Further tests for nasopharyngeal cancer

Once you have definitely been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, further tests will help your doctor to decide on the treatment you need. If your tests show you have a nasopharyngeal cancer, your doctor needs to check whether the cancer has spread. 

The lymph nodes are often the first place a cancer spreads to. Fluid from body tissues circulates around the organs, then drains into lymph vessels and is carried to the lymph nodes. If any cancer cells have broken away, they will be carried to the lymph nodes in tissue fluid. The most common place for nasopharyngeal cancers to spread is to the lymph nodes in the neck.

This is a computerised scan using X-rays. You may have a CT scan of your head and neck, and your chest or abdomen (stomach area). The head and neck CT will show the size of the cancer and any enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. A chest and abdominal CT may show other signs of cancer spread. There is more about having a CT scan in the cancer tests section. There is information about what lymph nodes are in the section on the lymphatic system.

You may have an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. This type of scan uses magnetic fields to build up a picture of the tissues, organs and structures inside your body. Soft tissue shows up more clearly on this scan than on a CT scan. There is more information about having an MRI scan in the cancer tests section.

Your doctor may take a chest X-ray to see if there is any cancer spread to the lungs. This type of cancer spread is very unlikely unless you have an advanced stage cancer. But you will need a routine chest X-ray anyway if you are going to have surgery under a general anaesthetic.

Some people need a test called a bone scan to find out if the cancer has spread to your bones. This test is more likely if you have stage 3 or 4 cancer. There is more information about bone scans in the cancer tests section.

You will probably feel anxious when you are waiting for your test results. They may take a little time, although sometimes only a week or so. When your test results have come through, your specialist will ask you to come back to the hospital to discuss them. You and your specialist will then decide on a course of treatment.  

While you are waiting for results, it may help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you are feeling. Or you may want to contact a cancer support group to talk to someone who has been through a similar experience. Look at our nasopharyngeal cancer organisations page for an organisation that can give you information about support groups or counselling services near you. If you want to find people to share experiences with online, you could use CancerChat, our online forum. Or go through MyWavelength. This is a free service that aims to put people with similar medical conditions in touch with each other.