Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Treatment in Malaysia
At Onco Life Centre, our team takes a personalized approach to treating nasopharyngeal cancer. We focus not only on treating the disease, but also on supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our patients every step of the way.
Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is cancer of the nasopharynx, which is the air passageway at the upper part of the pharynx, or throat, behind the nose.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NPC is classified into 3 subtypes:
- Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (WHO type 1)
- Nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (WHO type 2)
- Undifferentiated or poorly differentiated carcinoma (WHO type 3)
Why Choose Onco Life Centre?
Expertise You Can Trust, Innovation You Can Count On
Over 20 Years of
Experience
Our highly-qualified consultant oncologists boast extensive experience treating a vast array of cancers. Their training at prestigious institutions in Australia and the UK ensures exceptional expertise that you can trust.
Collaboration with
Leading Genomics Experts
For complex cases, our oncologists collaborate with leading genomics specialists in the US. This ensures access to the latest treatments for all cancer types.
Unmatched
patient experience
You and your healthcare experience are at the centre of what we do at Onco Life Centre. Our core values of Empathy, Dedication, Professionalism and Service Quality have driven us since our earliest days.
Treatment Methods
Talk to our Oncologists at Onco Life Centre about your treatment options. The main treatment for NPC is radiation therapy. It is often given in combination with chemotherapy. This approach may be called concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Surgery for NPC is occasionally used, mainly to remove lymph nodes after chemoradiotherapy or to treat NPC that has come back after initial treatment.
A method of external-beam radiation therapy, known as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), allows more effective doses of radiation therapy to be delivered, while reducing damage to healthy cells and causing fewer side effects.
Targeted therapy and Immunotherapy is the foundation of precision medicine. Our Oncologists at Onco Life Centre work in close collaboration with Cancer Genomics Experts in the US to perform cancer gene mapping and DNA sequencing on our patients’ cancer tissue. Regular teleconferencing and live exchange of information with the US Genomics Experts allows our Oncologists to specifically design unique treatment plans for our patients. By targeting specific genes and proteins that are involved in driving cancer survival and progression, our patients at Onco Life Centre are experiencing significant and sustained improvements in their cancer responses and living longer.
Brachytherapy is when radiation treatment is given using surgically implanted rods that contain radioactive materials in or near the cancer location. The implant is left in place for several days, and this approach is most often used to treat NPC that has come back after the first treatment.
Before starting radiation treatment for any head and neck cancer, damaged teeth need to be removed and tooth decay can be prevented before cancer treatment begins.
A combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is commonly used to treat NPC. The use of chemotherapy before radiation therapy is also being studied. In general, chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy may increase side effects. Nutritional support may be necessary during treatment due to these side effects.
Surgery is occasionally used for NPC, but it is not a common treatment choice because the area is hard to reach and lies close to cranial nerves and blood vessels.
If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, surgical removal of lymph nodes in the neck or neck dissection may be recommended. A neck dissection may cause numbness of the ear, weakness when raising the arm above the head, and weakness of the lower lip. These side effects are caused by damage to nerves in the area.
Nasopharyngeal Cancer Staging
Stage I
A small tumor with no spread to lymph nodes and no distant metastasis.
Stage II
Tumor is found in the nasopharynx and has spread to lymph nodes on one side of the neck, but no distant metastasis.
Stage III
Tumor that has spread to lymph nodes on both sides of the neck but has not metastasized.
Stage IVA
This describes any locally advanced tumor with or without extensive lymph node involvement.
Stage IVB
This describes tumor with distant metastases.
Transparency You Can Trust
At Onco Life Centre, we understand the financial burden associated with NPC (Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma) treatment. We are committed to transparency and will provide you with a personalized cost estimate during your initial consultation. Here is an estimate:
Chemotherapy
The cost for treating NPC using chemotherapy for most of our patients is around MYR7,000 per cycle.
Targeted Therapy:
The cost for treating NPC using targeted therapy for most of our patients is around MYR4,000 per cycle.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy can range from MYR8,000 and above depending on the specific type and dosage of immunotherapy drugs used.
Symptoms and Signs
- Lump in the neck
- Nasal obstruction or stuffiness
- Hearing loss
- Pain and ringing in the ear
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Pain, numbness, or paralysis in the face
- Frequent headaches
- Blurred or double vision
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
Diagnosis
Nasopharyngoscopy allows the doctor insert a tube into the nasopharynx to examine the head and neck areas.
Biopsy allows a definite diagnosis to be made. During a fine needle aspiration, cells are removed using a thin needle inserted directly into the tumor and examined during cytological examination for signs of cancer.
Computed tomography creates a 3-dimensional picture to allow a detailed, cross-sectional view that shows any abnormalities or tumors.
Magnetic resonance imaging uses magnetic fields, not x-rays, to produce detailed images of the body, especially images of soft tissue such as the tonsils and base of the tongue. An MRI is more sensitive than a CT scan in detecting a tumor of the nasopharynx and any possible spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
Bone scan uses a radioactive tracer to look cancer spread to bones.
Positron emission tomography or PET-CT scan is usually combined with a CT scan. A small amount of a radioactive sugar substance is injected into the patient’s body. Because cancer tends to use energy actively, it absorbs more of the radioactive substance. A scanner then detects this substance to produce images of the inside of the body.
Your Journey
Start Your Recovery
Our dedicated Patient Navigator will assist you with appointment scheduling. Contact us at +6012-3993260 (Call or Whatsapp ).
First Consultation
On appointment day, bring along all the medical reports and your identity documents, ie. identity card or passport. Our team will help you organize the medical reports for our oncologist to review. Our oncologist will discuss the treatment plan with you. Tele-consult is available for overseas patients.
Treatment Day
Come to our center on an agreed date and time for the treatment. Our team will take good care of you. You will be discharged on the same day. Yes, you will get to go home after every treatment visit as no overnight admission is required.
Stay on Track
Our dedicated patient navigator will be following up with you post treatment to check on your condition, to ensure that you are doing well. You will receive a reminder message on your phone for the next appointment date.
Credentials You Can Trust
Ministry of Health Malaysia
Onco Life Centre is fully licensed as an Oncology Consultation and Treatment Centre (License No: 931401-00214-03/2024)
DR. CHRISTINA NG VAN TZE
MBBS (MELB), FELLOW RACP (AUS)
DR. JOSEPH KANIANTHRA JOSEPH
MBBCH, BAO (IRE), MRCP (UK)
I have been coming to OncoLife centre with my mother. She is under the care of Dr Christina since diagnosis and has been on targeted therapy and is doing well. Dr Christina Ng has been guiding my mum through her treatment and is quick to suggest changes if needed. She is also very ready to hear our concerns and will always take our preference into consideration. Communication with the staff is good and we can readily ask them questions at any time. The atmosphere of the clinic is also pleasant which makes waiting around not such a chore. Parking is readily available in the building. Overall, Onco Life is very patient centred and I am very thankful to Dr Christina and her team for the support they have given my mum and the family.
My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer about 6 months ago at a hospital in KL. We were all very scared, worried and felt very lost at the same time. A friend suggested that we seek advice from Dr Christina Ng at Onco Life Centre. During our first consultation, Dr Christina had explained patiently to us that my mother has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and it has spread to her liver and lung. She had suggested for my mother to promptly start on combination chemotherapy. We were initially worried about chemotherapy side effects. Dr Christina had explained to us that she would carefully select drugs which my mother would likely tolerate well. Much to our surprise, my mother was very well & energetic throughout her chemotherapy course. After 3 months of chemotherapy, she did a CT scan which showed a significant reduction in all tumor deposits in pancreas, liver, lungs & peritoneum. We are grateful towards Dr Christina Ng & her Team for giving us a great hope.
My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer more than one year ago. He started treatment at another hospital but his condition worsened and he became fully dependent on oxygen support over 6 months. That was when we became very anxious and worried. We wanted to seek a second opinion and thus found Dr Christina Ng at Onco Life Centre. Dr Christina immediately adjusted his immunotherapy treatment protocol whilst actively treating his worsening infection. After 4 months under the care of Dr Christina, his condition has improved significantly and he is now totally off oxygen support. We are grateful that he is being given a new lease of life.
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