overview
Parts of the throat (pharynx)
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Nasopharyngeal cancer (nay-zoh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul) is cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx, which is located behind the nose and above the throat.
Nasopharyngeal cancer is rare in the United States. It’s much more common in other parts of the world – especially in Southeast Asia.
Nasopharyngeal cancer is difficult to detect at an early stage. This is likely because the nasopharynx is not easy to examine and the symptoms of nasopharynx cancer are similar to other more common conditions. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Treatment in Nizamabad
symptoms
At an early stage, carcinoma of the nasopharynx may not cause symptoms. Possible visible symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer include:
- A lump in the neck caused by a swollen lymph node
- Blood in your saliva
- Bloody discharge from the nose
- Stuffy nose or ringing in the ears
- Hearing loss
- Frequent ear infections
The reasons
Cancer begins when one or more genetic mutations cause normal cells to lose control, invade surrounding structures, and eventually spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. In nasopharyngeal cancer, this process begins in the squamous cells that line the surface of the nasopharynx.
Risk factors
Researchers have identified certain factors that appear to increase your risk of developing nasopharyngeal cancer, including:
- Sex. Nasopharyngeal cancer is more common in men than women.
- Classes. This type of cancer is more common in people in parts of China, Southeast Asia, and North Africa. In the United States, Asian immigrants are more exposed to this type of cancer than American-born Asians. Alaskan Inuit also have an increased risk of nasopharyngeal cancer.
- Age. Nasopharyngeal cancer can occur at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 50.
- Salty foods. The chemicals released when cooking salty foods like canned fish and vegetables in steam can enter the nasal cavity and increase the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. Early exposure to these chemicals can further increase the risk. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Treatment in Nizamabad
Complications
Complications of nasopharyngeal cancer can include:
Cancer that grows to invade nearby structures. Advanced nasopharyngeal cancer can cause complications if it becomes large enough to invade nearby structures such as the neck, bones, and brain.
Cancer that spreads to other areas of the body. Nasopharyngeal cancer often spreads (metastasize) beyond the nasopharynx.
Most people with nasopharyngeal cancer have regional metastases. This means that cancer cells from the original tumor have migrated to nearby areas, such as the lymph nodes in the neck.
Cancer cells that spread to other areas of the body (distant metastases) most often migrate to the bones, lungs, and liver. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Treatment in Nizamabad
prevention
There is no surefire way to prevent nasopharyngeal cancer. However, if you are concerned about your risk for nasopharyngeal cancer, avoid the habits associated with the disease. For example, you can reduce or avoid the amount of salty foods you eat. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Treatment in Nizamabad
