Description

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a cancer that begins as a growth of the cells in the nasopharynx. The nasopharynx is the upper part of the throat. It is located behind the nose.

Nasopharyngeal (nay-zoh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul) carcinoma is rare in the united States. It happens a lot more often in other parts of the world, mainly in Southeast of Asia.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is difficult to find early. This is most likely because the nasopharynx is not easy to examine. And there may be no symptoms in the beginning.

The treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma usually involves radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of the two. Work with your health care professional to find the right approach for you.

Symptoms

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma may not cause signs or symptoms in the beginning. When it does cause symptoms, they may include:

  • A lump in the neck caused by inflammation of a lymph node.
  • The bleeding of the nose.
  • Bloody saliva.
  • Double vision.
  • Ear infections.
  • Facial Numbness.
  • Headaches.
  • The hearing loss.
  • Nasal congestion.
  • Ringing in the ears, called tinnitus.
  • The sore throat.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

Causes

The exact cause of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is often not known.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a type of cancer that begins in the upper part of the throat, called the nasopharynx. Occurs when the cells in the nasopharynx develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA contains the instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions indicate that the cells die at a set time.

In cancer cells, changes in DNA to give different instructions. The changes, to tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

The cancer cells may form a growth called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

Risk factors

Researchers have found some factors that seem to increase the risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma. They include:

  • Certain ancestors. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is more common in some parts of China, Southeast Asia, north Africa and the Arctic. The people who live in these areas or have ancestry that comes from these parts of the world may be at an increased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
  • Of the middle ages. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma can occur at any age. But more often is diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 60.
  • Salt-cured foods. Chemicals released in the steam when cooking cured with salt foods may increase the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The steam of the food such as fish and preserved vegetables you can enter the nose during cooking. Contact with these substances at an early age can increase the risk even more.
  • The Epstein-Barr virus. This common virus that most often causes mild symptoms similar to those of a cold. Sometimes it can cause infectious mononucleosis. The Epstein-Barr virus is also linked to some types of cancer, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
  • The history of the family. Have a family member with nasopharyngeal carcinoma increases the risk of the disease.
  • Alcohol and tobacco. A high consumption of alcohol and tobacco use may increase the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Complications

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma complications can include:

  • The cancer growing into nearby structures. Advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma can grow enough to go into nearby structures, such as the throat, the bones and the brain.
  • Cancer that spreads to other areas of the body. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma often extends beyond the nasopharynx. Typically spreads to the lymph nodes in the neck of the first. When it spreads to other parts of the body, the nasopharyngeal carcinoma most often goes to the bones, lungs and liver.

Prevention

There is No sure way to prevent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. But, if you are concerned about your risk of this cancer, thinking of giving up the habits that have been associated with the disease. For example, do not use tobacco. You can choose to crop or not to eat salt-cured foods.

Tests to detect nasopharyngeal carcinoma

In the united States and in other areas where the disease is rare, there is no routine screening for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

In the places where nasopharyngeal carcinoma is much more common, as in some areas of China, people at high risk of the disease can have projection. The analysis may involve a blood test to detect the virus of Epstein-Barr virus.

Diagnosis

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis often begins with a review by a healthcare professional. The health care provider may use a special scope to look inside the nasopharynx for signs of cancer. To confirm the diagnosis, a sample of tissue can be removed for the test.

Physical examination

A healthcare provider may do a physical exam to look for signs of cancer. This could include looking at the nose and the throat. The health care professional may also feel the neck of the inflammation in the lymph nodes. The health professional may ask about your symptoms and your habits.

Endoscopy

A health care professional who is suspected nasopharyngeal carcinoma can do a procedure called a nasal endoscopy.

This test uses a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end, called an endoscope. It lets your healthcare provider see the inside of the nasopharynx. The endoscope can go through the nose to see their nasopharynx. Or the endoscope can go through the opening in the back of the throat that leads to the nasopharynx.

Biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a health professional can take the sample during a nasal endoscopy procedure. To do this, the health care professional makes a special instrument through the endoscope to remove some of the tissue. If there is swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, a needle may be used to note some cells for testing.

Tests to determine the extent of the cancer

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, further tests may find the measure, known as the stage of the cancer. These may include imaging tests such as:

  • Computed tomography.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging.
  • The positron emission tomography scan, also called a PET.
  • X-ray.

The stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma range from 0 to 4. A lower number means the cancer is small and it is mainly in the nasopharynx. As the cancer grows or spreads beyond the nasopharynx to the stages of the climb.

A stage 4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma may mean that the cancer has grown into nearby structures, such as the area around the eyes, or the lower part of the throat. Stage 4 can also mean that the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Your healthcare team uses the stage and other factors in order to plan your treatment and to understand the likely course of the cancer, called prognosis.

Treatment

The treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma often begins with the radiation therapy, or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.

You and your healthcare team work together to make a treatment plan. Several factors are going to do the plan. These may include the stage of your cancer, your treatment goals, your general state of health and the side effects you are willing to have.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources.

Radiation therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma most often involves external beam radiation. During this procedure, you lie on a table. A large machine that goes around you. Delivers radiation in the precise place where it can target their cancer.

For small carcinomas, nasopharyngeal, radiation therapy may be the only treatment needed. For cancers that are larger or have become in nearby areas, the radiation therapy is usually combined with chemotherapy.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma that is returned, you can have a type of internal radiation therapy called brachytherapy. With this treatment, a health professional places radioactive seeds or wires in cancer, or close to it.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. The majority of chemotherapy drugs are given through a vein. Some come in the form of a pill.

Chemotherapy can be administered at the same time as radiation therapy to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It can also be used before or after radiation therapy.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy for cancer is a treatment with a medication that helps the body's immune system destroys the cancer cells.

The immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, immunotherapy could be an option if the cancer comes back or spreads to other parts of the body.

Surgery

Surgery is not often used as a first treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. But it is possible to have surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes in the neck.

Sometimes, surgery may be used to remove the cancer of the nasopharynx. Or you could treat cancer that comes back after radiation therapy or chemotherapy. To get to the cancer, the surgeon will make a cut on the roof of the mouth or on the face near the nose. Sometimes, the surgeon can remove the cancer through surgical instruments that go through the nose.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Dealing with a dry mouth

Radiation therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma often causes dryness in the mouth. Dry mouth can last for a long time after treatment. For some people, it does not disappear.

Dry mouth can cause discomfort. It can also cause infections in the mouth. This can make it difficult to eat, swallow and speak. And can affect the health of your teeth. Ask your health care professional about to see a dentist if you have a dry mouth complications.

To help relieve the dryness of the mouth and its complications:

  • Brush your teeth a few times each day. Use a soft bristle brush. Brush gently. Tell your healthcare team if the soft brushed hurt the mouth.
  • Rinse your mouth with a solution after meals. Ask your health care team what solution to use.
  • Keep the mouth moist with water or sugar-free candy. Drink water throughout the day to keep the mouth moist. Also try ice chips, chewing gum or hard candy, sugar-free to help your mouth with saliva.
  • Choose the wet food. Do not eat dry food. Moisten food with sauce, meat sauce, broth, butter, or milk.
  • Not eating acidic or spicy foods and drinks. Choose foods and beverages that do not irritate the mouth. Don't drink beverages with caffeine, and alcoholic beverages.

Tell your healthcare team if you have a dry mouth. There may be treatments to help deal with the most severe symptoms of dry mouth. Your health care team can also be send to a nutrition expert, calls to a nutritionist. A dietitian can help you find the foods that are easier to eat with a dry mouth.

Coping and support

People deal with a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in their own ways. With time you will find what works for you. Until then, it may help to:

Learn enough about your cancer, so that you can help to make decisions about your care

Write down your questions to ask at your next appointment. Ask a friend or family member to appointments with you to take notes. Ask your health care team to other sources of information.

Find someone to talk to

It might help to talk to someone about your feelings. This can be a close friend or family member who is a good listener.

It can also help to talk with a social worker or a psychologist. Ask your health care team for the names. You can also talk with a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community.

Think about joining a support group in your community or online. In the united States, contact the American Cancer Society for more information about support groups.

Take time for yourself when you need it

Let people know when they want to be alone. Quiet time to think or write in a journal can help you sort out your feelings.

Take care of yourself

Get ready for the treatment of cancer, making a healthy lifestyle. For example, if you smoke, stop smoking.

Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Exercise when you feel up to it. But check with your health care team before starting a new exercise program.

Finding ways to relieve stress. And try to get enough sleep. Talk with your health care team if you have sleep problems.

These healthy options can make it easier for your body to deal with the side effects of treatment.

Preparing for your appointment

Start by making an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. If your doctor thinks you might have in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, you may need to see a specialist. This could be a doctor who specializes in the treatment of cancer is called an oncologist, or a doctor who specializes in ear, nose, and throat problems, called an otolaryngologist.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Have a family member or friend with you, if possible. Someone can help with the details that are lost or forgotten. Also, take a laptop or a recording device with you to get everything that you need to know.

Make a list of:

  • Their symptoms. Include all your symptoms, even if they do not appear to be linked to the reason he made the appointment. Include when your symptoms began.
  • All medications, vitamins or supplements you take. Include the dose and how often you take.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, some questions are:

  • What tests do I need?
  • I need to do anything to prepare for these tests?
  • There are other possible causes of these symptoms?
  • I have other health problems. How will this affect them?
  • What treatment do you suggest?
  • Is my cancer is likely to return?
  • There are clinical trials that I could enter?
  • Where can I find more information about this type of cancer?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care professional may ask:

  • How often do you have symptoms?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • Is there something to improve the symptoms?
  • Does anything make your symptoms worse?
  • Do you eat a lot of salt-cured foods, such as fish or preserved vegetables?
  • Have you ever been diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus, or infectious mononucleosis?
Symptoms and treatment of Nasopharyngeal carcinoma