Nasophranx Cancer S2/S3

Barbaraek said:

T2

Kenny, T2 is great news! I am curious-did you have any symptoms? Most NPC don't present with symptoms until they are a later stage. Good luck with your treatment, you have good reasons to be optimistic, and you'll have a great support network here cheering for you.

Barbara

Just be strong and have faith, then fight it with you got in you. Also please let us know how you are doing once your treatment starts.

Tim

Kenny- said:

Will keep all posted

Will keep everyone posted. This forum has been a great help. The only people who know are my family, and 4 work colleagues (strict on a need to know basis), and this FORUM. It can get lonely.

Barbara - I had frequent ear blockages (which I can pop open), but I started having blood in sputum which I blamed the weather and cough. But after 4 months, the blood didn't go away and I was referred to an ENT. One thing led to another and they found me with this. 

Just like anyone here, I was really shocked by it since I eat well, and my BMI is 23 (no weight issues). The only thing I had going for me is work stress with very little sleep (I tend to push myself quite hard), and my location from South East Asia (SEA). The ENT was highly suspicious when I said I came from SEA, and became quite nervous when he heard that, and followed up with a series of scans leading to the conclusion. 

It grows quick. My left ear is almost completely blocked now and I can no longer pop it (4 months ago it wasn't). My parents just happened to be visiting for a vacation, and so happened to be around while I'm diagnosed so they're helping out. I believe God has a plan. 

I saw you post another topic on cooking - I'll be monitoring that closely! My hobby is cooking, I cook almost on a daily basis for the family. I guess I won't be able to taste food like how I used to for a very long time. But, it's time to roll with the punches and put that aside for now. 

NPC is also known as "Cantonese C", Kenny, due to an extremely high % of cases that occur in certain provinces along the coast of China. That is why your Dr showed some alarm when you told him about that area of Asia. It is also why NPC is not thought to be casued by smoking, or didn't used to be. FYI:

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is caused by a combination of factors: viral, environmental influences, and heredity. The viral influence is associated with infection with Epstein-Barr virus(EBV). The Epstein-Barr virus is one of the most common viruses. 95 percent of all people in the U.S. are exposed to this virus by the time they are 30–40 years old. The World Health Organization does not have set preventative measures for this virus because it is so easily spread and is worldwide. Very rarely does Epstein-Barr virus lead to cancer, which suggests a variety of influencing factors. Other likely etiological factors include genetic susceptibility, consumption of food (in particular salted fish)  containing carcinogenic volatile nitrosamines. 

The association between Epstein-Barr virus and nasopharyngeal carcinoma is unequivocal in World Health Organization (WHO) types II and III tumors but less well-established for WHO type I (WHO-I) NPC, where preliminary evaluation has suggested that human papillomavirus HPV may be associated.  EBV DNA was detectable in the blood plasma samples of 96% of patients with non-keratinizing NPC, compared with only 7% in controls. The detection of nuclear antigen associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBNA) and viral DNA in NPC type 2 and 3, has revealed that EBV can infect epithelial cells and is associated with their transformation. The etiology of NPC (particularly the endemic form) seems to follow a multi-step process, in which EBV, ethnic background, and environmental carcinogens all seem to play an important role. More importantly, EBV DNA levels appear to correlate with treatment response and may predict disease recurrence, suggesting that they may be an independent indicator of prognosis. The mechanism by which EBV alters nasopharyngeal cells is being elucidated to provide a rational therapeutic target. 

Epstein-Barr is known to us as "Mononucleosis," which back in my teenage years had to do with kissing gals too much, and maybe too many gals! The "salted fish" in the above is why they call it Cantonese C- that is part of the traditional diet in Cantonese China area where so many cases of NPC happen.

kcass

Kenny- said:

Spoke too soon

Wow, chemo, a strange sensation of 'tiredness' that only kicked late yesterday. I took a couple of hours of extra sleep to recuperate and took promethazane to help sleep.

 

3 / 35; and the long countdown begins.

My husband's chemo side effects always kicked in about two days afterwards, once the IV anti-nausea drugs and steroids were done.  Those radiation days will click by...just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you'll get there. We are all rooting for you Kenny!

Barbara

Kenny- said:

Not Yet PEG

Feeling a lot better today (4th day after the first weekly chemo). Coincidentally, my daughter had a stomach bug, so it could have been that (or the chemo). Apetitite came back full swing today with a crawing only for certain foods. Still downing as much water as possible. 

I have not got a PEG tube yet. I'm hoping I don't have to and doctor says I may be able to "survive without one", but reading the realities of the experience here, I wouldn't avoid it if it's going feed me go through the treatment successfully. I guess the decision point for that will be about 3-4 weeks from now! 

My left ear middle ear is blocked, and I should be considering an ear tube placement. 

You're doing better than most at this time frame so you just might be the "Lucky one" and not have much major problems. Just take it one day at a time and keep drink or sipping that water, it does help.

Thought's and prayers

Bill