Getting diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer
You usually start by seeing your GP if you have symptoms. Your GP will examine you and might refer you for tests or to see a specialist. If the tests show that you have cancer, you have more tests to find out its size and whether it has spread. This is called staging.
Seeing your GP
You should see your GP if you notice a change that isn't normal for you or you have any of the possible symptoms of cancer.
Referral to a specialist for nasopharyngeal cancer
Your GP might arrange tests or refer you to a specialist if you have symptoms that could be caused by nasopharyngeal cancer.
Tests for nasopharyngeal cancer
Usually you have a nasendoscopy or panendoscopy to diagnose nasopharyngeal cancer. You might have tests to check your lymph nodes if they are swollen.
Screening for nasopharyngeal cancer
Screening means testing people for early stages of a disease before they have any symptoms. There is no national screening programme for nasopharyngeal cancer in the UK.