DEFINITION Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx is located behind the nose and above the back of the throat.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the detection difficult at first, perhaps because the nasopharynx is not easy in the diagnosis and the symptoms resemble many other conditions. The most common treatment option is radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of both.
SYMPTOMS
Although the condition may not cause early symptoms, symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma among others:
- Lump in the neck caused by swelling of the lymph glands
- Bleeding at the nose
- Compressed on one or both sides of the nose
- Power lost hearing in one ear
- Frequent ear infections
- Headache
- Double vision
- Pain in the face and neck
Cause
Cancer occurs when cells mutate DNA. This mutation makes the cells continued to grow and flourish while others have normal cell cycle of life and death. Accumulation of cancer cells to form tumors.
The exact causes of gene mutations that cause nasopharyngeal carcinoma is unknown, although risk factors such as Epstein-Barr virus that increases the cancer risk has been identified.
Risk factors
Risk factors that may increase the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma among others:
- Male
- Aged between 30 and 55
- Salty foods
- Cured meats
- Epstein-Barr virus, which generally have symptoms of flu
- Family history of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
There is no sure way to prevent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, you can reduce your risk by eating less salty foods and meat curing. Although there is no vaccine for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but has no vaccine available for Epstein-Barr virus which may also reduce risk.