Chronic cold symptoms, frequent nasal congestion that many people may think is a small matter.

It may be an early sign of nasopharyngeal cancer.

that sometimes than will be detected

The symptoms of the disease had spread to a great extent.

nasopharyngeal cancer

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)

is abnormal cell growth or changes to the cells.

This change can cause cancer that can spread to other parts of the body.

It is a cancer that occurs behind the nasal cavity.

which looks like a wide hollow

in the back of the nose

It is the passageway for air to the neck wall.

It is a location where certain substances can flow through easily, such as cigarette smoke, various toxic fumes, or substances resulting from combustion and may not burn completely.

Resulting in irritation in that area

Nasopharyngeal cancer is one of the most common head and neck cancers in Thailand.

The most common age range is 30-60 years and is about 3 times more common in men than in women.

Major causes and risk factors are

Chronic Infection with EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus) Genetic Risks

Found mostly in South East Asia, especially in southern China and Hong Kong.

eating behavior

Food

such as eating fermented meat for a long time, salted fish, salted meat, fermented pork, Isaan sausages, which contain carcinogenic substances called nitrosamines

(Nitrosamines) is one of the causes of nasopharyngeal cancer.

If inhaling this substance comes into contact with the nasopharyngeal mucosa

May induce changes in epithelial cell DNA

until a cell mutation occurs

Exposure to occupational and environmental carcinogens such as wood dust or sawdust, leather dust, textile dust, cigarettes, isopropyl alcohol, nickel compounds, formaldehyde and chromium, including PM 2.5.

Initial symptoms of this disease

Patients will experience flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat and runny nose, misleading and not alert to see a doctor for examination or treatment.

Numbness of some areas of the face

and there is a lump at the nape of the neck under the earlobe

This is called the upper outer throat.

Sometimes there is nosebleeds and congestion on one side of the nose.

There may be double vision at times.

All of the above are early symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer.

which if you observe carefully, you will know that it is different from the common cold

If you have any of these symptoms besides cough, sore throat and runny nose, you should see your doctor right away.

especially in people with more swelling

more nosebleeds

More tinnitus, ear pain, and middle ear infections.

Diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer

The doctor will look inside the nose.

by using certain types of mirrors or cameras

to look at the back of the nasal cavity whether there is an abnormality occurring or not

If some tumors are found

Most often it is one side with a bulging texture, rough surface, there may be blood or no blood.

A biopsy may be performed.

and see if it is distributed to other parts or not

or spread to where?

Once the examination is complete, the treatment will be performed by radiotherapy.

or what the villagers call radiating light

Before radiating the light, the doctor will let the patient do dental work first.

Because after the light, there will be no mess with patients with tooth decay.

Because it will easily cause infection and inflammation in the jaw bone.

Possible side effects after radiation

The patient may have quite a sore throat.

therefore often feeding through the stomach

To reduce the friction or swallowing that causes the patient a lot of pain

In some patients with severe symptoms, the cancer has already spread beyond the nasal cavity.

Radiation alone may not be enough.

Your doctor may combine treatment with chemotherapy.

for better treatment efficiency

and in the event that both treatments do not improve

This is especially true when the cancer does not respond to radiation therapy.

The doctor may decide to use surgical treatment.