You have been observing for a few days that there is blood in your saliva, bleeding from your nose, and swelling in the lymph glands in your neck. In addition, you are experiencing blurriness in your vision and loss of hearing. These signs point to nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Cancer of the Nasopharynx
The region at the back of your nose that opens into the upper portion of your throat is called the nasopharynx. All that is known about cancer is the aberrant cell growth that culminates in the clamping of cells to form tumors, which can be either benign or malignant (damaging). When a person has malignant cancer, the cancer cells use the bloodstream to spread to other parts of the body and metastasize. Between the ages of 30 and 50, nasopharyngeal cancer can occur; it is more common in women. Vietnam, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Southern China have high rates of nasopharyngeal cancer.
Causes
Although the precise cause of nasopharyngeal cancer is unknown, eating foods like eggs, fish, roots, and leafy vegetables in childhood that have been preserved in salt increases a person’s chance of getting the disease. It may also be caused due to genetic factors, heavy alcohol consumption, and a virus called as the Epstein Barr Virus.
Symptoms
During the early stages of this cancer, symptoms might not show up. The symptoms that you may notice at later stages of cancer are discharge of blood from nose, nasal congestion, loss of hearing, ear infections, blurred vision, sore throat, blood in saliva, swollen lymph node in neck which shows as a lump and headache.
Diagnosis
The physician does a general physical examination before making the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer. To check for any palpably swollen lymph nodes, the neck is felt. The doctor suggests nasopharyngeal endoscopy if nasopharyngeal cancer is suspected. This procedure involves passing a tube with a fitted camera, through the nose and into the nasopharynx to look for any potential tumors or abnormalities. Local anesthesia is given for this procedure. With the aid of an endoscope or other device, a small sample of tissue known as a biopsy is taken in order to search for any cancer cells. After that, the sample is examined to check for the presence of cancer cells. To determine the stage in which the cancer has progressed, the doctor recommends tests such as Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which uses magnetic field to produce clear images of organs, Computerized Tomography (CT) by which 2D and 3D images are created, X ray and Positron emission Tomography (PET) that gives information regarding function of organs.
Treatment
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used in the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer. In radiation therapy, high-energy radiation is employed to destroy cancer cells. External beam radiation therapy is a type of radiation therapy used to treat nasopharyngeal cancer. During the procedure, the patient is positioned on a table, and the machine is adjusted to precisely target radiation to the patient’s cancerous area. If the nasopharyngeal tumor is small, this treatment is sufficient. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are also administered together if the cancer is advanced. Chemotherapy is the process of killing cancer cells with chemical medications. The patient receives this intravenously (via a vein) or as pills to take orally. Tumors in the nasopharynx and malignant lymph nodes in the neck may require surgery for removal. Since nasopharyngeal cancer may not exhibit symptoms in its early stages, it is typically discovered at an advanced stage of the disease’s progression. Five out of ten people with nasopharyngeal cancer survive for a maximum of five years. The survival rate also depends on treatment. Six out of ten cancer patients who receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy go on to live for longer than five years.
Coping with nasopharyngeal cancer
It can be extremely overwhelming to learn that you have cancer, both for you and for everyone who loves you. Try talking to a member of your family or close friends about how you’re feeling. Take medications regularly and go for regular checks to your doctor. Additionally, you can communicate with support groups and express your emotions to them. Involve yourself in some hobby you love. Maintain your physical and mental well-being by eating a balanced diet, exercising, and, most importantly, keep the faith.
