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Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

Patient Version
Last Modified: 12/05/2011

Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer is cancer that has recurred (come back) after it has been treated. The cancer may come back in the nasopharynx or in other parts of the body.



Glossary Terms

nasopharyngeal cancer (NAY-zoh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul KAN-ser)
Cancer that forms in tissues of the nasopharynx (upper part of the throat behind the nose). Most nasopharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (cancer that begins in flat cells lining the nasopharynx).
nasopharynx (NAY-zoh-FAYR-inx)
The upper part of the throat behind the nose. An opening on each side of the nasopharynx leads into the ear.
recurrent cancer (ree-KER-ent KAN-ser)
Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or to another place in the body. Also called recurrence.