your doctor. You should tell your doctor about any symptoms that are ongoing and out of the ordinary for you. Most likely, other causes of your symptoms will be considered first.
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered
Treatment options for nasopharyngeal cancer include radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation kills the cancer cells, but may also harm some healthy ones as well. Chemotherapy also kills cancer cells and is often used before, after or in conjunction with radiation. In a few cases, surgery is also performed to treat nasopharyngeal cancer.
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered
Chemotherapy medication is used to treat nasopharyngeal cancer. It is administered orally or through injection. It then kills cancer cells and restricts their growth.
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Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center answered
While there are no proven alternative treatments for nasopharyngeal cancer, clinical trials may be an option. Biological therapy is a new treatment that is being tested. In this type of therapy, substances are used to enhance the immune system in order to fight cancer. There is also a new type of radiation therapy called intensity-modulated radiation therapy which is better able to target cancer cells as opposed to standard radiation.