About nasopharyngeal cancer

Author: Liu Feng, Chief Physician of Hunan Cancer Hospital

Reviewer: Liu Wen, Chief Physician, Hunan Cancer Hospital

Ye Xu, Chief Physician, Hunan Cancer Hospital

Most people will feel fear when they hear the word "cancer". In fact, we don't have to be afraid of cancer. With the improvement of medical technology, cancer can be effectively treated. Now let's learn about nasopharyngeal cancer.

What is nasopharyngeal cancer?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, as the name suggests, is a malignant tumor that occurs in our nasopharynx. It mostly occurs in the top and side walls of the nasopharynx, especially the pharyngeal recess. It is a relatively common malignant tumor in my country, and its incidence ranks first among malignant tumors of the head and neck.

In terms of age, nasopharyngeal cancer can occur at almost any age, with the peak age of onset being 40 to 60 years old, and it is relatively rare in children. In terms of gender, the incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer in men is higher than that in women, 2 to 3 times that of women. In terms of region, the incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer in my country is higher in the south and lower in the north, and it is more common in Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Fujian Province, Hunan Province and Jiangxi Province. Among them, the incidence in Guangdong Province is even 20 times that of other low-incidence areas. Therefore, nasopharyngeal cancer is also called "Guangdong cancer" and is the only cancer named after a place.

Causes of nasopharyngeal cancer

Why are more and more people suffering from nasopharyngeal cancer? Pay attention to the following 3 high-risk factors!

Genetic factors: Many NPC patients have a family history of cancer. Congenital factors such as genetic inheritance and chromosomal mutations may lead to the occurrence of NPC.

Epstein-Barr virus infection: Epstein-Barr virus is a type of human herpes virus. According to clinical case research data, many nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients have been infected with Epstein-Barr virus. If infected with Epstein-Barr virus, it will greatly increase the probability of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and it will also adversely affect our immune system function.

Environmental and food factors: Eating too much salted fish, cured meat and pickled products and other foods containing nitrosamine compounds, as well as inhaling toxic substances such as smoke and dust in a polluted environment may induce nasopharyngeal cancer.

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What are the symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer?

When the body sends out these danger signals, don't panic, and make sure to detect, diagnose and treat them early.

Nasal symptoms: nasal congestion, runny nose, blood in the mucus, or bloody mucus coming out of the mouth after sneezing.

Ear symptoms: hearing loss, tinnitus, ear pain, and often occur on one side.

Symptoms of brain invasion: facial numbness, diplopia, decreased vision, decreased or absent sense of smell, sensorineural deafness, ptosis, fixed eyeballs, difficulty in swallowing, tongue deviation, hoarseness, etc.

Neck lump: A symptom of lymph node metastasis. Most nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients go to the hospital for treatment only after they find a lump in their neck.

Symptoms of distant metastasis: bone pain, cough, abdominal pain, etc.

Treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer

Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy is the most important treatment for NPC. It is used in the treatment of NPC at all stages and is the first choice for NPC. Radiotherapy mainly uses radiation to inhibit local cancer cells and effectively prevent tumor growth. It can be said to be the only radical treatment for NPC.

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Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a systemic chemotherapy that mainly kills cancer cells through chemical substances. According to different sequential methods, it is divided into induction chemotherapy, synchronous chemotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy, which is of great significance in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Targeted therapy: usually suitable for patients in the advanced stage or patients receiving combined chemotherapy. Currently commonly used ones include cetuximab and nimotuzumab, which have good therapeutic effects on some patients in the middle and advanced stages or elderly patients who cannot tolerate chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy: In recent years, immunotherapy has gradually penetrated into the comprehensive treatment of various tumors, and has also brought new hope to nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, especially those with recurrence and metastasis. With the diversification of treatment methods, different treatment plans can be formulated for different nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, greatly improving the treatment effect and the quality of life of patients.

Surgical treatment: The nasopharynx is located in the center of the skull, is hidden, and is close to important organs, tissues, nerves, blood vessels, etc. The surgical exposure is extremely limited, and the surgery is very likely to damage surrounding tissues. The risk of surgery is relatively high, and it is even more impossible to perform continuous large-scale resection of nasopharyngeal tumors and cervical lymph drainage areas. Therefore, surgical treatment is not a routine treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It is only when there is residual disease or local recurrence after radiotherapy, selective surgery is still an effective means. Its indications are: ① The primary lesion in the nasopharynx remains 3 months after radical radiotherapy, and the lesion is limited; ② After radical radiotherapy, there are residual cervical lymph nodes or local recurrence.

How to prevent nasopharyngeal cancer?

Pay attention to climate changes, prevent colds, and maintain nasal and oral hygiene.

Try to avoid inhalation of harmful fumes.

Maintain a balanced diet, eat more vegetables, fruits and foods high in vitamins, eat less smoked, grilled and pickled products, and quit smoking and drinking.

Keep a good attitude.

Pay attention to rest and combine work and rest.

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