Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC)
results from the abnormal growth of the cells of the
nasopharynx.
This malignant disease is
more common in men than women. It is also common in
Southern Chinese, especially among the Cantonese.
What causes it?
The major risk factors of
NPC are:
Certain diet or foods, e.g. salted fish and smoked
food
Exposure to certain virus e.g. the Epstein
Barr Virus
Smoking
Genetic predisposition
Research shows that the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer is higher for people who have a habit of consumption of salted fish.
What are
the common symptoms?
Common presentations are:
Painless lump in the neck
Blood-stained nasal or throat discharge
Defective hearing or partial deafness and ringing of
the ear
Recurrent infection of middle ear
Persistent blocked nose
How can
I prevent it?
There are many ways to protect
yourself:
Avoid salted fish or smoked foods.
Do not smoke
What should I do if I have
suspicious symptoms?
If you notice any symptoms as
described above, you should consult a doctor immediately.
For suspected cases, the doctor
may carry out some investigations. These include blood tests
and procedures to obtain tissue samples for laboratory examination.
What
is the treatment?
Treatment for nasopharyngeal
cancer may include radiotherapy (use of x-rays to
target and kill cancer cells) and surgery, alone or
in combination. For patients with advanced cancer,
chemotherapy (the use of anti-cancer drugs) may be
used concurrently with radiotherapy. The choice of
an appropriate treatment is based on the severity
of the symptoms, the extent to which they affect the
patient's life, and the presence of any other medical
conditions.
How can I help myself?
If you have a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal
cancer, there are many things you can do to cope better
and to improve your quality of life, including:
Understand your illness and its treatment.
Talk to someone (your partner, a friend or counselor)
how you feel.
Learn how to cooperate with the people involved with
your care, including the health professionals, your family
and friends.
Take part in support groups to boost the ability to
self-care and to obtain mutual support.
Eat properly and have a healthy diet.
Exercise regularly under medical supervision.
Avoid stress; learn relaxation techniques and do things
that you can enjoy.
If you have any suspicions, you
should seek medical advice.
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