According to a recent article, there are a few warning signs of nasopharyngeal cancer that affect the lower half of your face that you might not be aware of.

Cancer

Cancer is when mutated cells multiply uncontrollably at a very fast speed and then accumulate into tumors. When diagnosed early, some cancers are beatable. However, the symptoms of cancer are not always clear and can be confused with symptoms of another disease.

Typical Symptoms:

• Unusual weight loss
• Fatigue that is persistent
• Swelling

Nasopharyngeal Cancer

One type of cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, typically results in symptoms that affect the lower half of the face. Specifically, this type of cancer affects the area of the throat that connects the back of the nose and the back of the mouth.

Symptoms:

In most cases, people with nasopharyngeal cancer notice a lump on the back of their neck. There may be one or multiple lumps, and they’re usually not painful. These masses appear when cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the neck and causes them to swell.

There are also several other warning signs such as:

• Tinnitus, or ringing in your ears.
• Hearing loss.
• A feeling of fullness in the ear.
• Headaches.
• Nasal stuffiness.
• Nosebleeds.
• Difficulty opening your mouth.
• Facial pain.
• Facial numbness.
• Difficulty breathing or speaking.
• Ear infections that won’t go away.

Doctors are stressing one symptom especially that is often overlooked in patients: face tingling and numbness. This symptom is associated with a number of other diseases, and since nasopharyngeal cancer is so rare (1 in 100,000 people are diagnosed a year), it can be overlooked.

It is also important to note that patients in particular areas of South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa live with a higher risk of this cancer. This is a result of their dietary habits that are common in these areas.

Preemptive Steps

Typically, nasopharyngeal cancer is not preventable, but that does not mean that there are not steps you can be taking to reduce your risk. Some things you can do to lower your chances of being diagnosed with this cancer is avoiding salt-cured fish and meats, quit smoking cigarettes, and reduce – if not stop – your alcohol intake.