What are the symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer and how to care for it

What are the symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer? How is the care?

The symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer are specific, and are introduced below:

1. Symptoms of cervical lymph node metastasis: NPC is prone to cervical lymph node metastasis, about 60.3% to 86.1%, half of which are bilateral metastasis. Cervical lymph node metastasis is often the first symptom of NPC 23.9% to 75%. In a few patients, the primary lesion cannot be found in the nasopharynx examination, and cervical lymph node metastasis is the clinical manifestation. This may be related to the fact that the primary lesion of NPC is very small and extends to the submucosal tissue.

2. Tongue muscle atrophy and tongue deviation: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma directly invades or lymph nodes metastasize to the posterior styloid process or hypoglossal nerve canal, causing the hypoglossal nerve to be invaded, causing the tongue to deviate to the affected side, accompanied by tongue muscle atrophy on the affected side.

3. Distant metastasis: The distant metastasis rate of NPC is about 4.8% to 27%. Distant metastasis is one of the main reasons for the failure of NPC treatment. Common metastatic sites are bones, lungs, liver, etc., and simultaneous metastasis to multiple organs is common.

4. Facial numbness: refers to numbness of the facial skin. Clinical examination shows decreased or absent pain and tactile sensation. Tumor invasion of the cavernous sinus often causes damage to the first or second branch of the trigeminal nerve; tumor invasion of the oval foramen, the anterior area of ​​the styloid process, and the third branch of the trigeminal nerve often causes numbness or paresthesia of the skin in the front of the auricle, temporal region, cheek, lower lip, and chin. Facial skin numbness accounts for 10% to 27.9%.

The care of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is specific, and the following is an introduction:

1. Avoid being exposed to heavily polluted external air as much as possible. Because the nasopharynx is the only way for external air to enter the lungs, harmful gases first invade the nasopharynx before entering the lungs.

2. Quit smoking and drinking.

3. Pay attention to the dietary structure, do not be partial to food, eat more vegetables, fruits and other foods containing a lot of vitamins. Eat less or no salted fish, pickled meat, etc.