What should I do if nasopharyngeal carcinoma causes vomiting?

Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
Updated on February 09, 2025
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Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who exhibit vomiting should first determine the cause of the vomiting. For instance, if vomiting is due to the gastrointestinal reactions caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, medications such as serotonin receptor antagonists, corticosteroids, and NK-1 receptor blockers should be used to alleviate the side effects of the treatment. Additionally, nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients might experience projectile vomiting due to brain metastasis, which results in increased intracranial pressure. It is essential first to confirm the presence of brain metastasis through CT and MRI scans of the head. If brain metastasis is confirmed, localized treatment such as radiotherapy should be administered. Medications like mannitol and glycerol fructose should be used concurrently to reduce intracranial pressure and relieve the projectile vomiting. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

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Does nasopharyngeal carcinoma cause excessive phlegm?

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma often exhibit clinical manifestations of excessive sputum, which is considered to be symptomatic of middle to late stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. For patients with middle to late stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, their immunity is compromised, and this decrease in immunity becomes more pronounced after receiving anti-tumor treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. As a result, patients are highly susceptible to concurrent infections, primarily manifesting symptoms related to the respiratory system such as coughing, sputum production, fever, and chest pain. Additionally, late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients may also experience metastasis to the lungs. When lung metastasis occurs, patients may develop obstructive pneumonia, which can also lead to the clinical presentation of excessive sputum. Moreover, some patients may exhibit increased sputum production as a side effect of anti-tumor treatments.

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Can nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients eat durian?

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma can eat durian, which is a common fruit. Durian has no side effects on the condition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and does not affect the treatment efficacy. For patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, it is recommended to have a light diet, consume high-protein and low-fat foods, and eat more vegetables and fruits. In terms of treatment, radiation therapy is commonly used at present. Some patients may also need to combine chemotherapy. During the treatment process, regular check-ups are necessary to observe the recovery of the condition. If it is an early-stage lesion, the treatment effect is relatively good. If it is a mid-to-late stage lesion, the overall treatment is more challenging, and the effects may also be poorer.

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Characteristics of headaches caused by nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a relatively common otorhinolaryngological disease with various clinical symptoms. The more common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, and bloody nasal discharge. Some patients may experience headaches, which could potentially be due to intracranial metastasis of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma or nerve invasion, causing neuropathic pain. The specific characteristics of the headache mainly manifest as persistent and severe pain. Although pain relief medications can temporarily alleviate the symptoms, the relief usually does not last long. After the effects of the medication wear off, the pain may recur. Moreover, this condition is generally challenging to treat, and treatment outcomes may not be ideal.

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Is nasopharyngeal cancer hereditary?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a malignant tumor of the nasopharynx, primarily found in regions populated by Mongoloid races, and is particularly common in coastal areas or in Guangdong and Guangxi regions. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma has a genetic component, meaning if you have a family history of this cancer, your chances and your descendants' chances of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma are higher compared to those without such a family history. However, having a family history does not guarantee the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, nor does the absence of a family history ensure one will not get it. Under such circumstances, patients with a family history should regularly check their nasopharynx and consider whether there are traces of blood in the first sputum they cough up in the morning, which might indicate a malignancy in the nasopharynx. In such cases, performing a nasopharyngoscopy can generally clarify the presence or absence of a tumor.

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symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with liver metastasis

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who experience liver metastasis present with multiple symptoms, the more common ones being abdominal pain and possible facial jaundice. Some patients may also experience poor appetite and weight loss. The specific symptoms vary from individual to individual. When such conditions occur, it is important to seek medical attention at an oncology department promptly and undergo a comprehensive body examination to determine the extent of the condition, which will facilitate targeted treatment. Current common treatment methods include interventional therapies and chemotherapy. However, overall, the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with liver metastasis is very challenging, and the treatment outcomes are generally not very favorable.