How it is Diagnosed

Your GP will examine you and arrange for any further tests that may be necessary. You will need to be referred to a hospital specialist for these tests, and for expert advice and treatment. The doctor at the hospital will take your full medical history, carry out a physical examination, and take blood samples to check your general health. The following tests are commonly used to make a firm diagnosis:
X-rays These may be taken to show the size and position of the cancer.
CT (computerised tomography) scan This is a sophisticated type of x-ray that builds up a detailed three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. The scan is painless but takes about 10 minutes. It may be used to find the exact site of the cancer, or to check for any spread of the cancer. Most people who have a CT scan are given a drink or injection that enables particular areas to be seen more clearly. Before having the injection or drink, it is important to tell the person doing this test if you are allergic to iodine or have asthma.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan This scan uses magnetism instead of x-rays to form a series of cross-sectional pictures of the inside of the body. During the scan, you will be asked to lie on the couch inside a metal cylinder. You will usually be given an injection of a liquid that enables the pictures to be seen more clearly. The test can take up to an hour and is completely painless. If you don't like enclosed spaces you may find the machine claustrophobic. The machine is also quite noisy, but you will be given earplugs or headphones to wear.
Nasopharyngoscopy In this procedure a fine tube with a light at the end (nasendoscope) is guided through the nose into the sinus area. If an abnormal area is seen, a small piece of tissue will be taken to examine under a microscope for cancer cells (biopsy). This may be carried out under a local or general anaesthetic. This test can be uncomfortable and you may be given an anaesthetic spray beforehand to numb your nose and throat. You will then be asked not to eat or drink anything for about an hour afterwards, until your throat has lost the numb feeling.

Types of Treatment

What treatment is best for you? Which methods have proven to be most effective? Here you can find answers to your questions, plus learn about what to ask your physician, what's new in research, and what you can expect after treatment is over. Treatment Options Learn about the most common forms of treatment and how they're used to fight cancer.
Surgery Find out when surgery is necessary and what techniques are used.Radiation Therapy Principles In depth guide to see how radiation therapy works and what you can expect before, during, and after treatment. Understanding Radiation Therapy A Guide for Patients and Families Answers to your questions about radiation therapy and managing side effects.
Chemotherapy What It Is, How It Helps Basics of how chemotherapy works to treat cancer. Chemotherapy Principles In depth guide to see how chemotherapy works and what you can expect before, during, and after treatment. Understanding Chemotherapy A Guide for Patients and Families Answers to your questions about chemotherapy and managing side effects.
Oral Chemotherapy What You Need to Know General information on taking chemotherapy as a liquid, tablet, or capsule.
Immunotherapy Find out how this treatment uses your body's own defense system to fight cancer.
Off-Label Drug Use explains under what circumstances a patient might receive an investigational new drug outside a clinical trial.

Alternative therapies

Aromatherapy is the use of fragrant substances, called essential oils, distilled from plants to alter mood or improve health. These highly concentrated aromatic substances are either inhaled or applied during massage. Approximately 40 essential oils are commonly used in aromatherapy; among the most popular are lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, chamomile, marjoram, jasmine, peppermint, lemon, ylang ylang, and geranium.
Art therapy is used to help people manage physical and emotional problems by using creative activities to express emotions. It provides a way for people to come to terms with emotional conflicts, increase self-awareness, and express unspoken and often unconscious concerns about their illness and their lives. "Expressive arts therapy" or "creative arts therapy" may also include dance and movement, drama, poetry, photo therapy and others, as well as the more traditional art methods.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine. It has an integrated approach to the prevention and treatment of illness and tries to maintain or re-establish the harmony between the mind, body, and forces of nature. It combines a number of approaches, such as changes in lifestyle, herbal remedies, exercise, and meditation to strengthen and purify the body and mind and increase spiritual awareness.
Feng shui is the ancient Chinese philosophy and art of placing objects, ornaments, furniture, rooms, buildings, and even towns in position so they promote the beneficial flow of vital energy or life force called qi (or chi). The words feng shui literally mean wind and water.
Yoga is a form of non-aerobic exercise that involves a program of precise posture, breathing exercises, and meditation. In ancient Sanskrit, the word yoga means "union."
Meditation is a mind-body process that uses concentration or reflection to relax the body and calm the mind. It has been defined as the intentional self-regulation of attention, a mental focus on a particular aspect of one's inner or outer experience. One commonly practiced type is Transcendental Meditation, which involves repeating a word or phrase (mantra), either silently or aloud. Another is mindfulness meditation, in which a person observes sensations, perceptions, and thoughts without judgment as they arise. There are other types of meditation that focus attention by walking or visualizing. Meditations that focus on words or images and do not strive for a state of thoughtless awareness are sometimes called quasi-meditative.
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that is part of Qigong (see Qigong). It is a mind-body, self-healing system that uses movement, meditation, and breathing to improve health and well being.
Qigong is a Chinese system designed to enhance the natural flow of vital energy called qi (or ch'i, pronounced "chee" or "kee") in the body. The process of working toward a regulated, smooth flow of qi is called "gong" (pronounced "kung").
Native American healing is a broad term that includes healing beliefs and practices of hundreds of indigenous tribes of North America. It combines religion, spirituality, herbal medicine, and rituals that are used to treat people with medical and emotional conditions. There are many tribal differences, so it is not surprising that healing rituals and beliefs vary a great deal. The most sacred traditions are still kept secret, passed along from one healer to the next. Because of these factors, information on healing practices is general and somewhat limited.
Breathwork is a general term used to describe a variety of conscious breathing techniques that are used in many relaxation exercises and spiritual healing methods. There are many types of breathwork and facilitators. Focused, deep breathing exercises, such as exaggerating the way you naturally inhale and exhale, is said to promote relaxation, awareness, and emotional release. Since shallow breathing is considered to be a way to avoid feeling one's emotions and an indicator of stress, the goal in breathwork is usually to take long, deep breaths. These breaths are said to be "cleansing" in that they free the body and mind from restrictions, and release toxins that work against a healthy state.
Dance therapy is the therapeutic use of movement to improve the mental and physical well being of a person. It focuses on the connection between the mind and body to promote health and healing. Dance therapy can be considered an expressive therapy.