The news of the death of Hong Kong director Chen Musheng due to nasopharyngeal cancer has once again aroused everyone's attention to this malignant tumor with an annual incidence of more than 80,000 and about 50,000 deaths.


For the cause, susceptible groups, symptoms, examination, and treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer, you can see what I wrote earlier about 80,000 new cases of nasopharyngeal cancer and 50,000 deaths each year. In fact, it is preventable, controllable, and curable.


Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, if detected early, is actually one of the few malignant tumors that can be clinically cured. Its main treatment method is radiotherapy. If there is metastasis to lymph nodes or other parts in the middle and late stages, chemotherapy and targeted therapy can be combined.


However, although the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is good, there is a big problem: the sequelae of radiotherapy and chemotherapy will be more obvious, and serious deafness may be caused.


What are the sequelae of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma? - Deafness, otitis media, difficulty opening the mouth, dry mouth, etc. are the most common complications.


1. Deafness, tinnitus




There are two main factors for deafness and tinnitus caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: the damage of radiotherapy and the ototoxicity of chemotherapy drugs.


Friends who have read my previous popular science article should know that the [nasopharynx] is located in the nasopharyngeal recess at the back of the nasal cavity. Next to this position is the Eustachian tube, which is connected to the ear and is separated from the ear. The cochlea of the inner ear is very close to the auditory nerve.


Radiotherapy refers to the use of radioactive ions to kill tumor cells, but this method is "killing a thousand enemies and destroying eight hundred." Inevitably, the surrounding tissue will be damaged. Therefore, it will also cause irreversible damage to the cochlea and auditory nerve, causing hearing loss and tinnitus.


On the other hand, cisplatin, a drug used in chemotherapy, also has high ototoxicity, and many patients will cause hearing damage after using it.


Therefore, the role of these two aspects makes it possible for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma to have hearing loss and tinnitus after treatment, but the degree of severity is related to individual differences, tumor severity and the use of radiation doses.


2, ear stuffiness, ear plug




As mentioned above, the location of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is close to the Eustachian tube, which is a physiological lumen responsible for the communication between the middle ear and the nasopharynx. Eustachian tube dysfunction occurs when radiation therapy damages the Eustachian tube.


Our middle ear is an air-filled cavity, the air pressure inside needs to be balanced with the atmospheric pressure outside, and the fluid secreted by the middle ear mucosa also needs to be discharged outward, and the Eustachian tube is the structure responsible for this important function.


When the Eustachian tube is injured, its opening will be restricted, and the air in the middle ear will be absorbed by the mucous membrane, gradually forming a "negative pressure" state, which accelerates the rate of mucous secretion of fluid, causing the middle ear to accumulate fluid, eventually forming "secretory otitis media" ".


In addition to causing hearing loss, the main symptom of secretory otitis media is "ear stuffiness". I always feel stuffy in my ears, like soaking in water, and listening to the sound seems to be separated by a membrane.


3. Can't open your mouth




During radiotherapy, the facial muscles are an unavoidable area, so it is often difficult and laborious to open the mouth after treatment.


This requires more mouth opening training before and after radiotherapy to make muscles stronger and lessen the impact on muscles after treatment.


4. Dry mouth




Dry mouth is the most common and unbearable symptom of nasopharyngeal cancer after radiotherapy. The reason is similar to the above. It is also because radiotherapy damages the salivary glands of the face, which reduces the secretion of salivary glands, that is, the drool becomes less, and the mouth will naturally feel dry. Dry tongue, had to keep drinking water to moisten the mouth.


5. Tasteless and smelly




The inability to taste or smell the aroma of food may also be a symptom that greatly affects the quality of life of the patient. The reason is still that radiotherapy damages the olfactory and taste nerves.


So, is there a way to deal with these annoying complications?


Some symptoms may be lifelong and irreversible, such as deafness and tinnitus, and some may be temporary or partially recoverable, such as dry mouth, no scent, no taste.


Deafness can be treated by wearing a hearing aid or cochlear implant surgery. Secretory otitis media can also be treated by making a hole in the eardrum of the ear, that is, the tympanic membrane, to release the liquid inside, or performing an operation to use a balloon to remove the Eustachian tube. Expand it a bit so it can open up again.


When faced with malignant tumors, we have a choice of weapons to treat them. After treatment, there will be various problems. We can also use various methods to relieve symptoms and treat them.


Even if these methods are not very effective sometimes, and some symptoms are still left, the goal of treatment is achieved by overcoming some life and physiological difficulties in exchange for tumor remission or even cure.


After all, nothing is more important than life.