Is difficulty swallowing a sign of nasopharyngeal cancer?
Nasopharyngeal cancer occurs when cancer cells develop in the nasopharynx, the area just behind the nose. It is also one of the most common cancers of the face and neck. Difficulty swallowing is one of the early signs of the disease.
Nasopharyngeal cancer occurs when something changes the genetic structure of cells in the nasopharynx. This change causes healthy cells to become cancerous cells, which then multiply uncontrollably, according to the health page.Medical News Today(Older brother).
In many cases, nasopharyngeal cancer will not show obvious symptoms until the advanced stages. In addition, symptoms can also vary depending on the location of the tumor.
However, most patients have difficulty swallowing. Difficulty swallowing will cause mild or severe pain, accompanied by a burning sensation when chewing and swallowing food. Food can sometimes also stick to the throat. In addition, difficulty swallowing due to nasopharyngeal cancer may have the following additional symptoms:
Swollen lymph nodes
A tumor in the nasopharynx will cause swelling of one or more lymph nodes, especially in the neck. These swollen nodes will not be painful to the touch.
Sore throat
A common sore throat, such as that caused by a cold, will soon subside with rest and medication. However, a sore throat caused by nasopharyngeal cancer will last for a long time and will not subside no matter what you do. This is also one of the most common symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer.
Voice changer
One of the most prominent symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer is a change in voice. The patient's voice will become deeper, more hoarse, or sound as if he has a cold. The patient may even suddenly slur some words or have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds.
White patches on tongue
People with nasopharyngeal cancer also have some white patches on the tongue. The white patches are chronic and not painful.
To prevent nasopharyngeal cancer, people need to avoid factors that increase the risk of the disease. The first factor to mention is tobacco. Studies show that tobacco, whether snuffed or chewed, is the biggest factor leading to cancers of the head and neck, including nasopharyngeal cancer.
In addition, besides tobacco, alcohol should also be avoided. People who have been infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus, are also at high risk of nasopharyngeal cancer, according to Medical News Today.
