Early symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a serious disease, but its symptoms are easily confused with rhinitis. Some people often have nasal congestion and bloody nasal discharge, which is often mistaken for rhinitis. Is this really the case? In fact, nasal congestion is another early manifestation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, mostly manifested as unilateral nasal congestion. When the nasopharyngeal tumor grows, bilateral nasal congestion may occur.

Blood in the nose is an early symptom of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which manifests as blood in the nasal discharge or blood in the nasal discharge from the mouth, also known as blood in the sputum. Blood in the nose often occurs after getting up in the morning. When the amount of blood in the nose is not large, it is often neglected by patients and mistaken for rhinitis or sinusitis, or is treated as hemoptysis in the internal medicine department.

So, in addition to blockage and bloody nasal discharge, what other symptoms are there in the early stages of nasopharyngeal cancer?

1. Tinnitus and hearing:

When nasopharyngeal carcinoma occurs in the lateral wall of the nasopharynx, the lateral fossa or the upper lip of the Eustachian tube opening, the tumor compresses the Eustachian tube and may cause unilateral tinnitus or hearing loss, and catarrhal otitis media. Unilateral tinnitus or hearing loss and a feeling of occlusion in the ear are one of the symptoms of early nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

2. Persistent headache:

It is a common symptom of early nasopharyngeal cancer, accounting for 68.6%. It can be the first symptom or the only symptom. In the early stage, the headache location is not fixed and intermittent, while in the late stage, it is a continuous migraine with a fixed location. The reason for this is that in early patients, it may be caused by neurovascular reflex or stimulation of the first branch of the trigeminal nerve. In late patients, it is often caused by tumors destroying the skull base and spreading inside the skull to affect the cranial nerves.

3. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck:

Many nasopharyngeal cancer patients often seek medical attention because they accidentally feel a lump on their neck. This lump is actually an enlarged lymph node. The swollen lymph nodes in the neck of nasopharyngeal cancer patients are often misdiagnosed as inflammation.

For neck lumps that do not shrink after anti-inflammatory treatment, or even continue to grow rapidly, especially those that are hard in texture, have poor mobility, or are multiple fused together, you need to see a doctor promptly.

So, to prevent nasopharyngeal cancer, you can start from the following points:

1. Try to avoid inhaling harmful fumes, such as kerosene lamp gas, insecticide aerosols, etc., and actively quit smoking and drinking. These are relatively good preventive measures for nasopharyngeal cancer.

2. If you have nasopharyngeal diseases, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. If you find blood in your nasal discharge or blood in your nasal discharge after sneezing, or if you have unexplained swollen neck lymph nodes or middle ear effusion, you should have a detailed nasopharyngeal examination in time.

3. Pay attention to climate changes, prevent colds, maintain nose and throat hygiene, and other prevention measures for nasopharyngeal cancer, and avoid viral infections.