Singaporean MPs Liang Eng Hwa and Baey Yam Keng were recently diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a rare type of nose cancer.
Because the disease has a stealthy onset, early detection is difficult, emphasizing the necessity of recognizing its risk factors and symptoms.
Nasopharyngeal cancer primarily affects Chinese people, particularly those of southern Chinese heritage, and is more common in men aged 30 to 60.
According to Dr. Donovan Eu, an otolaryngology consultant, “nose cancer is fairly common in Singapore and Southeast Asia, and mostly affects Chinese people.”
Nasopharyngeal cancer symptoms include nosebleeds, headaches, plugged ears, nasal obstructions, and blood-stained phlegm. Patients may have neck tumors and double vision as the condition advances.
Dr. Eu emphasizes the difficulty in diagnosing nose cancer because it is typically silent at first, necessitating quick medical intervention for confirmation or ruling out the disease.
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According to the Singapore Cancer Registry 2020 report, nose cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in men aged 40 to 49, and the third most common cancer in men aged 30 to 39. It is also the tenth leading cause of male cancer mortality.
Nasopharyngeal cancer, in addition to harming men, has a genetic propensity in the southern Chinese race.
Radiation therapy for six to seven weeks is commonly used to treat early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
In addition, for locally advanced patients, chemotherapy may be used in addition to radiation to increase survival prospects.
Fortunately, nasopharyngeal cancer responds well to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, giving patients a better chance of survival if caught early and treated properly.
Experts recommend limiting your intake of salted and preserved foods, which may contain carcinogenic nitrosamines, to help prevent nasopharyngeal cancer.
A nutritious diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as antioxidants, can help reduce overall cancer risk.
Patients having a family history of the disease should be screened on a frequent basis to allow for early discovery and treatment.
Early detection is critical for successful therapy, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) blood testing may aid in the early detection of nasopharyngeal cancer.
Furthermore, medical imaging techniques like as MRI, CT, and PET scans can be used to detect the stage of the disease for proper treatment.
The courageous MPs’ battle with this rare nose cancer emphasizes the necessity of increasing knowledge about its symptoms, risk factors, and proactive methods for early detection.
