Paula is right that Nasopharyngeal cancer is common among Asians, particularly along Southern China. There are many new cases every year in the hospital where I was treated. To ease the tension of Scott, this type of cancer is highly treatable. In Hong Kong, the survival rate of such cancer at an early stage is over 90%. For more advanced stage, surgery is not usually recommended but of course side effects from radiation can be serious and may affect hearing. Any way I am not an expert but have come across many more nasopharyngeal cacner patients than tonsil cancer ones in my place.
Karen.