When your hay fever symptoms could really be signs of cancer – from eye irritation to headaches

MILLIONS of us are plagued by irritating, uncomfortable and sometimes painful hay fever symptoms.

Thankfully, they tend to be short-lived and can be treated with over-the-counter medicines and home remedies.

But in some instances, these symptoms could be a sign of something more serious, including cancer, experts warn.

This is rare, but it is important to be able to recognise when you could be at risk.

So whether it’s itchy eyes, a runny nose or a painful headache, here are eight of the most common hay fever symptoms and when they could indicate something more sinister is going on.

Irritated eyes

Most people with hay fever will be familiar with agonising eye irritation that comes with it.

Whether you’re left dying to itch your waterline, have bright red inner corners or your peepers simply won’t stop watering, it can be a real pain.

But if your eye irritation lasts for a long time, particularly if well past your other symptoms, it could be a sign of something more sinister.

One symptom of eye cancer, also known as ocular cancer, is “eye irritation that is not going away”, according to the NHS.

Others include blurred vision, bulging, a lump on the eyelid, partial or total vision loss, a dark patch that’s getting bigger or shadows, flashes of light or wiggly lines in your vision.

“These symptoms can also be caused by more minor eye conditions, so they’re not necessarily a sign of cancer,” the health service adds.

“But it’s important to get the symptoms checked by a doctor as soon as possible.”

There are several different types of eye cancer, including eye melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma and retinoblastoma.

About 850 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year.

Sneezing

Another hallmark of hay fever – sneezing.

Generally, this won’t ever be a sign of cancer. But some forms of the disease can cause flu-like symptoms.

This is particularly true for blood cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), according to Blood Cancer UK.

One in 16 men and one in 22 women will develop blood cancer at some point in their lives, the charity estimates.

Runny nose

A runny nose is a common symptom of hay fever, but in rare cases, it can also be a sign of nasal or sinus cancer, the NHS warns.

Some people also experience a blocked nose that doesn’t go away (and usually only affects one side), nosebleeds, a decreased sense of smell, and mucus draining into the back of the nose and throat.

“These symptoms can be similar to more common and less serious conditions, such as a cold or sinusitis,” the NHS adds.

Nasal and sinus cancer is rare in the UK, with around 460 cases every year.

Itchy throat

There are many reasons your throat, mouth, nose or ears could be feeling itchy, with a major one being hay fever.

But itchiness or soreness can occur in patients with any form of head and neck cancer.

There are more than 30 areas where the disease can develop, including the mouth, lips, voice box (larynx), throat (pharynx), salivary glands, nose, sinuses, and the area at the back of the nose and mouth (nasopharynx).

An irritated or sore throat tends to be more common in cancer of the oropharynx or hypopharynx, the NHS says.

Coughing

“Symptoms of lung cancer can be hard to spot, especially with spring now in full bloom,” the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation says.

“A persistent cough or wheeziness, for example, could be put down to seasonal allergies such as hay fever.

“However, if symptoms like a persistent cough continue, it could be an indicator of something else going on.”

If your cough hasn’t gone away after three weeks, or it seems to be getting worse, speak to your GP.

Loss of smell

Nasal or sinus cancer can cause your sense of smell to worsen.

But this can also occur as a result of a brain tumour in some cases, the Brain Tumour Charity warns.

“It’s also worth noting that, although not technically a brain tumour, an olfactory neuroblastoma (also called a esthesioneuroblastoma) can decrease the sense of smell, create nosebleeds, lead to watery eyes, and other symptoms,” the charity adds.

“If you have lost your taste or smell, it’s important that you don’t panic.

“Brain tumours are rare, and other medical issues can lead to a loss of taste and smell.

“However, if you’re worried then talk to your doctor.”

There are around 12,700 new brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours cases in the UK every year, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) estimates.

Headaches

Common allergies, including hay fever, can trigger sinus headaches.

These tend to feel like a dull or throbbing pain in the temples, forehead, nose and cheekbones, according to Allergy & Asthma Specialists.

But this kind of sensation can also indicate several types of cancer.

Though it will most likely be down to hay fever, dehydration, a hangover, a cold or another common ailment, more than half of all people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour report experiencing headaches, the Brain Tumour Charity says.

“Doctors generally do not worry if there is a clear reason for your headache, and if you don’t have any other brain tumour symptoms,” the charity adds.

“But, headaches are a symptom of brain tumours, so it’s important to understand brain tumour headaches so that you know the signs to look out for.”

Pain caused by a brain tumour tends to be worse in the morning, aggravated by straining, coughing, shouting or bending over, and not managed by painkillers, experts say.

They can feel like throbbing or a dull ache, resemble a migraine or tension-type headache, and occur intermittently, starting gradually but fading over a few hours.

If you experience this alongside other “red flags”, like repeated vomiting, muscle weakness, a change in memory or personality, or seizures, speak to your GP.

Feeling tired

Any cancer that affects your hormone levels could cause fatigue, according to CRUK.

We all feel tired now and again – especially those of us with hay fever for half the year.

But persistent exhaustion could be a sign of diseases like breast or prostate cancer, the charity warns.

“People with advanced cancer are more likely to have fatigue than those with earlier stage cancer,” it adds.

“This could be because there are more cancer cells in the body, so the cancer itself is causing you to feel tired.

“You might also eat less, be less active and take medicines.”

Research suggests cancer-related fatigue affects almost 65 out of 100 people with cancer.

It can be a symptom of the cancer itself or a side effect of treatment.

CRUK lists the following symptoms as potential cancer-related fatigue:

• A lack of energy – you may just want to stay in bed all day
• The need to rest even when you’ve done little or no activity
• Feeling that you just cannot be bothered to do much
• Sleeping problems, such as unable to sleep or disturbed sleep
• Finding it hard to get up in the morning
• Feeling anxious, sad or depressed
• Pain in your muscles – you may find it hard to climb stairs or walk short distances
• Feeling breathless after doing small tasks, for example, having a shower or making your bed
• Finding it hard to concentrate, even just watching TV or talking to a friend
• Finding it hard to think clearly or make decisions easily
• Loss of interest in sex
• Loss of interest in doing things you usually enjoy
• Negative feelings about yourself and others