Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a malignant tumor that occurs in the epithelium of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, and is more likely to occur in the lateral and lateral walls of the nasopharynx, especially in the pharyngeal crypt. There are many clinical symptoms, such as nasal congestion headache, nasal discharge bleeding, hearing loss, droopy eyelids, dermatomyositis and so on.
If not treated in time, it may also affect the lungs, liver, bones and other parts, thus showing symptoms such as bone pain and abdominal pain.
In general, symptomatic treatment in the early stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma can effectively control the disease, but it is not 100% guaranteed that the malignancy can be eliminated. If it is in the middle and late stages, the likelihood of cure is relatively low.
Since nasopharyngeal carcinoma is mainly dominated by squamous cell carcinoma and is sensitive to radiation therapy, radiation therapy, simultaneous chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgical treatment and other methods are commonly used in clinical practice to improve the 5-year survival rate of this disease.
As a common malignant tumor, there are many susceptible people with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and some even have a certain relationship with the region. So who is susceptible to nasopharyngeal cancer?
1. Environmental and dietary factors
Studies have shown that Guangdong is a high incidence area of nasopharyngeal cancer.
This is because the water in the region and the nickel content in rice are relatively high. As a heavy metal harmful to the body, long-term intake containing a large amount of nickel may cause the nitrosamines in the body to exceed the standard, thereby inducing nasopharyngeal cancer.
Secondly, southerners are good at eating foods such as pickled fish and kimchi, and the nitrosamines in these foods are also seriously exceeded, and the chance of inducing cancer will be greater if they are often eaten, which is why Guangdong and other southern regions will become a high incidence area of nasopharyngeal cancer.
2. Infected with Epstein-Barr virus
Epstein-Barr virus is a member of the genus Lymphophilic virus, whose host is human, mainly transmitted by saliva, and is more likely to occur in middle-aged and elderly people aged 40 years and older.
Data have shown that the virus can be detected in the biopsy tissue of most patients with nasopharyngeal cancer, which shows that if infected with Epstein-Barr virus, it may induce nasopharyngeal cancer if it is not treated in time.
However, not all EBV infections are necessarily fatal to nasopharyngeal cancer. If the body's immunity is low and carries the virus, it is possible to induce the malignancy, and the patient does not have to have too much psychological burden.
3. People who have been exposed to toxic chemicals for a long time
Many chemicals will have a great negative impact on the body, such as formaldehyde, nickel and so on. If you are often exposed to these substances, it may cause the nitrosamines in the body to exceed the standard, thereby increasing the chance of nasopharyngeal cancer.
In addition, amines of nitrite, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, etc. also have a strong risk of carcinogenicity, so in daily life should avoid contact with these chemicals and gases as much as possible, so as not to cause unnecessary damage to the body.
4. Those with familial cases
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma also has a certain relationship with genetic factors, mainly manifested as autosomal dominant inheritance, recessive inheritance or other genetic methods.
It should be noted that if there are cases of nasopharyngeal cancer in the family, even if the descendants have emigrated overseas, nasopharyngeal cancer may occur due to genetic factors.
Because the nasopharynx is relatively hidden, it is not easy to be detected, and its early symptoms are not typical, it is easy to misdiagnosis or delay treatment.
For this disease, it is best to actively do a good job of prevention in life, especially the above groups of people, especially should be so. If nasopharyngeal cancer has been diagnosed, it is recommended to actively cooperate with the doctor for treatment to avoid further deterioration of the condition.