Symptom 10: Frequent Nosebleeds: The Uncommon Sign
Nosebleeds, though often innocuous, can sometimes be an uncommon sign of severe conditions, including throat cancer. A nosebleed, or epistaxis, is a condition where blood flows from one or both nostrils, either intermittently or continuously. Frequent, unprovoked nosebleeds, especially when associated with other throat cancer symptoms, warrant attention.
The association between frequent nosebleeds and throat cancer lies primarily in the fact that both the nose and throat share a common area known as the nasopharynx. A cancerous tumor in the nasopharynx, a type of throat cancer, can cause nosebleeds that are often dismissed as insignificant.
What characterizes these nosebleeds as potentially concerning are their frequency and lack of apparent triggers. If you’re noticing regular nosebleeds occurring without any known cause, such as dry air, trauma, or a cold, it’s a potential red flag.(10)
