- Chemotherapy given with radiation therapy, followed by more chemotherapy.
- Radiation therapy.
- Radiation therapy followed by surgery to remove cancer-containing lymph nodes in the neck that remain or come back after radiation therapy.
Medication
Treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma usually begins with radiation therapy or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy During this procedure, you're positioned on a table and a large machine is maneuvered around you, directing radiation to the precise spot where it can target your cancer.
Procedures
Viral nasopharyngitis can’t be cured with antibiotics. Instead, your doctor will focus on treating your symptoms. Your symptoms should gradually improve in a few days with rest and plenty of fluids. Your doctor may suggest some over-the-counter remedies to relieve pain and help lessen symptoms.
Therapy
There is also pain in the nasopharynx. This phenomenon is very unpleasant, however, it indicates that a disease has appeared in the ENT area. The nasopharynx is a sieve through which many diseases pass. Most pathogenic microbes die without reaching their destination, and do not give any reaction.
Self-care
New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials. Treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer may cause side effects. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment. Follow-up tests may be needed.
Nutrition
What is the treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
Is there a cure for viral nasopharyngitis?
What does it mean when you have pain in the nasopharynx?
Should I take part in a clinical trial for nasopharyngeal cancer?
How do you treat nasopharynx?
The main treatment for NPC is radiation therapy. It is often given in combination with chemotherapy. This approach may be called concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Surgery for NPC is occasionally used, mainly to remove lymph nodes after chemoradiotherapy or to treat NPC that has come back after initial treatment.
What is the symptoms of nasopharynx?
Symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer a lump in the neck that doesn't go away after 3 weeks. hearing loss (usually only in 1 ear) tinnitus (hearing sounds that come from inside the body rather than from an outside source) a blocked or stuffy nose (usually only blocked on 1 side)
How do you test for nasopharynx?
Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms. He or she may press on your neck to feel for swelling in your lymph nodes. Exam using a camera to see inside your nasopharynx. If nasopharyngeal carcinoma is suspected, your doctor may recommend a nasal endoscopy.
How is nasopharynx cancer diagnosed?
Computed tomography (CT) scan CT scans or MRIs are important in looking for cancer that may have grown into the bones at the base of the skull. This is a common place for nasopharyngeal cancer to grow. CT scans can also be used to look for tumors in other parts of the body.
Where is the nasopharynx located?
The upper part of the throat behind the nose. An opening on each side of the nasopharynx leads into the ear.
What causes nasopharyngeal?
The exact cause of most cases of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is not known. But scientists have found that it's linked with certain diets, infections, and inherited characteristics. (See Risk Factors for Nasopharyngeal Cancer.)
What does the nasopharynx do?
The main function of your nasopharynx is to connect your nasal passages to the rest of your respiratory system. This allows air to get from your nose to your lungs. Your nasopharynx also helps: Control pressure between your nasopharynx and middle ear.
What is nasopharyngeal infection?
Nasopharyngeal actinomycosis is a rarely encountered bacterial infection which usually occurs after nasal trauma or surgery. In some clinical cases, nasopharyngeal actinomycosis has appeared in patients without prior trauma, making diagnosis difficult.
What is Stage 3 nasopharyngeal?
Stage 3 nasopharyngeal cancer means one of the following: The cancer has spread to nearby bones and air cavities (sinuses). It might also have spread to lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck, or behind the throat, but not anywhere else. The affected lymph nodes are not more than 6 cm across.
What were your first symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer?
The first symptom of nasopharynx cancer is usually a lump in the upper part of the neck....Other signs and symptoms may include:Swelling of the neck.Persistent headaches.Nasal congestion (a blocked nose)Facial pain.Nosebleeds.Changes in hearing.Ringing in the ears.Many people have no symptoms.
Is nasopharynx a cancer?
Nasopharyngeal (nay-zoh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul) carcinoma is cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx, which is located behind your nose and above the back of your throat. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare in the United States. It occurs much more frequently in other parts of the world — specifically Southeast Asia.
Can you feel nasopharyngeal cancer?
Can you feel nasopharyngeal cancer? Many people who develop nasopharyngeal tumors can feel small lumps on one or both sides of their neck. These lumps are not the tumors, but rather inflamed lymph nodes. Most lymph nodes are very small and cannot be felt.
What is radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
Radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is usually administered in a procedure called external beam radiation.
What kind of doctor treats nasopharyngeal cancer?
If your doctor suspects or has diagnosed nasopharyngeal cancer, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in treating cancer (oncologist) or to a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat problems (otolaryngologist).
What is the stage of nasopharyngeal cancer?
The stages of nasopharyngeal cancer range from I to IV. The stage is used along with several other factors to determine your treatment plan and your prognosis. A lower numeral means the cancer is small and confined to the nasopharynx. A higher numeral means cancer has spread beyond the nasopharynx to lymph nodes in the neck or to other areas ...
How does a nasal endoscopy work?
This test uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end to see inside your nasopharynx and look for abnormalities. The camera may be inserted through your nose or through the opening in the back of your throat that leads up into your nasopharynx. Nasal endoscopy may require local anesthesia.
Does chemotherapy help with nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
Some controversy exists as to whether additional chemotherapy actually improves survival in people with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Many people who undergo chemotherapy after concomitant therapy are unable to tolerate the side effects and must discontinue treatment. Chemotherapy before radiation therapy.
Can chemo be given in pill form?
Chemotherapy drugs can be given in pill form, administered through a vein or both. Chemotherapy may be used to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma in three ways: Chemotherapy at the same time as radiation therapy. When the two treatments are combined, chemotherapy enhances the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
Is chemotherapy a concomitant therapy?
This combined treatment is called concomitant therapy or chemoradiation. However, side effects of chemotherapy are added to the side effects of radiation therapy, making concomitant therapy more difficult to tolerate. Chemotherapy after radiation therapy.
What to do after nasopharyngeal cancer?
Depending on the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and other factors, your treatment options may include: Surgery for Nasopharyngeal Cancer. Radiation Therapy for Nasopharyngeal Cancer.
What is complementary medicine?
Complementary methods refer to treatments that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of a doctor’s medical treatment.
Why is it important to discuss all treatment options with your doctor?
It’s important to discuss all treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. You may feel that you need to make a decision quickly, but it’s important to give yourself time to absorb the information you have learned. Ask your cancer care team questions.
What is NYU Langone's treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer?
NYU Langone doctors may use medications to treat people with nasopharyngeal cancer. They may prescribe chemotherapy—a group of drugs that destroy cancer cells throughout the body—at the same time as radiation therapy. This approach is called chemoradiation.
How is chemotherapy given?
Most chemotherapy drugs are given through a vein with intravenous (IV) infusion on a schedule called a cycle, a period of time in which you receive treatment, followed by a period of rest. Radiation therapy is also given during this period on a schedule determined by your doctor.
What is the drug that targets epidermal growth factor receptors?
The drug cetuximab targets a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor, which may be present in nasopharyngeal tumors. This protein signals cancer cells to grow and divide. Cetuximab interferes with the protein’s function, causing tumors to shrink.
Does nasopharyngeal cancer spread to lymph nodes?
For people with nasopharyngeal cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes but not to distant parts of the body , doctors may prescribe chemoradiation. With this approach, chemotherapy drugs make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. The radiation therapy is delivered to the cancer and nearby nodes, helping to destroy more of the tumor.
Can NYU Langone help with dry mouth?
Because dry mouth can lead to tooth decay, NYU Langone dentists are available to monitor and manage your dental health.
How to remove nasopharynx tumor?
Some tumors that recur in the nasopharynx can be removed by surgery that's done through the nose (called endoscopic skull base surgery ). This is a specialized surgery that should only be done by a surgeon with a great deal of experience with it, so it’s not available at all medical centers.
What is the treatment for lymph nodes cancer?
Other treatment options in these stages include induction chemo followed by chemoradiation or just chemoradiation, or possibly immunotherapy (alone or with chemo). If cancer is still in the lymph nodes after this treatment, surgery (neck dissection) may be done to remove the lymph nodes.
What is the treatment for cancer in the neck?
The usual treatment is chemo, often with cisplatin and one other drug. If there's no sign of the cancer after chemo, either radiation therapy to the nasopharynx and the lymph nodes in the neck or chemoradiation is given to try to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Is nasopharyngeal cancer the same as NPC?
Your cancer care team will recommend treatment options depending on the stage – the extent of the cancer in the nasopharynx and if and how far the cancer has spread. Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) in children is treated largely the same way as NPC in adults. Experts agree that the best way to treat NPC in the more advanced stages is in ...
Can cetuximab be given with chemo?
The targeted drug cetuximab may be given along with chemo, but this is usually done as part of a clinical trial. New drug treatments and new surgical procedures being tested in clinical trials may help some people with recurrent NPC, as well as improve knowledge that can help others with NPC in the future.
Can NPC be treated with radiation?
Recurrent NPC in regional (neck) lymph nodes can sometimes be treated with radiation therapy. But if doctors believe that more radiation would cause serious side effects or if the cancer didn't respond to radiation the first time, surgery (neck dissection) may be used instead.
Where can I get radiation for nasopharyngeal cancer?
Radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer can be provided at the Perelman Radiation Center. Oncologists at Penn Head and Neck Cancer work closely with the radiation oncologist to oversee follow-up care and ensure an individual's symptoms are managed. For advanced stages of nasopharyngeal cancer, chemotherapy and radiation are both used.
Can laryngoscopy be performed multiple times?
Microscopic direct laryngoscopy and laser microsurgery can be performed on nasopharyngeal cancer while avoiding primary radiation. One of the major benefits of this approach is that can be performed multiple times.
How Is Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treated?
NPC is highly sensitive to both radiation treatment and many forms of drug (chemotherapy) treatment. For this reason and because the nasopharynx is not easily accessible by surgical means, the mainstay of treatment for both localized (head and neck) and metastatic (spreads beyond the head and neck) NPC is radiation and drug treatment.
Standard treatment options
The use of anticancer drugs to shrink or kill cancerous cells and reduce cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
What is the best medicine for a sore throat?
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) mucus thinners, like guaifenesin (Mucinex) lozenges to soothe a sore throat. cough suppressant for severe cough, such as dextromethorphan (Robitussin, Zicam, Delsym) or codeine.
How long does it take for nasopharyngitis to show up?
Symptoms will usually appear within one to three days of getting infected. Symptoms may last from one week to 10 days, but they can last longer. Common symptoms of nasopharyngitis include: runny or stuffy nose. sneezing. coughing.
What is the name of the cold that causes a swollen throat?
Nasopharyngitis is commonly known as a cold. Doctors use the term nasopharyngitis specifically to refer to swelling of the nasal passages and the back of the throat. Your doctor may also refer to this as an upper respiratory infection or rhinitis. A virus or bacteria can cause nasopharyngitis.
How to stop a cold from spreading?
Get a flu shot. Some evidence also suggests that taking a garlic supplement with 180 milligrams of allicin for 3 months, or taking 0.25 grams of vitamin C daily, may help prevent colds.
How to get rid of congestion in the house?
In addition to over-the-counter medications, you can try several home remedies. Use a humidifier or vaporizer, or breathe in steam from hot water or a shower, to help relieve congestion. Eat chicken soup. Dissolve ½ teaspoon of salt in warm water and gargle it.
How to treat a cold?
The best way to treat a cold is to prevent one from happening in the first place. Here are some tips for preventing a cold: Wash your hands often with soap , especially when around others with colds. Wash or disinfect commonly used items, like toys, doorknobs, phones, and faucet handles.
Can nasopharyngitis be cured?
Viral nasopharyngitis can’t be cured with antibiotics. Instead, your doctor will focus on treating your symptoms. Your symptoms should gradually improve in a few days with rest and plenty of fluids. Your doctor may suggest some over-the-counter remedies to relieve pain and help lessen symptoms.
What are the most common diseases in the nasopharynx?
The most common viral diseases that develop in the nasopharynx, doctors call adenovirus infections, influenza and parainfluenza . The most common bacterial sources of nasopharyngeal diseases are mycoplasma, pneumococcus, and gram-negative hemophilic bacteria.
What happens if you run your nasopharynx for a few minutes?
For example, it happens that the pain in the nasopharynx is paroxysmal, rolls for a few minutes and then retreats for a while. During the retreat, the patient does not feel pain. If similar runs are repeated, immediately contact a neurologist as you probably have a peripheral nerve damage.
Why is it important to listen to your body when you have pain in the nasopharynx?
Listen to your body, because it always signals what is happening to it.
What is the best medicine for a swollen nose?
For local relief of disease use: 1 Fusafungin - antimicrobial agent for relieving symptoms of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract; 2 nasal sprays or drops containing components for antibacterial purposes - neomecin or polymyxin; relieving swelling and inflammation - dexamethasone; for vasoconstriction - phenylephrine. It is worth recalling that such topical medications are not recommended for longer than 5-7 days in one course of treatment; 3 for severe pain in the nasopharynx, various sucking pills, rinses, sprays, irrigation or inhalation drugs are used; 4 Imudon is prescribed to increase the content of immunocompetent cells.
What part of the head is disturbed by sinuses?
In such a case, the frontal part , where the maxillary sinuses are located, also begins to disturb. The increased pressure in them, characterized by abrupt changes in the position of the head, as well as discharge from the nasal cavity, characterize the stage of the disease and its rate.
How to dry out throat?
For frequent drying of the throat, drink water or, in more advanced cases, drink a tablespoon of sunflower oil in order to lubricate the dried areas of the mucous membrane. To strengthen the walls and nasal mucosa is recommended 1-2 times a week to carry out preventive rinsing with herbal infusions.
Does the nasopharynx cause disease?
However, some of them, filtered by the organs of the nasopharynx, linger and develop into any disease. The pain in the nasopharynx, especially in the early stages, is removed quickly, and the bacteria and viruses that cause diseases, do not have time to harm the mucous membrane. The main thing is to correctly identify the causative agent ...
What is Nasopharyngeal Cancer?
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FAQs
Nasopharyngeal cancer is rare. According to the American Cancer Society, there is less than one case for every 100,000 people each year in most parts of the world.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Specialist to consult
Coping and Support
Preparing For Your Appointment
- You and your doctor work together to devise a treatment plan based on several factors, such as the stage of your cancer, your treatment goals, your overall health and the side effects you're willing to tolerate. Treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma usually begins with radiation therapy or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
Stages 0 and I
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Stages II, III, Iva, and Ivb
- Coping with dry mouth
Radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma often causes dry mouth (xerostomia). Having a dry mouth can be uncomfortable. It can also lead to frequent infections in your mouth and difficulty eating, swallowing and speaking, and can increase problems with the health of your tee…
Stage IVC
- Everyone deals with a cancer diagnosis in his or her own way. You might experience shock and fear after your diagnosis. Allow yourself time to grieve. A cancer diagnosis can make you feel as if you have little control, so take steps to empower yourself and control what you can about your health. Try to: 1. Learn enough to feel confident making decisions. Write down questions and as…
Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer
- If your doctor suspects or has diagnosed nasopharyngeal cancer, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in treating cancer (oncologist) or to a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat problems (otolaryngologist). Because appointments can be brief, and it can be difficult to remember everything you want to discuss, it's a good idea to be well-prepared. Here are some s…