Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) is the 3rd most common cancer among Malaysian men and the 4th most common cancer among all Malaysians.
The incidence rises with age, particularly between the ages of 50 and 60.

Leading the Way in Nasopharnynx Health

At Subang Jaya Medical Centre, our nasopharyngeal cancer services and technologies provide patients with the best care possible.
As a comprehensive cancer centre – SJMC Cancer and Radiosurgery Centre is recognised for its expertise and leadership in advanced cancer treatment and as a one-stop cancer centre designed to provide patient-focused care in a comfortable and safe environment.
It is our hope that this brochure will provide you with relevant information and help to answer some of the questions you may have. This brochure serves as a guide only and its contents are not to be taken as medical advice. You will still need to discuss with your doctor the best treatment option for you.

Our Commitment

Doctors and staff members at the centre are committed to enhancing each patient’s well-being, both physically and emotionally. Their goals are to ensure all patients receive the highest quality care, whether seeking prevention and screening services, receiving treatment or coping with a cancer diagnosis. Support groups and other services provide emotional and psychological benefits that can ease many aspects of their daily life.

Diagnosing Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Getting the right diagnosis and determining whether your cancer has spread is the first step to getting the best treatment. At SJMC, our team of experts work together to gather as much information about your cancer as possible to guide our approach to care.

Medical History & Physical Examination

The doctor will take a complete medical history and thoroughly examine the head and neck area, feeling for abnormalities, looking at the inside of the mouth and throat, and using mirrors and lights to examine hard-to-see areas.

Treatment Choices

Surgery

Surgery is not often used as a treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It may be used as a salvage treatment for patients with small local relapse.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy given concurrently with radiation therapy

When the two treatments are combined, chemotherapy has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy. 

• Chemotherapy after radiation therapy

It is used to attack any remaining cancer cells in your body.

• Chemotherapy before radiation therapy

In some instances, chemotherapy may be needed to decrease the size of the tumour prior to radiotherapy.

Radiation therapy

Radiotherapy or radiation therapy remains the primary treatment for NPC. Radiotherapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells.

Treatment Choices

Advanced techniques at SJMC includes Helical TomoTherapy and Volumetric Arc Therapy

In the past, there was difficulty for radiation beams to target the tumour precisely, which meant healthy tissues were also damaged during cancer treatment. Today, new systems used at SJMC take radiation therapy into the 21st century.

The helical TomoTherapy system couples three-dimensional imaging with innovative intensity–modulated radiation therapy, or IMRT, to target mainly the tumour, while sparing the healthy tissues around it.

Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) is an advanced form of radiation treatment using Varian TrueBeam STX also called RapidArc radiotherapy technology to deliver fast and accurate treatment.