The pharynx is located behind both the nose and throat and functions to connect them both to the esophagus.
The pharynx is composed of three smaller parts, which are, from top to bottom, the nasopharynx, the oropharynx, and the hypopharynx. The nasopharynx is located behind the nose and above the oropharynx, which is separated by the soft palate.
If we didn’t have the nasopharynx, we wouldn’t be able to breath through our nose at all.
It serves important functions in the respiratory system including oxygen intake, infection prevention, and drainage.
Cancer is a disease that manifests when abnormal cells divide, resulting in growths that don’t belong. The causes of cancer are still being researched, but there seem to be many and each of them seem to depend on a number of components including injury, genetics, diet, and environmental exposure. Whatever the cause of the cancer, whenever it occurs in the nasopharynx region, it is considered nasopharyngeal cancer. While cancer is one of the most common diseases, nasopharyngeal cancer is actually quite rare.
What Are The Symptoms?
Many of the symptoms that are associated with nasopharyngeal cancer overlap with common, short-term ailments, such as the common cold. These symptoms include a sore throat, congestion, and runny nose. However, unlike in the case of a common cold, these symptoms will be persistent. Nasopharyngeal cancer can also cause the patient to experience frequent ear infections or changes in hearing. Headaches are very common as are changes in vision. Patients have a tendency to ignore the previously mentioned symptoms because they assume that they are just part of common ailments. However, patients can also experience a lump in the back of their throat or blood in their mucous. If this is the case, they should seek treatment with expediency.
How Is Nasopharyngeal Cancer Diagnosed?
As with any disease, the first step in getting an accurate diagnosis is speaking to a healthcare provider and being honest with them about all symptoms involved. The physician will then perform a physical examination of the head, neck, and possibly the chest. They will also likely order a number of tests to examine the internal structures for any abnormalities. These tests will probably include an endoscopy, which utilizes a flexible tube with a light and camera to provide the physician with internal images of the throat. They can also take a tissue sample of anything that is out of the ordinary during this procedure. An endoscopy provides an excellent starting point and may even be the main diagnostic procedure. However, the physician may also order a CT scan, MRI, or X-ray for confirmation.
The treatment method that the physician selects will depend on a number of factors, including the patients medical history, the location, and the size of the abnormality. Fortunately, nasopharyngeal cancer responds well to radiation therapy, and this will likely be the first choice because it is lower risk than chemotherapy and the small size of the nasopharynx makes surgical removal difficult. Surgical removal of tumors is an option if radiation therapy is unsuccessful or the tumor is large enough to obstruct air flow. Additionally, if the cancer is in an advanced stage, chemotherapy may be required.