How nasopharyngeal cancer is treated

If you're diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, you'll be cared for by a team of different specialists who work together called a multidisciplinary team (MDT). Members of your MDT will discuss with you what they think the best treatment option is in your case.

The two main treatments for nasopharyngeal cancer are:

• radiotherapy where radiation is used to kill cancer cells
• chemotherapy where medication is used to kill cancer cells

In most cases, a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy will be used.

Surgery isn't usually used to treat nasopharyngeal cancer as it's difficult for surgeons to access the affected area.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is the most commonly used treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer. It can be used on its own to treat very early-stage cancers, or in combination with chemotherapy for more advanced cancers.

In most cases, external radiotherapy is used. This involves using a machine to focus high-energy radiation beams on to the area that requires treatment.

In nasopharyngeal cancer, an advanced form of external radiotherapy called intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is used.

Itinvolves aiming radiation beams of different strengths at a tumour from several different angles. This helps maximise the dose delivered to the tumour, while minimising the effect on the surrounding healthy tissue.

Stereotactic radiotherapy is another way of giving radiotherapy externally and may be used to target a specific area where the cancer has returned.

External radiotherapy is often given in short sessions, once a day from Monday to Friday, with a break at weekends. This is usually carried out for up to seven weeks. You won't need to stay in hospital overnight betweenthese appointments.

In some cases, internal radiotherapy may be requiredwhere nasopharyngeal cancer has returned after initial treatment. A radioactive source is placed into or near the cancerous area and left in place for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.

Depending on the type of treatment you have, you may need to stay in hospital for a short period of time.

Radiotherapy itself is painless, but it can have some significant side effects, such as:

• red and soreskin in the treatment area
• feeling sick
• changes to your sense of taste
• dry mouth
• hair loss

These side effects are usually temporary, but some can be permanent. Let your care team know if you experience these problems as treatment is often available to help.

You won't usually need to stay in hospitalovernightduring treatment.

Like radiotherapy, chemotherapy can cause a number of significant side effects, such as:

• feeling sick
• diarrhoea
• sore mouth
• tiredness

These side effects are usually temporary, but there's also a risk of longer-term problems, such as infertility .You should discuss any concerns you have about the potential side effects of treatment with your care team before treatment begins.

More advanced cancers are treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They're often curable if the cancer hasn't spread beyond the head and neck region.

Overall, about 50 out of every 100 people (50%) diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer will live for five years or more after diagnosis.

Survival rates are better for younger people, but worse for older people. Around 70 out of 100 (70%) people under 45 years of age, and 35 out of 100 (35%) people aged 65 to 74, will live for five years or more after being diagnosed withnasopharyngeal cancer.

You can read more about the statistics and outlook for nasopharyngeal cancer on the Cancer Research UK website.