Everything You Need to Know About nasopharyngeal cancer, Its Test and the Treatment
There’s no denying the fact that as the world continues to progress in terms of medicine and technology, the number of diseases continues to spark as well. Especially when it comes to cancer, no one can run away from the fact that it kills thousands of people every year across the globe. Be it any kind of cancer, it will take a big toll on the health of an individual. In this feature, we will shed light on nasopharyngeal cancer and guide you through its details. However, before we dig deep into the crux of this discussion, it is essential to introduce this problem first.
What is nasopharyngeal cancer?
Also known as carcinoma is a form of cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx that is located behind the nose and above your throat’s back. This disease is rare in the US but you will find many people in Southeast Asian countries to be struggling with it. The reason why this form of cancer is so common in those countries is that they are developing nations. In most cases, people get to know about this disease when the situation has already worsened. Another intriguing and shocking thing to note about this form of cancer is, it has mild to no symptoms during the early stages of development.
This means, even if you have been suffering from this cancer type for a very long time, you won’t be able to get it diagnosed unless you don’t get tested. Therefore, carcinoma cancer is one of the worst forms of cancer to date because it is also acknowledged as a silent killer. The treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer is inclusive of radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatment. However, if the patient has already reached the advanced stage of this cancer, they will be obliged to a treatment that is a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Depending on the current situation of the development of cancer inside the body, doctors will take the right approach to fix it as soon as possible.
What are The Symptoms of Carcinoma Cancer?
During the early stages of development, a patient will experience mild to no symptoms at all. However, some noticeable symptoms are inclusive of:
- A lump in the neck that is caused by a swollen lymph node
- Frequent discharge of blood from the nose
- Blood in saliva
- Ringing in your ears or nasal congestion
- Frequent ear infections
- Sore throat
- Hearing loss
- Headaches
If you experience any of these symptoms or all of them, a visit to the doctor will become mandatory.
When is the Right time to see a Doctor?
As discussed earlier, if you witness the above-mentioned symptoms, there is a strong chance that you might be developing carcinoma cancer. However, it is important to note that most of these symptoms are experienced by a lot of people when they catch a common cold or are down with another mild disease. Sometimes even the worst of symptoms don’t promote a person to check with a doctor. This is why it becomes imperative to check with the Take2 Health test as soon as you can. Bear in mind, as soon you can go through the screening, you will rest assured about not having any issues. Even if you are diagnosed with this form of cancer, the doctors will start the treatment as soon as possible depending on its growth in the body. Even if you don’t experience any of these symptoms, it is recommended to undergo a medical screening every few months to rest assured about the veracity of your health.
What Are the Possible Causes?
When people sift through the importance of screening for this cancer, they are wondering about the possible causes as well. In simple words, cancer doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time for this disease to grow in the body and have an impact on the different organs. It begins with the genetic mutation where the normal cells grow out of the normal range. Eventually, they spread in different parts of the body and have an impact. In the case of carcinoma cancer, the process begins with the squamous cells that clog in the nasopharynx. Although much research is still underway, the exact cause for the gene mutations that lead to carcinoma cancer is still not known. So as long as we don’t know the exact reason behind this issue, it would be hard to identify it. However, there are few risk factors that need to be considered as well, which are inclusive of:
-
Sex
It has been found out that this form of cancer is more common in men than in women.
-
Age
Carcinoma cancer can occur at any age. However, most commonly it is diagnosed between the ages of 30 to 50 years. This means, if you are struggling with the issues mentioned above, you might be having a chance of this cancer type.
-
Race
As discussed earlier, this form of cancer is prevalent in Southeast Asian countries such as China, Africa, and others. However, when immigrants enter the US, a large part of the American population gets affected due to this disease. Currently, this form of cancer is commonly found amongst patients in Alaska as well.
-
Family History
Do you have somebody in the family who has suffered from this form of cancer before? If yes, there is a strong chance that it might penetrate your body as well. Therefore, you must undergo the DNA test earlier if you have reservations about your health.
-
Salt Curated Foods
Chemicals that are released when you cook anything in steam can easily increase the risk for the nasal cavity. This in turn increases the chances of a person engaging in carcinoma cancer. Even being exposed to a plethora of chemicals during the early years of life can increase the risk for this form of cancer easily.