Causes of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Updated on September 17, 2024
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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a highly prevalent malignant tumor in China, especially common in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions, as well as other coastal areas including Hunan, Fujian, and Jiangxi. These regions are among the highest incidence areas for nasopharyngeal carcinoma worldwide. The incidence rate in males is three times that of females, with the age group of 40 to 50 years being particularly at risk. The occurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is associated with genetic, viral, and environmental factors, exhibiting racial and familial patterns. In areas like Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta, it is possible for five out of nine people in the same family to have nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus is also one of the causes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, in addition to environmental factors. Areas with low trace elements in rice and water, as well as low fluoride levels, are prone to higher incidences of this cancer. Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma typically have higher fluoride levels in their hair, and nitrites are also one of the major contributing factors to the condition.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma eat peaches?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common type of malignant tumor in the head and neck area. Peaches can be eaten; they are a common type of fruit containing rich vitamins, and they have no direct side effects on the condition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, nor do they affect the treatment efficacy. They also do not directly conflict with any medications or treatment plans related to nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Therefore, it is normal to consume peaches. For patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, it is advised that their diet should be high in protein and low in fat, with balanced and reasonable nutrition to ensure adequate energy supply and enhanced immunity, which can help with the treatment of the condition.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Where is the best place to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma currently mainly considers radiation therapy and chemotherapy, with radiation therapy as the primary treatment. It requires staging and typing based on different ranges of lesions and pathological biopsy types. After determining the stage and type, further radiation and chemotherapy plans can be established. At present, radiation therapy is the most important. Most patients need concurrent chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy and require regular follow-ups. For some patients with cervical lymph node metastasis or recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiation therapy, who cannot undergo radiation or chemotherapy again or for whom radiation and chemotherapy have failed, surgery may be considered. However, surgery is generally not the first choice and its effectiveness is not particularly certain.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma eat zongzi?

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma can eat rice dumplings, which are a common food mainly made from glutinous rice. Eating rice dumplings does not have side effects on the condition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma nor does it affect the treatment outcomes, so patients can eat them normally. Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma should seek medical attention in the oncology department as soon as they are diagnosed, and consider undergoing radiation therapy, with some needing to combine it with chemotherapy. After treatment, regular long-term check-ups are necessary, as some patients may experience local recurrence or distant metastasis, which requires timely subsequent targeted therapy.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma be cured?

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a malignant tumor located in the nasopharynx. Late-stage nasopharyngeal cancer refers to stages three and four, particularly stage four, where the patient experiences destruction of adjacent tissue structures and metastasis to distant organs. In such cases, clinical treatment generally involves symptomatic management or palliative care, aimed at improving the patient's quality of life and alleviating suffering. Whether nasopharyngeal cancer, especially in its late stages, can be cured is highly uncertain; its prognosis is very poor, and no one can definitively answer if it can be cured. However, the chances of cure are extremely slim, and the main approach is to provide palliative treatments.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can nasopharyngeal cancer be cured?

A portion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients can meet the criteria for clinical cure. It largely depends on the specific staging and type of the cancer. Patients with higher differentiation and earlier stages, especially stages one and two, tend to have better treatment outcomes. Currently, radiation therapy is the primary treatment, and some patients may also need to undergo chemotherapy. Overall, chemotherapy is quite effective for most patients. However, whether clinical cure can be achieved primarily depends on the extent of the disease and individual differences. Some people respond better to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which in turn increases their chances of clinical cure. The five-year survival rate is considered the most important indicator.