A Family Doctor's Tale - NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER

DOC I HAVE NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER

 Nasopharyngeal Cancer is one of the deadly cancer because of the difficulty in diagnosis and because it is close to the brain.
My father in law has NPC in the 1970. Treatment was concentrated on radiotherapy at the site of the cancer. Unlike the present gamma-ray knife treatment which can pin point the exact site of the cancer, in the past the old deep X-ray treatment could only target the area of the cancer. The side effects of burns to the skin and clotting of arteries to the brain caused a lot of discomfort to the patient. There is loss of smell and taste with loss of appetite. It is important to be aware of the disease and early detection for treatment to be effective.

Nasopharyngeal cancer, commonly referred to as NPC, occurs when the cells lining the nasopharynx (area behind the nose and above the back of the throat) become abnormal and proliferates giving rise to cancer cells.  
It affects more men than women.

Various contributing factors may be involved:

1.Genes. -males between the ages of 20-50 from southern China and Southeast Asia are at higher risk.

2.Diet. such as preserved foods ( salted fish, vegetables and meat) can cause a higher risk of NPC. Cooking of such food releases toxic substances  called nitrosamines into the fumes that we breathe.
Many NPC patients consumed much less fresh fruit and vegetables.

3.Virus. There is evidence that NPC patients have higher levels of the Epstein-Barr virus in their blood. The Epstein-Barr virus activating substances have been detected in a number of these preserved foods.

4.Smoking

The following are symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer:

A painless lump in the neck-usually a lymph node infiltrated by cancer cells
Nosebleed or blood stained sputum
Blocking of one or both nostrils
Loss of hearing, or ringing in the ear
Discharge from the ear
Blurred or double vision
Difficulty in breathing or speaking
Persistant Sore throat
Paralysis of one side of the face
Headaches

Examination of the upper part of the nose for swelling or lumps.
An endoscope is inserted into the nose. The ENT specialist may extract tissue which can be sent for testing, to confirm if there is a cancerous growth.
If a tumor is found, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to assess its size.
Patients may also be tested for the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus in their systems. This is used to indicate the likelihood of contracting NPC.

No one can be fully protected from NPC.
However, you can modify your lifestyle practices to reduce your chances of contracting NPC.

Avoid preserved foods at an early age.

Eat fresh fruit and vegetables. Studies ave found that citrus fruits (rich in Vitamin C) and orange-coloured vegetables (eg, carrots and sweet potatoes), tomatoes, and dark green vegetables (all rich in carotenoids) also help lower the chances of contracting NPC.

Don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk of  NPC by two to four times. Those who smoke, can still lower their risk by cutting down on the number of cigarettes smoked a day. Better still, quit smoking.

Treatment

Radiotherapy. This is the most common treatment. This involves the use of radiation to attack cancer cells, stopping them from growing or multiplying.

Chemotherapy. This involves the use of medication to treat the cancer.
For both methods, the patient may experience side-effects such as tiredness and nausea.

 Surgery is seldom because of the danger of cutting tissues too close to the brain.

 Early treatment is recommended as it increases the patient's chances of survival. Delayed action could result in the cancer spreading to other parts of the body, making it more difficult to treat.