How to detect oropharyngeal cancer?

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In Vietnam, nasopharyngeal cancer ranks first among head and neck cancers and fifth among cancers in general. Such is the high incidence, but the symptoms of the disease are atypical. Therefore, the detection of oropharyngeal cancer is difficult.

1. Causes of oropharyngeal cancer

To date, the cause of oropharyngeal cancer has not been clearly identified. However, scientists have identified factors associated with this disease.
Environmental factors: Including microclimate, dust, pollution, and eating habits such as eating salted fish, eating soy sauce, tomato and moldy substances, ... because these contain Nitrosamine is a carcinogen. Epstein Barr virus (EBV): Scientists have detected the Epstein Barr virus genome in cells of nasopharyngeal tumors and in the serum of nasopharyngeal cancer patients. At the same time, the IgA antibody titer against VCA-EBV is very high in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer, while this antibody is very low or absent in normal people or other cancers. Genetic factors: According to some authors, people of the same bloodline are likely to have nasopharyngeal cancer. Scientists have found about 30 endogenous cancer genes. Normally, these genes are in a dormant state, when there is a certain induction mechanism, they will promote the development of cancer. However, there are many authors who believe that the cause of oropharyngeal cancer is not only caused by one factor, but by many factors together.

2. How to detect nasopharyngeal cancer

Throat cancer can be detected through the following common symptoms:
Neck swelling, cervical lymphadenopathy: This is a common symptom in nasopharyngeal cancer patients, accounting for 60-90% of cases. . Because the nasopharynx has a rich structure of lymph tissue, so when there is the presence of cancer cells here, it will spread quickly to the lymph nodes in the neck. One-sided stuffy nose, bloody nose: This is one of the early symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer. Therefore, if you have a runny nose with blood in one side of your nose for a long time, you should see a doctor immediately. Persistent cough: Patients with nasopharyngeal cancer often have symptoms of a persistent cough, coughing up blood-stained sputum. Hoarseness: Advanced throat cancer can affect the vocal cords, causing patients to have hoarseness. Difficulty hearing, feeling of echo: When you notice any abnormal signs of hearing, see a specialist right away. Headache: Usually migraine or deep pain in the eye socket, this is a common neurological symptom in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer. For patients who arrive late, there may be a feeling of numbness in the face on the same side of the headache due to the pinched trigeminal nerve. In addition, when the tumor has invaded and metastasized to other organs in the body, the patient may have other symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, shortness of breath, bone pain,...

However, not all patients with nasopharyngeal cancer have the same symptoms. Because according to doctors at each stage of the patient will have different symptoms. In the early stages, the tumor is small and has not clearly affected nearby organs, so there are usually no clinical manifestations at this stage. When cancer cells invade, they have certain effects on nearby organs, then symptoms appear clearly.
In addition, the patients are at the same stage but the symptoms and severity are also different. Because the appearance of symptoms depends on many other factors, such as: Age, medical history, physical condition of each patient and the body's resistance, ... each patient is different. .

3. Nasopharyngeal cancer screening helps early detection

Because the symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer often appear in the late stages, when the patient is just examined and treated, the patient's survival time is not much. Periodic health checks and screening for oropharyngeal cancer help detect the disease early, thereby increasing survival rates and minimizing dangerous complications, while ensuring less invasive and economical treatment. more cost.

Therefore, doctors recommend people to raise awareness of the importance of throat cancer screening as well as regular health checkups.

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