Nasopharyngeal Cancer

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Barb2011
Barb2011 Member Posts: 2
edited April 2011 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Anyone know any information on what causes Nasopharyngeal Cancer .. My husbands cancer is not linked to Epstein Barr Virus. He does not drink or smoke.But he did work with bulk cement for 37 years.

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  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
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    Hi humph
    First welcome to CSN and yes there are a lot of us here all with the same cancer as your husband it is better known as NPC. I was treated for it twice; EBV is not always the cause a lot of it has to do with where you live.

    Please stay and ask as many questions as you will we will do all that we can do to give you an answer.

    All the best
    Hondo
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #3
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    Hondo said:

    Hi humph
    First welcome to CSN and yes there are a lot of us here all with the same cancer as your husband it is better known as NPC. I was treated for it twice; EBV is not always the cause a lot of it has to do with where you live.

    Please stay and ask as many questions as you will we will do all that we can do to give you an answer.

    All the best
    Hondo

    I Second-
    Hondo's welcome. The only possibles I can pinpoint are my smoking history, a car crash that did major damage above my shoulders back in 68, and my enjoyment of sweets over the years. Time may come when they may be able to definitevly pinpoint the only causes of NPC, and why it happened to you or I, but that time has yet to come. Again, welcome.

    kcass
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #4
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    Another Welcome
    humph,
    I'm basically useless as far as the info you're interested in goes, but I did want to toss my "hello there" in the mix. Do well.
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #5
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    Hi Humph
    Welcome to the board. Sorry to read about your husbands NPC. I too had NPC. Just finished treatment a few months ago and doing well. Causes for any cancer are potentially limitless it seems. I did test positive for Epstein Barr and was told that could be the cause. More evidence seems to be pointing to diet and environment for NPC. I've never heard of a direct link with cement but would not be surprised. Will your husband be receiving treatment soon or has he finished or started? Lots of good supportive info here for any stage. Let us know how we can help.

    Bob
  • frank10g
    frank10g Member Posts: 37
    #6
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    adventurebob said:

    Hi Humph
    Welcome to the board. Sorry to read about your husbands NPC. I too had NPC. Just finished treatment a few months ago and doing well. Causes for any cancer are potentially limitless it seems. I did test positive for Epstein Barr and was told that could be the cause. More evidence seems to be pointing to diet and environment for NPC. I've never heard of a direct link with cement but would not be surprised. Will your husband be receiving treatment soon or has he finished or started? Lots of good supportive info here for any stage. Let us know how we can help.

    Bob

    causes
    Hi Humph,
    I was tested positive for EBV virus. In South Asia where I live, NPC rate is very high among cancers. In Singapore they found one new patient every day. I was told that the factors are : hereditary (race) being southern Chinese descent, diet of salted foods, environmental pollutions (chemical) and EBV virus. No body really knows the real cause, just like a lottery, some got it and some don't but we can overcome it. Nutrition and a cheerful heart help.
    Take care,
    Frank
  • timreichhart
    timreichhart Member Posts: 194
    #7
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    frank10g said:

    causes
    Hi Humph,
    I was tested positive for EBV virus. In South Asia where I live, NPC rate is very high among cancers. In Singapore they found one new patient every day. I was told that the factors are : hereditary (race) being southern Chinese descent, diet of salted foods, environmental pollutions (chemical) and EBV virus. No body really knows the real cause, just like a lottery, some got it and some don't but we can overcome it. Nutrition and a cheerful heart help.
    Take care,
    Frank

    About NPC
    I am only 25 and last year I found out I had NPC stage 4+ last feburary and I finished up my treatments as of last august and so far from my chemo doctor he said I am cancer free and there might be alot of links to NPC I used to do light smoking and was a moderate drinker but doctors I am seeing still dont know how I even got it. I also did read up on NPC cancer and as frank10g said its more common in asia country's vs over here and eating alots of salt stuff and I was never a salt liker in the first place because it shot up my blood pressure so much I would get headaces from it. But I have to say the NPC cancer is a rise over here from what my doctors as been telling me and they said this is a rare skin cancer over here.
  • NPCPaul
    NPCPaul Member Posts: 8
    #8
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    timreichhart said:

    About NPC
    I am only 25 and last year I found out I had NPC stage 4+ last feburary and I finished up my treatments as of last august and so far from my chemo doctor he said I am cancer free and there might be alot of links to NPC I used to do light smoking and was a moderate drinker but doctors I am seeing still dont know how I even got it. I also did read up on NPC cancer and as frank10g said its more common in asia country's vs over here and eating alots of salt stuff and I was never a salt liker in the first place because it shot up my blood pressure so much I would get headaces from it. But I have to say the NPC cancer is a rise over here from what my doctors as been telling me and they said this is a rare skin cancer over here.

    no exact cause
    Echoing the above posters. NPC has no direct confirmed causes. I too was positive for EBV, but I dont know if it is a cause or effect of the cancer. EBV is normally dormant in most people, it becomes active in people who has low immune systems. Hence, you see it more common in older aged folks. So i'm not sure if my immune system was compromised because of the cancer thus triggering the EBV, or vice versa.

    The other theory, is diet. Particularly heavily salted, preserved food. When I was young, I had a fondness of those dry salted plums, take that for what it's worth...

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