What are the symptoms of mid- to late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma and how to eat

Nasopharyngeal cancer is more dangerous when it develops to the middle or late stage. If it is not treated in time, it may metastasize. So what are the symptoms of middle or late stage nasopharyngeal cancer? How to eat?

What are the symptoms of mid-to-late stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

1. Nose bleeding. Blood in the nasal discharge is often a sign of nasopharyngeal cancer.

2. Unilateral nasal congestion. It is not obvious in the early stage, but worsens as the tumor grows. Unlike a cold, it manifests as unilateral nasal congestion, and anti-cold treatment is ineffective.

3. Symptoms in one ear. The increase of cancerous tissue and invasion of the Eustachian tube can cause otitis media, ear pain, tinnitus, and hearing loss. If the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube is compressed, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the tympanic cavity will increase, which can aggravate the tinnitus symptoms.

4. Migraine. One-third of patients have severe headaches that are fixed in location and are ineffective with analgesics. Headaches are caused by cancer tissue invading or compressing cranial nerves.

5. Unilateral mouth and eye tilt. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma invades cranial nerves, causing crooked mouth angles, decreased vision or diplopia in the affected eye. These symptoms are sometimes the initial complaints of some patients.

6. Neck lumps. According to statistics, about 80% of patients have lymph node metastasis under the clavicle and earlobe. The lumps grow rapidly and are asymptomatic. They can move at first, and then become adhered and fixed in a short time.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma may also metastasize to distant parts such as the liver, lungs, and bones, causing symptoms in the corresponding parts.

How to eat?

Eating more can enhance the body's immunity. If the patient has a cough, he should eat more ginkgo, radish and orange during radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma; if the patient has a fever, he should eat more cucumber, bitter gourd and olive during radiotherapy; if the patient has chest pain, he should eat rapeseed, loofah, almonds and crucian carp during radiotherapy.

Patients with nasopharyngeal cancer need to pay more attention to their diet. After all, this type of cancer requires radiotherapy, otherwise there will be no good therapeutic effect, and it is difficult to adhere to treatment without nutritional supplements.