Nasopharynx: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Faucial tonsil

Nasopharynx is the upper region of the throat at the back of the nose that allows air to pass through the nasal cavity and helps in respiration. It is a 2-3cm wide and 3-4cm long space above the soft palate behind the nose, connecting it to the mouth. The nasopharynx is enclosed by the salpingopharyngeal fold and the tubal tonsils that are prone to infections and inflammation. It consists of soft tissues known as adenoid tissues that function to fight the infection. Nasopharynx helps a person to breathe even when the surrounding muscles flex.

The nasopharynx is made up of several layers containing different cells, and complication in each cell may result in either benign or malignant cancer, depending on the type of tumor. Although rare in occurrence, benign nasopharyngeal cancer like angiofibromas and hemangiomas are mostly seen in children and young adults. They usually do not spread to other parts of the body, and hence are not life threatening. Malignant tumors like Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Type 1), Non-keratinizing Differentiated Carcinoma (Type 2), and Undifferentiated Carcinoma (Type 3) originating in the epithelial cells are fast growing and project worse scenarios if not detected at an early stage.

Nasopharyngeal Cancer can be treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, and surgery.

Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Cancer mainly involves the following procedures:

Radiotherapy- It uses high ray waves, like X-ray waves to kill the cancer cells, the effect of which stays for few weeks after the treatment. Radiotherapy treatment depends on the type of the cancer and how far it has extended to the surrounding tissues. The most commonly used way of treating nasopharyngeal cancer through this process is the external beam radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy- It uses anti-cancer or cytotoxic drugs in the bloodstream to destroy the growth of the cancer cells, and kills them. Chemotherapy helps to reduce the tumor and makes it easier for radiotherapy treatment.

Chemoradiotherapy- It is a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and is usually recommended when the nasopharyngeal cancer has grown into the lymph tissues or nodes surrounding the nasopharynx region. Although this treatment procedure is more effective than chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone, but certainly have more side effects than any of the other methods.

Surgery- This is an unusual and the least recommended method for treating nasopharyngeal cancer because it is tough to operate the region that is surrounded by nerves and blood vessels. However, if the patient is diagnosed with cancer cells it is advisable to get the lymph nodes removed.

People suffering from Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) are prone to having nasopharyngeal cancer. EBV shows symptoms like loss of appetite, fatigue and fever, rash and weakness, sore throat and sore muscles, and swollen glands around the neck. The virus is found in the saliva and spread through transfusion or coming in contact with the infected person.

People who have gone through chemotherapy or radiotherapy sessions in the past usually encounter side effects and complications that may result in serious health issues. Those who do not show certain symptoms of high fever, swollen glands, pain in the throat etc are not eligible for the treatment. Anybody do does not have a genetic or family history of nasopharyngeal cancer need not undergo treatment.

Nasopharyngeal cancer leaves the patient with serious side effects even after the treatment:

Post chemotherapy and radiotherapy the patient may experience a dry and sore throat that makes it very difficult to swallow food. They are prescribed to take pain killers and wash their mouth in order to keep away the infection.

The person may face difficulty in hearing as the part of the ear connected to the back of the nose may swell.

In certain cases the cancer cells spread to nerve controlling your eye movement, or may affect the tissues surrounding your eye. If the cancer has reached its advanced state, the treatment may leave you with poor sight or vision problem.

In rare cases, the fatigue or tiredness resulting from strenuous therapy sessions affect your sex life.

Treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer, does not guarantee complete recovery. In some cases, the cancer may relapse or recur after a few months, making it more difficult for yet another chemotherapy or radiotherapy session. Hence there are no fixed guidelines to eliminate the chances of a recurrence. However, one must keep in mind the following points:

Avoid smoking and consuming alcohol; avoid consumption of tobacco; avoid exposure to dust and certain chemicals like formaldehyde; maintain a physically active and healthy lifestyle; follow up with the doctor for regular checkups. The above mentioned measures help to reduce the chances of getting another cancer threat.

It usually takes 3-4 months to recover from nasopharyngeal cancer if detected at an early stage. In case of an advanced or malignant cancer, it may take much longer to cure the person. However, the capability to cope with the strenuous treatment procedure depends on the patient’s medical and mental condition.

The results of this treatment cannot be guaranteed since the cancer may relapse after a certain point due to several unknown reasons. If the patient has a genetic history or background of such cancer then the cancer is likely to recur anytime.