The Four Stages of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

The nasopharynx is a small section that is located behind the nose at the top of the throat or pharynx. The nostrils extend into the nasopharynx or upper part of the throat and an opening on either side of this goes into each ear.

Nasopharangeal cancer occurs when cancer cells develop in the tissues of the nasopharynx. Although this is a throat cancer it is not the same as others and has a higher risk. Some of the symptoms of this type of cancer include things such as difficulty breathing, speaking and hearing in addition to unexplained nose bleeds, headache, nose or throat lumps and ringing or pain in the ears. Chinese or Asian heritage as well as exposure to Epstein-Barr virus may also play a role in developing nasopharyngeal cancer. There are four stages of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Once it has been determined that an individual is infected with this type of cancer there are tests that need to be performed to determine if the cancer is confined to the nasopharynx or has spread to infect other areas. The process of determining this is referred to as staging. In the staging process information is gathered and then used to confirm what stage of the disease a person has. This is important in order to properly plan a successful course of treatment for the cancer. In many cases the same tests used to confirm the presence of this disease are also used to determine the stage.

Stage I

In the first stages of nasopharyngeal cancer the cancer is limited only to this particular area.

Stage II

This stage is separated into two sections. In stage II-A the cancer has progressed from the nasopharynx to the middle of the throat which includes the tongue, tonsils and nasal cavity. Stage II-B means the cancer has spread to lymph nodes on one side of the neck.

Stage III

This stage means the cancer has spread even further to include lymph nodes on both sides of the neck, the nasal cavity, areas around the pharynx, or nearby bones.

Stage IV

This stage is separated into three sections. Stage IV-A of this type of cancer means that the cancer has affected areas beyond the nasopharynx and possibly even the nerves of the cranium, as well as the bottom of the throat, jaw, eye bones and lymph nodes. Stage IV-B means the cancer has now progressed to include the collar bone. Stage IV-C is the last of the stages of nasopharyngeal cancer and indicates that the cancer has now moved beyond the lymph nodes to infect other parts of the body.

There are three basic ways that a cancer may spread throughout the body. These ways include tissues, lymph system and blood. Once tissue has been infected it can spread beyond that to infect healthy tissue surrounding this area. When cancer gets into lymph nodes it can move through these vessels to other areas. After the blood is infected the cancer can use the blood vessels to travel throughout the body.

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