Do you often hear a buzzing sound in your ears or feel like your ears are clogged? If it is not due to common causes like earwax blockage, flying or swimming, and if the condition recurs irregularly for 1 to 2 days, it could be an early sign of nasopharyngeal cancer. It is important to seek early medical attention to prevent the condition from worsening.

What is nasopharyngeal cancer?

Nasopharyngeal cancer is one of the top ten cancers in Hong Kong and is more common in men. Common causes include family history, frequent consumption of preserved seafood (such as salted fish), infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and frequent smoking. As the nasopharynx is located at the back of the nasal cavity and above the throat, symptoms often occur in the ears and nose, which are similar to those of common upper respiratory tract diseases.

Early signs of nasopharyngeal cancer

Early symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer include:

-Tinnitus

-Clogged ears

-Hearing loss

-Blurred vision

If the condition worsens, other symptoms may appear, including:

-Blood in phlegm

-Bloody nasal discharge

-Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

-Persistent headache

-Double vision

How to distinguish nasopharyngeal cancer?

As the symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer are not obvious and are similar to those of common colds or allergic rhinitis, many patients may mistake it for a minor illness and are only diagnosed with cancer when it has reached stage 3 or 4.

To distinguish cancer symptoms, it is important to note whether the symptoms appear on one or both sides. Most tumour diseases cause unilateral symptoms, so it is best to stay vigilant if symptoms such as nasal congestion, clogged ear, and tinnitus occur on only one side. For people with no history of ear and nose disease and with symptoms that persist for more than two weeks, they should seek medical attention and receive tests as soon as possible.

Currently, the primary method of diagnosing nasopharyngeal cancer is a nasopharyngoscopy. The doctor will administer local anaesthesia and then use a flexible fibreoptic laryngoscope to examine the nasal cavity and pharynx. A miniature camera will be attached to display images of the cavity, and if there are any abnormalities, a part of the living tissue will be collected for further laboratory tests. This examination has an accuracy rate of about 90%. If the doctor is still unsure of the patient's condition, further examinations such as MRI or CT scan may be performed.

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