Nasopharyngeal Cancer Early Symptoms and Causes

Nasopharyngeal cancer is often misdiagnosed as respiratory tract inflammation, and its severity is only noticed after a large amount of antibiotics prove ineffective. The early signs of nasopharyngeal cancer typically manifest in the following ways:

Early Symptoms of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

1. Enlarged Lymph Nodes in the Neck: One of the most common symptoms. Patients often inadvertently touch a lump in their neck or notice asymmetry in the sides of their neck when looking in the mirror. The lump is usually hard, painless, and restricts movement. It is characterized by early and high rates of metastasis.

2. Blood-Tinged Nasal Discharge: One of the early symptoms involves spitting out blood streaks from the mouth, especially after waking up in the morning.

3. Tinnitus or Hearing Loss: This refers to a buzzing sensation in the ears or reduced hearing ability compared to before.

4. Headache: Manifested as dull pain in the occipital or temporal regions.

5. Nasal Congestion: Caused by the tumor blocking the posterior nasal opening or invading the nasal cavity, leading to impeded nasal ventilation.

6. Facial Numbness: Invasion of the trigeminal nerve by the tumor can result in sensory decline, hyperesthesia, or an absence of pain.

7. Diplopia: Difficulty seeing clearly with double vision.

8. Skewed Tongue Protrusion: When the tongue is protruded, it deviates to one side, indicating involvement of the hypoglossal nerve.

9. Difficulty Opening the Mouth

10. Proptosis: Protrusion of the eyeball, potentially caused by tumor invasion behind the eyeball.

Causes of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

1. Individuals residing in regions with high nasopharyngeal cancer incidence rates, such as Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian provinces in China, especially those over 40 years old, should be vigilant.

2. Those who frequently encounter cooking fumes or chemical toxins in their daily lives or work, as well as smokers and heavy drinkers, should undergo regular related examinations.

3. Family members or relatives of nasopharyngeal cancer patients are also at a higher risk of developing the disease.

4. If unexplained symptoms such as headaches, nasal congestion, blood-tinged mucus, nosebleeds, or tinnitus occur repeatedly, be wary of nasopharyngeal cancer.

5. Examine your neck by hand. Under normal circumstances, the lymph nodes in the neck should not be palpable. If they can be felt, it indicates lymph node enlargement, and a timely medical checkup is necessary.