50-year-old Ms. Wu is engaged in international trade. Last year, she was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a foreign hospital due to congestion in her left ear. After the examination, it was found that Ms. Wu was suffering from second stage of nasopharyngeal cancer After receiving 2 months of pre-treatment chemotherapy and after radiotherapy, the tumor was successfully treated and he immediately returned to normal life and work.
According to statistics, about 1,500 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer are diagnosed every year in Taiwan. The causes of the disease include environmental factors, genetics, and Epstein-Barr virus (Epstein-Barr virus) infection. Nasopharyngeal cancer often occurs in adults around the age of 40. With current treatment methods, most patients have a good prognosis.
In the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer, first stage is radiotherapy alone and second, third and fourth stage non-metastatic nasopharyngeal cancers are treated with concurrent chemotherapy or pre-chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy according to risk factor assessment. If the patient has distant organ metastases at the time of diagnosis, chemotherapy is the main treatment, followed by radiation therapy or surgical resection of the metastatic lesions depending on the situation, and disease control can still be achieved.
Kaili Liang, otolaryngology doctor at Taichung Veterans General Hospital, said that although nasopharyngeal cancer has very good treatment results, there are still a small number of patients who unfortunately have relapsed after the first treatment. Even if the disease recurs, it is not incurable and long-term control can still be achieved through active treatment.
Endoscopic surgical resection reduces local tissue damage in 2 chemotherapy sessions
In 2010, 40-year-old Mr. Qu was diagnosed with the third stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. After chemotherapy and radiation therapy, he was followed up regularly. However, in the fifth year after treatment, he found that the tumor in the nasopharynx had After a decision-making joint between doctors and patients, Mr. Qu He first received main chemotherapy, followed by endoscopic resection of nasopharyngeal tumor and adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. It has been more than 10 years since the treatment of Mr. Qu’s disease was completed, and he remains healthy and maintains regular follow-up.
Also in 2010, 36-year-old Mr. Ren was found to have stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma due to a lump in the neck and ear fullness on imaging examination and pathology section. After 2 years of follow-up, a recurrence was found in the right cervical lymph node in 2013. Mr. Ren underwent neck lymph node dissection surgery and subsequent adjuvant chemotherapy. After completing the course of treatment, there was no tumor recurrence from follow-up.
For local or neck recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, surgery may be selected as salvage treatment, and chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be supplemented depending on the degree of lesion invasion. In the past, open surgery was necessary for recurrent nasopharyngeal tumors. With the maturity of endoscopic tumor surgery technology, doctors at home and abroad have gradually used endoscopic resection of recurrent nasopharyngeal tumors after 2000. The recent statistics of Taichung Veterans General Hospital surgical experience of endoscopic resection of recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer, the analysis of 5-year survival of nearly 40 patients was 85%. For patients with local or neck recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the treatment team will use salvage surgery treatment as much as possible to reduce the possible local tissue damage caused by two treatments of radiation therapy.
Regular tumor follow-up and various teams provide support and counseling services
Liang Kaili reminded that after treatment, patients may have disease-related and treatment-related quality of life impacts. Patients are more likely to suffer from nasal and sinusitis, otitis media, hearing loss and tooth decay. Stiffness, neuropathy or narrowing of the carotid artery.
In addition to regular tumor monitoring, the Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment Team also deals with the patient’s disease and treatment-related health. Regular team meetings include regular members of ENT, Tumor, Imaging, Pathology, Cancer Centers, and other units , nutritionists, swallowing language Rehabilitation specialists, the Neuromedicine Center, the Department of Stomatology, the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and other units are also welcome to attend team meetings to provide treatment suggestions, advice and assistance.
Text/ Lai Yiling, Photos/ Lei Siyu
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