Can you survive if nasopharyngeal cancer metastasizes to the lungs?

Cancer usually spreads to other places when it reaches the late stage. So, can you survive if nasopharyngeal cancer spreads to the lungs? I believe everyone wants to know. Next, let me introduce it to you.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma refers to a malignant tumor that occurs on the top and side walls of the nasopharyngeal cavity. It is one of the most common malignant tumors in my country, and its incidence rate ranks first among malignant tumors of the ear, nose and throat. Common clinical symptoms include nasal congestion, blood in mucus, stuffy ears, hearing loss, diplopia and headache. Most nasopharyngeal carcinomas are moderately sensitive to radiotherapy, and radiotherapy is the first choice for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, for highly differentiated cancers, advanced disease courses and recurrence after radiotherapy, surgical resection and chemotherapy are also indispensable means.

It is inevitable that the condition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma will worsen after lung metastasis occurs, but there is no accurate answer to the question of survival period, which depends on the specific situation of the patient. The reason is that the patient's condition, mental state, physical constitution, and subsequent treatment all have a certain impact on the specific survival period.

Lung metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is mostly located in the middle and outer zones of the lung fields on both sides, and the chances of metastasis in the left and right lungs are equal. Multiple metastases are often present, and the lesions are round with smooth edges. About 5% of cases are solitary nodules, which should be differentiated from primary lung cancer. Lung metastasis is often asymptomatic in the early stages. Most patients are found to have multiple and large lung metastases during routine chest X-ray examinations, or the tumor invades the pleura and causes pleural effusion. The patient will then experience coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Some patients are misdiagnosed as having "stomach disease" because of left upper abdominal pain caused by left lung base metastases involving the pleura. Patients with such symptoms should undergo routine chest X-ray examinations to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Through the above introduction, I believe everyone knows whether nasopharyngeal cancer metastasizes to the lungs and whether you can survive. In fact, the results of the cure vary depending on the individual conditions of each patient. However, it is very important that the patient must not give up and must actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment.