Nasopharyngeal Cancer
What Is It?
Pharynx is the medical name for the throat. The pharynx is in 3 parts and the nasopharynx is one of these parts. The nasopharynx connects the back of the nose to the back of the mouth. Cancer that develops in the nasopharynx is called nasopharyngeal cancer.Many people get confused about what throat cancer really means. Pharynx is the medical name for the throat.
Like other parts of the body, the neck contains lymph nodes (also called lymph glands). Lymph nodes are often the first place cancer cells spread to when they break away from a tumour. There are major groups of lymph nodes in the neck. If you have this type of It may spread to these lymph nodes. You may need radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy to treat the cancer in these lymph nodes.
Symptoms
Some people with nasopharyngeal cancer have no symptoms at all but it is important that you report any of the following symptoms to your doctor if they carry on for longer than 3 weeks.A lump or growth anywhere in the neck area that does not go away after 3 weeks (this may be the only sign you have)
Hearing loss, usually on one side only or tinnitus
Fluid collection in the ear
Blocked or ‘stuffy’ nose, particularly if only blocked on one side
Blood stained discharge from the nose
Headache
Numbness of the lower part of your face
Difficulty with swallowing
Changes in voice, such as hoarseness
If the cancer has spread into the nerves that control eye movement then you might also have double vision.
Treatment
There may be a variety of treatment options and professionals involved.Web link - click here.