Nasopharynx cancer or more formally known as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of cancer that affects the nasopharynx. NPC is the 9th most common cancer death seen in men in Singapore and is 20 to 30 times more common among Singaporean Chinese. Whilst it is considered a rare cancer, NPC is more prevalent in the Southeast Asian region. NPC is also known as neck and head cancer as it spreads to the skull, eye, and cranial nerve in its latent stages.
The nasopharynx is located at the upper part of the throat, just behind the nose passage. It is a hidden-confining space of approximately 2 cm in width and 4 cm in length. It is the connection path allowing external air to travel from the nose down through the windpipe and into the lungs.
As with other cancers, the mechanism of gene mutations that leads to NPC remains unknown. There are, however, certain risk factors that have been established. In the case of NPC, cancer cells take place in the squamous cells that cover the surface of the nasopharynx. These then spread to other parts of the body. The process of spread is known as metastasis. Some of the common sites of spread with NPC include bones, liver, and lungs. The spread to other organs and areas is also known as distant metastasis.
The types of NPC depend on the type of lining cells seen on the affected cancerous nasopharynx; the 4 common types of NPC are:
Other forms of cancers that can occur in the nasopharynx include lymphoma, sarcoma, or melanoma.
In most cases, NPC is insidious with virtually no symptoms in the early stages. As the symptoms of NPC can be non-specific and vague, you are advised to seek medical advice from your physician when symptoms are present and persistent.
They may manifest as:
Ears ringing (tinnitus)
Ears ringing (tinnitus)
The pain factor of NPC is underreported and is likely due to the lack of symptom presentation in the earlier stages. Where pain is present, it may manifest as a sore throat, facial pain, and ear pain (usually only on one side). The swollen lymph nodes at the neck are not usually accompanied by pain apart from being obvious.
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As mentioned earlier, there are a few risk factors that may increase the likelihood of NPC. If you identify with these risk factors, get on top of your screening routine and monitor your condition. It is worth noting that there are cases in which these risk factors do not progress into NPC and where patients with none of these risk factors are diagnosed with NPC. Cancer, in general, is unpredictable by nature.
Risk factors include:
There are a series of tests that you may be required to conduct. Depending on your condition and severity, the diagnostic approach may vary. However, if any of the aforementioned symptoms persist (for over 3 weeks) and the cause remains undetected, it is best to get screened for NPC.
Diagnostic measures may involve:
Sexual Health Screening
STD screening tests generally involve blood tests, swab tests and urine tests.
Dr Ben Medical offers STD screening for commonly sexually transmitting conditions such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, warts, herpes, HIV, Syphilis and other more – highlighted comprehensively in our packages.
We also offer long term sexual health care and services:
If suspected of NPC, you will be referred to a specialist to ensure further investigation is conducted. It is important that your doctor is aware of your symptoms and their persistence to ensure NPC is managed at earlier stages.
NPC is usually managed by a multidisciplinary team including an ENT specialist, an oncologist, and potentially a plastic surgeon. Your specialist will stage the extent of the cancer (for spread and severity). Following that, you will be provided with treatment options suitable for your condition. NPC treatment can involve surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.
While there is no guaranteed way to avoid cancer, there are a few lifestyle measures that you can consider to lower the risk of NPC. These include avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol and highly salted and preserved fish, or food which contain nitrosamine carcinogens. In the younger age group, you may consider the HPV immunisation vaccine to protect and prevent yourself against HPV infection
The reported five-year survival rate currently is:
This indicates a great possibility of recovery at earlier stages. Therefore, it is important that one keeps their vaccination status up to date, screening routine consistent, and practices proactivity when there are persistent symptoms.
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A major component of health screening involves cancer screening.
Health screening allows screening for potential health conditions
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