What are the treatments for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma?
The doctor may suggest the following treatments:
(I) Radiotherapy
This is the mainstay of treatment for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. External radiotherapy uses high-powered radiation beams to destroy cancer cells. Treatment will be carried out on a daily basis for six to eight weeks
Nowadays, intensity modulated radiotherapy is used in treating Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. This treatment allows highly precised radiation beams to be concentrated at the tumor. This could effectively kill tumor cells and at the same time reduce radiation damage to the surrounding normal tissues.
(II) Chemotherapy
The doctor may consider using radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy on selected patient to enhance the effectiveness of treatment. The doctor will give chemical drugs through the blood vessels before radiotherapy to enhance the potency of radiotherapy.
If the tumor has metastasize to other organs, chemotherapy may also help to relieve symptoms caused by the tumor.
(III) Surgery
As the nasopharynx hides deeply in the middle of the head, and it is very close to a number of major structures e.g. the brain stem, it is not easy to conduct surgery on the patient. Therefore, surgery is not the first line treatment for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Nonetheless, under certain special circumstances, surgical removal of the tumor may be suggested for the patient, such as early tumor recurrence.