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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffNo sure way exists to prevent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, if you're concerned about your risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, you may consider avoiding habits that have been associated with the disease. For instance, you may:
- Cut back on the amount of salt-cured foods you eat or avoid these foods altogether
- Stop smoking
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all
Tests to screen for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
In the United States and in other areas where the disease is rare, routine screening for nasopharyngeal carcinoma isn't done. But in areas of the world where nasopharyngeal carcinoma is much more common, for instance in some areas of China, doctors may offer screenings to people thought to be at high risk of the disease. Screenings may include blood tests to determine whether a person carries the Epstein-Barr virus and what the levels of the virus are, or careful examinations of the nasopharynx using a tiny camera attached to the end of a flexible tube (endoscope).
- Tan L, et al. Benign and malignant tumors of the nasopharynx. In: Flint PW, et al. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..X0001-8--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05283-2&uniq=203948673#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..X0001-8--TOP%3Bfrom%3Dcontent%3Bisbn%3D978-0-323-05283-2%3Btype%3DbookHome. Accessed June 2, 2010.
- Head and neck cancers. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/head-and-neck.pdf. Accessed June 2, 2010.
- Nasopharyngeal cancer treatment. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/nasopharyngeal/healthprofessional/allpages. Accessed June 2, 2010.
- Caponigro F, et al. Treatment approaches to nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A review. Anti-Cancer Drugs. 2010;21:471.
- Hui EP, et al. Epidemiology, etiology and diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Paraneoplastic syndromes information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/paraneoplastic/paraneoplastic.htm. June 14, 2010.
- Couch ME. History, physical examination and the preoperative evaluation. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..X0001-8--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05283-2&uniq=203948673#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..X0001-8--TOP%3Bfrom%3Dcontent%3Bisbn%3D978-0-323-05283-2%3Btype%3DbookHome. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Hui EP, et al. Treatment of locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Dry mouth or xerostomia. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Treating+Cancer/Managing+Side+Effects/Dry+Mouth+or+Xerostomia. Accessed June 11, 2010.
- Oral complications of chemotherapy and head/neck radiation. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/oralcomplications/patient/allpages. Accessed June 2, 2010.
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