Causes

The cause of nasopharyngeal cancer is not yet known, but is possibly related to some items of the diet and a certain virus. Nasopharyngeal cancer is not contagious. 

Risk Factors

• Diet. Consumption of salted vegetables, fish and meat is associated with NPC. Studies show salted soy beans, canned pickled vegetables, Szechuan vegetables and salted vegetables are high risk food. The cooking of such foods releases toxic substances called nitrosamines into the fumes that we breathe.

• Epstein Barr Virus (EB virus). This virus has been found to be associated with NPC.

• Genetic factors may play an important role in NPC. Blood tests can identify certain people at risk from NPC.