What Is Nasopharyngeal Cancer And How Do Doctors Treat It?

Medically reviewed by Dr Johann Tang, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist

Nasopharyngeal cancer occurs around the head and neck area. It starts in the nasopharynx, which is the higher part of your throat, just right behind the nose. The purpose of the nasopharynx is to enable air to move through your nose to your lungs by connecting your nasal passages to the rest of the respiratory system. Nasopharyngeal cancer affects the nasopharynx tissues and may eventually spread to other parts of the body. In Singapore, nasopharyngeal cancer is the 8th most common cancer in males, with an age-standardised incidence of 9.5 cases per 100,000 per year. This article will serve to explore all aspects of nasopharyngeal cancer, from the causes, diagnosis and nasopharyngeal cancer treatments.

Causes and Symptoms 

While the exact cause of nasopharyngeal cancer is yet to be discovered, it is closely associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The EBV virus is known to cause mononucleosis, which is similar to that of fevers, colds and flus. Most patients with nasopharyngeal cancer are found to have the EBV, however, not all who have had the EBV virus will develop nasopharyngeal cancer. Other risk factors of nasopharyngeal cancer also include alcohol and tobacco use, eating too much salt-cured food and biological elements such as age – common between 30 to 50, race – common in Southeast Asians and gender – three times more likely in men. 

When it comes to the symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer, most patients will notice one or multiple lumps at the back of their neck. Nasal stuffiness, headaches and difficulty breathing or speaking are also some of the tell-tale signs of nasopharyngeal cancer. Should you experience any of these symptoms, you can look into nasopharyngeal cancer treatments.

Diagnosis   

Nasopharyngeal cancer is diagnosed via consultation, followed by a physical examination that involves your doctor checking your ears, nose and throat and feeling your neck for lumps. Should further assessment be required, nasopharyngoscopy may be performed, where a tube is placed through your nose or mouth to help the radiation doctor get a better view and check for abnormal growths or bleeding. Depending on your results, you may also need to undergo imaging tests including CT scans, X-rays or ultrasounds to spot the cancer and determine its severity. 

Treatments 

With regards to nasopharyngeal cancer treatments, it all boils down to your condition and what your doctor recommends. Treatment options can include radiation therapy, chemotherapy or even surgery. 

Radiation Therapy 

Radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer can come in the form of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). In 3D CRT, radiation doctors can get a 3D image of a patient’s tumour and nearby tissues and organs. With this, they can develop a treatment plan revolving around delivering a concentrated radiation dosage to the tumour. By doing so, a higher and more effective radiation dosage can be delivered directly to the cancer cells while the healthy cells around it receive minimal radiation. 

On the other hand, IMRT treats both cancerous and non-cancerous tumours. This is performed by forcing photon and proton beams to conform to the shape of the tumour. These beams are projected with varying intensities to remove the tumour. Similar to 3D CRT, IMRT aims to target the cancer cells directly and reduce the exposure of healthy cells to the treatment. 

Chemotherapy 

Chemotherapy helps to kill cancer cells and prevent their spread to other parts of the body through the use of drugs. However, chemotherapy alone may not be an effective nasopharyngeal cancer treatment option. Therefore, depending on your condition, doctors may recommend combining chemotherapy and radiotherapy to more effectively treat nasopharyngeal cancer and prolong lifespans. 

Surgery      

In some cases, nasopharyngeal tumours can be surgically removed. Nonetheless, as the tumour tends to be around nerves and blood vessels, it is challenging to operate on and generally avoided. Your doctor will first evaluate the location and severity of the tumour before coming to a decision. Rather than removing the tumour, they may surgically remove the lymph nodes in the neck instead and recommend radiotherapy to eliminate tumours and cancerous cells.

Ultimately, no matter the nasopharyngeal cancer treatment option, one key aspect remains constant – the need to adhere to your doctor’s advice every step of the way for a quicker and smoother recovery. 

Looking to treat nasopharyngeal cancer via radiation therapy? Don’t hesitate to contact us today. Our professional radiation doctors in Singapore are always on hand to help with all your queries.