How long can a person with malignant nasopharyngeal cancer live without treatment?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a serious malignant tumor. If left untreated, survival time depends on many factors such as disease progression and the patient's physical condition. However, the survival time of patients in the middle and late stages may only be a few months to a year. Therefore, they need to seek medical attention as soon as possible to receive standardized treatment.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma originates from the mucosal epithelial cells of the nasopharynx, and its occurrence is closely related to genetics, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and environmental factors. The early symptoms are relatively hidden, and may manifest as nasal congestion, tinnitus, hearing loss, or unexplained cervical lymphadenopathy, which are often easily mistaken for a cold or otitis media. This "disguise" often delays diagnosis and treatment for patients, resulting in the diagnosis being in the late stage.

Untreated nasopharyngeal cancer will gradually invade surrounding tissues, leading to serious complications. If the tumor further extends to the skull base, it may cause severe headaches, decreased vision, or even neurological paralysis; invasion of the Eustachian tube and ear cavity may cause permanent hearing loss. Metastasis to distant organs such as the lungs, liver, and bones will pose a greater threat to survival. Early detection and radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy can increase the five-year survival rate to more than 70%, while delayed treatment greatly reduces this possibility.

Once suspicious symptoms occur, you should go to the ENT or oncology department of a regular hospital for examination as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is the key to prolonging survival. Avoiding long-term exposure to carcinogens, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, eating a proper diet and exercising properly can help prevent the occurrence of nasopharyngeal cancer. After diagnosis, patients should strictly follow the doctor's advice, have regular checkups and actively cooperate with treatment to achieve the best results.