Nasopharyngeal cancer is a disease that occurs when malignant cells form a tumor in the nasopharynx--the area where the upper part of the throat intersects the back of the nose. Nasopharyngeal cancer is classified according to stages that correspond to how localized or diffuse the cancer cells are in the body. The appropriate method of treatment will depend on this staging information.
Radiation
Two types of radiation therapy may be used to treat nasopharyngeal cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. While external radiation involves transmitting radiation from a machine outside of the body in toward the tumor, internal radiation--or brachytherapy--involves placing a needle or wire or tube containing a sealed radioactive substance directly in or beside the tumor site.
According to the American Cancer Society, radiation therapy may be used to treat all stages of nasopharyngeal cancer, including recurrent cancer. In the earliest stages--stages 0 and I--radiation therapy may target the tumor site and the nearby lymph nodes in an effort to prevent spread of the disease. Those with nasopharyngeal cancer stages II and III, as well as IVA and IVB--cancers that have spread to nearby lymph nodes or nerves--may benefit from combination chemotherapy with radiation to the tumor site and lymph nodes in the neck. Those with stage IVC cancers that have spread beyond the lymph nodes to distant locations in the body may receive radiation to the tumor site and neck lymph nodes only after a successful round of chemotherapy. Recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer may be treated again with radiation therapy, but only if your doctor is certain that additional radiation will not cause undue side effects.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that involves the administration of medication orally or through injection into a vein or muscle to kill cancer cells. The method of administration will depend upon the severity of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. According to the Cleveland Clinic, individuals with stage II, III and IV nasopharyngeal cancer are likely to receive a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Surgery
According to the National Cancer Institute, patients whose nasopharyngeal tumors do not respond to radiation may undergo surgery to physically remove the tumor. During the operation, lymph nodes to which the cancer has spread may also be removed.
Experimental Treatments
A number of new, experimental treatments for nasopharyngeal cancer are being studied in clinical trials. For example, immunotherapy or biotherapy is a type of treatment that aims to boost the body's immune system. By enhancing the patient's natural defenses, doctors hope biotherapy can empower the body to better fight off cancer. The National Cancer Institute also describes a new treatment approach called intensity-modulated radiation therapy--radiation using computer-generated, three-dimensional imaging to track changes in tumors. This type of radiation shows promise in improving quality of life and reducing the number of side effects inherent in traditional radiation.
