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In this Article

• What is nasopharyngeal cancer?
• What are risk factors for nasopharyngeal cancer?
• What are symptoms and signs of nasopharyngeal cancer?
• How is nasopharyngeal cancer diagnosed?
• What is the prognosis for nasopharyngeal cancer?
• What are the stages of nasopharyngeal cancer?
• What is the treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer?
• What are treatment options by stage?
• Where can I get more information about nasopharyngeal cancer?
• Patient Comments: Nasopharyngeal Cancer - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Nasopharyngeal Cancer - Treatments
• Find a local Oncologist in your town
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer Index

Stage I Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Treatment of stage I nasopharyngeal cancer is usually radiation therapy to the tumor and lymph nodes in the neck.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I nasopharyngeal cancer.

Stage II Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Treatment of stage II nasopharyngeal cancer may include the following:

• Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.



• Radiation therapy to the tumor and lymph nodes in the neck.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage II nasopharyngeal cancer.

Stage III Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Treatment of stage III nasopharyngeal cancer may include the following:

• Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.



• Radiation therapy to the tumor and lymph nodes in the neck.



• Radiation therapy followed by surgery to remove cancer-containing lymph nodes in the neck that remain or come back after radiation therapy.



• A clinical trial of chemotherapy before, combined with, or after radiation therapy.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III nasopharyngeal cancer.

Stage IV Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Treatment of stage IV nasopharyngeal cancer may include the following:

• Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.



• Radiation therapy to the tumor and lymph nodes in the neck.



• Radiation therapy followed by surgery to remove cancer-containing lymph nodes in the neck that remain or come back after radiation therapy.



• Chemotherapy for cancer that has metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body.



• A clinical trial of chemotherapy before, combined with, or after radiation therapy.



• A clinical trial of new radiation therapy such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage IV nasopharyngeal cancer.

Treatment Options for Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Treatment of recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer may include the following:

• External radiation therapy plus internal radiation therapy.



• Surgery.



• Chemotherapy.



• A clinical trial of biologic therapy and/or chemotherapy.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Check for clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer.