Early warning signs of throat cancer

Nasal bleeding or nasal congestion, sputum with blood, ears blocked, neck swollen due to enlarged lymph nodes is a common sign of throat cancer.

Experts at the PCC Cancer Center, Singapore, explained that throat cancer , also called nasal cancer , occurs when cancer cells grow from the nasal tissues (the area behind the nasal cavity comes back of the throat). The tumor can invade the base of the skull and the surrounding nerves cause drooping eyelids, dizziness . Cancer can spread to the bone, lungs, liver.

EBV virus infection is thought to be a common cause of throat cancer.(Photo: News).

Common symptoms include: nasal bleeding or nasal congestion, bloody sputum . Patients may experience ear symptoms such as blocked ears, noise echoing, hearing loss, headache, swollen neck due to enlarged lymph nodes, drooping eyelids, dizziness, facial numbness due to nerves skull. Progressive cancer often causes weight loss, fatigue, bone pain .

If you suspect that the patient has nasal cancer, the doctor may check the back of the nose with a lamp. Accordingly, a small soft light tube is inserted through the nostril into the back of the nasal cavity. Discovering any abnormalities in the area, the doctor will make a biopsy to confirm malignant cells, especially in the case of enlarged lymph nodes.

It is not yet possible to confirm the exact cause of throat cancer, but many experts believe that Epstein Barr (EBV) infection is the key to this disease. Risk factors for throat cancer include eating too much salted fish from an early age, eating a lot of preserved foods, fermenting and smoking cigarettes. In addition, there are family factors, if there is a family member with throat cancer, your risk is higher than normal.

Singapore recorded the risk of throat cancer in men about 3 times higher than women. According to the survey from 2003 to 2007, this is the 7th most common cancer in men and 12 in women, accounting for 4.6% of male cancer deaths and 1.7% of women in this country. .

To prevent disease, experts recommend prioritizing fresh food, avoiding long-term preservation, limiting eating fermented or sour foods. In Singapore in recent years the incidence of throat cancer tends to decrease, experts say, partly because of the positive change in people's daily eating habits.