Nasopharyngeal Cancer is Difficult Detected Early

As with malignant disease in general, nasopharyngeal cancer was still a frightening specter. Imagine, this disease has no specific symptoms, so many patients are diagnosed already in advanced stages.

According to Prof. dr. Bambang Hermani, Sp. ENT-KL (K), Professor of Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, nasopharyngeal cancer is a malignant tumor arising in the back of the nose and result in anatomical location that is difficult, making the disease difficult to detect at an early stage.

Cancer is derived from nasopharyngeal epithelial cells in the cavity behind the nose and behind the ceiling cavity of the mouth. Located nearby, making its spread becomes apt to occur in the eyes, ears, neck glands and brain.

"Usually the patient comes in an advanced stage. If only grows in the nasopharynx region itself, usually do not cause the typical symptoms," he said on Wednesday (06/01/2011) in Jakarta.

According to Bambang, the patient is in an advanced stage will usually experience symptoms such as, enlarged neck glands, nose, eyes squint, and the auditory canal closure. "So when it's like that usually have an advanced stage," he added.

Prof. Dr. dr. R. Susworo, Sp Rad. (K) Onk.Rad., Professor of Radiotherapy Equipment Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia said that, if existing neurological disorders such as crossed eyes, and enlarged neck glands, the diagnosis becomes easy and simple.

"But frankly, did most of the patients who come already in a state of advanced, stage 3 and 4. The early stages are still rare," he added.

Susworo also admitted to still concerned to see many more people who believe in alternative medicine by reason of easier and cheaper. Even according to him, procrastination for medical treatment and disease too underestimate the major causal factors in patients late to get help.

"So it's a phenomenon now. People want to look for shortcuts that close. If it's new to us badly," he explained.

According Susworo, there is the possibility of nasopharyngeal cancer patients will return to experience relapse, but relapse was less likely to happen, what if known early (early stage).

"If patients with stage 1-2 may kekambuhannya 15 percent to 20 percent within five years. But when it stages 3-4, frequent recurrence," he explained.

Susworo added, for patients with early-stage nasopharyngeal will usually be chemotherapy. But for an advanced stage, chemotherapy alone is not enough but must be combined with targeted therapy.

For prevention, Susworo recommends further increase alertness, especially if they are experiencing symptoms such as nosebleeds and cold-cold. He suggested that a minimum immediately went to the ENT.

"Nothing wrong with the check to the ENT. By way of endoscopy, diteropong into the nose to get into the nasopharynx and if there is a new suspect in MRI," he said.