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Nosebleeds or epistaxis are common symptoms characterized by bleeding from the nose due to ruptured blood vessels in the nose. Almost everyone has experienced a nosebleed at least once in their life. Usually, blood only comes out of one nostril. Most of the nosebleeds go away without any serious medical treatment.
However, frequent nosebleeds can be a sign of a serious illness, such as cancer. Nosebleeds can be a symptom of several cancers. Here are the various types of cancer that cause nosebleeds.
Three types of cancer cause nosebleeds
1. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx, located at the top of the pharynx (throat), behind the nose. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type of cancer in this area. SCC arises from the lining of the nasal tissue.
Recurrent nosebleeds are a common symptom of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This cancer not only causes nosebleeds, but also causes the mucus that comes out to always contain blood spots.
Nosebleeds due to nasopharyngeal carcinoma occur on one side of the nose and usually do not cause heavy bleeding. It is difficult to detect nasopharyngeal carcinoma in its early stages. This is because the nasopharynx is not easily recognized and the symptoms are similar to other common conditions. This cancer can spread to other parts through the tissues, lymph system, and bloodstream and to the bones, lungs, and liver (liver).
2. Leukemia
Frequent nosebleeds can also be a symptom of leukemia. People with leukemia often bruise and bleed easily. Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells, which blocks the white blood from fighting infection. When a person has leukemia, their bone marrow is unable to produce enough red blood cells and platelets to supply the body's needs.
Leukemia can be acute or it is called acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute. Chronic leukemia is much more dangerous and difficult to treat. This is the most common type of blood cancer.
Nosebleeds due to leukemia can be difficult to stop, although the bleeding that does occur is usually not that heavy. Apart from nosebleeds and easy bruising or bleeding, other possible symptoms of leukemia include fever, night sweats, bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, feeling weak, and weight loss for no apparent reason.
3. Lymphoma
Lymphoma develops in lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) that fight infection. Abnormal lymphocytes can interfere with your immune system. This will reduce resistance to external harmful factors. Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) are the two main types of lymphoma.
Because lymph nodes and other lymphatic tissues occur throughout the body, lymphoma can appear in almost any part of the body, including the nose or sinuses (the air-filled part of the nasal cavity behind the facial bones). Lymphoid tissue growths in the nose or sinuses can erode the inside of blood vessels and cause nosebleeds.
