In clinical work, we have seen many patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and their family members are very concerned about whether nasopharyngeal carcinoma will be passed on to the next generation. So far, we can say for sure that nasopharyngeal carcinoma is not a hereditary disease. Because hereditary diseases need to conform to certain genetic rules, that is, the incidence probability of different genders in the next generation of patients can be predicted according to the genetic rules. However, nasopharyngeal carcinoma does not conform to this law, and the incidence rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cannot be predicted in the next generation of the patient. However, in our study, we found that the family aggregation phenomenon of nasopharyngeal cancer is much more obvious than other tumors. In one family in Guangdong, there were 46 people in four generations, and 13 of them had nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In early years, I came across a pair of twin brothers, one living in Guangdong and the other in the United States, but both brothers developed nasopharyngeal cancer in the same year. Recently, the author admitted a patient with nasopharyngeal cancer. His whole family of 5 members, his father, brother and sister had developed nasopharyngeal cancer one after another. He himself was very worried and went to the hospital for regular checkups. However, he was recently diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer and is receiving treatment. In clinical work, it is not uncommon for brothers, sisters, fathers and sons to develop nasopharyngeal cancer one after another. In the past three years, I have also treated a pair of brothers and sisters who developed nasopharyngeal cancer in the same month. It can be seen that the phenomenon of family gathering of nasopharyngeal cancer is particularly obvious. Although nasopharyngeal cancer is not a genetic disease, it is still related to heredity.
This phenomenon of nasopharyngeal cancer is called genetic susceptibility. About its pathogenesis, it can be understood in this way. Some of the genetic material (or DNA, as professionals call it) in these high cancer families is less stable and is more likely to mutate when exposed to certain carcinogenic substances and form cancer. It can also be understood in another way. These high cancer family members are less able to resist carcinogenic substances and have a lower threshold for cancer development. In normal people, cancer occurs only when a large amount of carcinogenic substances are used for a long time, but in these high cancer family people, cancer occurs after just a little exposure to carcinogenic substances. This is like natural water boiling at 100℃, while some special water starts boiling at only 60℃.
How can prevention be done for people in high cancer families? Although a large number of researchers have been working on finding susceptibility genes for nasopharyngeal cancer and want to change the traits of susceptibility genes through gene therapy to prevent nasopharyngeal cancer. However, so far, there has been no major breakthrough in this area of research, and there is still a long way to go for gene prevention. Although the susceptibility gene cannot be repaired yet, prevention can be done in the following aspects: firstly, we should actively participate in physical exercise and combine work and rest to enhance the body resistance. Secondly, develop good living habits, do not smoke, do not drink alcohol and eat healthy. Again, try to reduce the contact with carcinogenic substances and avoid occupations that have contact with carcinogenic substances. Lastly, go to hospital for regular check-ups, and strive for early detection and early treatment, because the treatment effect of early stage nasopharyngeal cancer is very good.