Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Treatment in Malaysia

At Onco Life Centre, our team takes a personalized approach to treating nasopharyngeal cancer in Malaysia. 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.

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Nasopharyngeal Cancer (NPC) Overview

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.

Radiation therapy

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

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

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.

Chemotherapy

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

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 nasopharyngeal cancer treatment in Malaysia. 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.

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.