Can nasopharyngeal cancer be cured?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on November 08, 2024
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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common type of head and neck malignant tumor. Currently, radiation therapy is commonly used for treatment. Depending on the severity of the patient's condition, some patients may also need to combine chemotherapy. The specific treatment effectiveness varies from individual to individual, and some patients can achieve clinical cure. For early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the treatment effectiveness is relatively good, and the clinical cure rate is comparatively high. For mid to late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the treatment becomes more challenging, and the treatment effectiveness is relatively poorer. After treatment, regular check-ups are required to monitor the recovery of the condition. If no recurrence or distant metastasis is found five years after treatment, the patient is considered clinically cured.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Do people with nasopharyngeal carcinoma lose weight?

Some patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may experience weight loss, but individual differences exist. This is somewhat related to the condition itself as well as to the individual's resistance and their baseline physical fitness. If the condition is detected early and the clinical symptoms are not particularly obvious, most patients will not show significant weight loss, and many people may not have noticeable symptoms. If the condition is severe, and diet and nutrition are not properly managed in a timely manner, patients may experience weight loss, especially in advanced stages of the illness. This can result in a cachectic-like state, which poses greater challenges for treatment. It is necessary to seek medical attention promptly, assess the physical condition, and consider the need for radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Characteristics of headaches caused by nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common otorhinolaryngological disease with various clinical symptoms. The more common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, and bloody nasal discharge. Some patients may experience headaches, which could potentially be due to intracranial metastasis of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma or nerve invasion, causing neuropathic pain. The specific characteristics of the headache mainly manifest as persistent and severe pain. Although pain relief medications can temporarily alleviate the symptoms, the relief usually does not last long. After the effects of the medication wear off, the pain may recur. Moreover, this condition is generally challenging to treat, and treatment outcomes may not be ideal.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Distinction between Nasopharyngitis and Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngitis and nasopharyngeal carcinoma have fundamental differences. Nasopharyngitis is an inflammatory disease, while nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a malignant tumor disease. Clinically, nasopharyngitis mainly presents with increased secretions in the nasopharyngeal area, sometimes with a slight amount of bloody secretions, but this is extremely rare. On the other hand, nasopharyngeal carcinoma primarily shows symptoms such as the proliferation of malignant tumor tissues in the nasopharynx, enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck, headaches, and ear stuffiness. In terms of treatment, nasopharyngitis is primarily treated with medications, such as traditional Chinese medicines, nasal sprays, and nasal corticosteroids; whereas nasopharyngeal carcinoma is primarily treated with radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, which is currently the common sandwich therapy. Overall, there are fundamental differences between the two.

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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 Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Is nasopharyngeal cancer hereditary?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a malignant tumor of the nasopharynx, primarily found in regions populated by Mongoloid races, and is particularly common in coastal areas or in Guangdong and Guangxi regions. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma has a genetic component, meaning if you have a family history of this cancer, your chances and your descendants' chances of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma are higher compared to those without such a family history. However, having a family history does not guarantee the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, nor does the absence of a family history ensure one will not get it. Under such circumstances, patients with a family history should regularly check their nasopharynx and consider whether there are traces of blood in the first sputum they cough up in the morning, which might indicate a malignancy in the nasopharynx. In such cases, performing a nasopharyngoscopy can generally clarify the presence or absence of a tumor.