Nasopharynx (Nose) Cancer

The exact causes of NPC are unclear. However, several risk factors increase your chance of developing NPC:

• An Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a common viral infection, which usually results in mild symptoms such as fever and sore throat. It has been linked to NPC development as the virus has been found in nearly all NPC cells. However, an EBV infection on its own is not enough to cause NPC.
• NPC is also common in Chinese (especially Cantonese) people and in men aged between 20 – 50 years.
• NPC has also been linked to certain dietary habits. For instance, it is very common in Asia, North Africa and the Arctic, which are known for diets that are high in salt, cured fish and meat.
• Tobacco smoking.

The symptoms of NPC include:

• Blocked nose and stuffiness
• Blood-stained sputum (phlegm) from the nose and throat
• Blurry vision
• Difficulty speaking or breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Earache or ear discharge
• Fatigue
• Hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ear)), usually affecting only one side
• Hoarse voice
• Lumps in the neck or on the nose
• Persistent sore throat
• Recurring headaches
• Recurring nosebleeds
• Unexplained weight loss

There are different treatment options available for NPC. Your ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist will evaluate your condition and suggest a suitable treatment, depending on your cancer stage and general health. Treatment may include:

• Chemotherapy using 1 or a combination of toxic drugs that circulate in the bloodstream and kill rapidly growing cells, including healthy ones. It also alleviates the symptoms of NPC.
• After resection (removal) of the primary tumour, neck dissection surgery is performed to remove surrounding cancerous lymph nodes if the NPC has spread to them. 
• Radiation therapy is the most common form of treatment of NPC. This treatment can be delivered in several ways:
  
  1. Brachytherapy uses thin metal rods containing radioactive materials to deliver radiation to cancer cells.
  2. Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) is a radiation method that allows the accurate, computer-guided delivery of radiation beams to destroy cancer cells, while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
  3. Radiotherapy or external energy beams can be used to destroy cancer cells and reduce the symptoms of NPC.
• Surgery removes nasopharyngeal tumours for the few NPC cases that do not respond to radiation therapy.