understanding nose cancer : treatment options

I was diagnosed with Stage 2 NPC and was treated with radiation therapy. Other Stage 2 NPC survivors I had met told me they underwent both radiation & chemotherapy. Why is that so? What determines the treatment of NPC?

This is what I found out from the American Society of Clinical Oncology website (www.cancer.net) and the American National Cancer Institute website (www.cancer.gov).

Treatment options

The treatment of NPC consists of the following options :

• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery

The treatment of NPC depends on the size & location of the tumour, whether the cancer has spread and the patient's overall health. Most cancers of the nasopharynx can be cured, especially if found early.

Treatment by stages

Stage 1

Treatment is usually radiation therapy to the tumour & lymph nodes in the neck.

Stage 2

Treatment usually includes the following :

• chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy
• radiation therapy to the tumour & lymph nodes in the neck

Stage 3

Treatment usually includes the following :

• chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy
• radiation therapy to the tumour & lymph nodes in the neck
• radiation therapy followed by surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes in the neck that remain or come back after radiation therapy

Stage 4

Treatment usually includes the following :

• chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy
• radiation therapy to the tumour & lymph nodes in the neck
• radiation therapy followed by surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes in the neck that remain or come back after radiation therapy
• chemotherapy for cancer that has metastasised (spread) to other parts of the body

References

American Society of Clinical Oncology (http://www.cancer.net/)

American National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.org/)