Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) develops in the nasopharynx, a small area at the back of the nose.

NPC is a fascinating cancer in that it has a tendency to cluster amongst certain racial groups and in certain parts of the world. This cancer is particularly common amongst Chinese from Southern China like Fujian and Guangzhou provinces.

NPC has a tendency to affect people at the prime of their lives between 30-60 years of age. Because of the deep seated nature of the nasopharynx, patients with NPC tend to present late. In fact about 60% of patients with NPC present at stages 3 or 4 of the disease during diagnosis.

The common presentations are:

Neck swelling from spread to neck lymph nodes (60%) Ear symptoms eg ear blockage of tinnitus (30%) Nose symptoms eg nose bleeds (30%)

The initial treatment of NPC is radiotherapy (Stages 1-2) with adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage 3-4 disease. People with a significant family history of NPC may be required to undergo regular blood screening to check the level of antibodies to Epstein Barr Virus level in their bodies. This antibody has been observed to correlate with the risk of developing NPC.