Waking up drenched in sweat, with soaked clothes and soaked sheets, can be unsettling, especially if it keeps happening. You might think, "What's going on? What could be wrong? Does it have anything to do with cancer? Cancer is actually one of the less common causes of night sweats. Most commonly, they're caused by anxiety, thyroid problems, certain medications, menopause, or infections.
However, if the sweats are happening regularly and are accompanied by other concerns such as weight loss, fevers, enlarged lymph nodes, or continuous fatigue, it's a sign to pay attention.
Lymphoma
When doctors think of night sweats and cancer, lymphoma is usually at the top of the list. People with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma sometimes wake up drenched in sweat, even when the room feels cool.
Along with the night sweats, you might notice:
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin
Fever that comes and goes
Unexplained weight loss
Feeling tired most of the time
Itchy skin
Leukemia
Because leukemia affects the blood and bone marrow, it can make infections and fevers more common. Those fevers can trigger heavy sweating during the night.
You may also experience:
Frequent infections
Easy bruising or bleeding
Feeling unusually tired
Bone or joint pain
Pale skin
Bone Cancer
Night sweats are not a common symptom of bone cancer, but they may occur if the cancer causes fever or inflammation.
Other symptoms may be:
Bone pain that doesn't go away
Swelling around the painful area
The bones become fragile and break easily
Liver Cancer
Some people diagnosed with liver cancer also experience night sweats, although they're rarely the first symptom people notice.
Other symptoms can include:
Upper right abdominal pain or discomfort
Loss of appetite
Unexplained weight loss
Yellowing of the skin or eyes
Advanced cancers
People with advanced cancer may also experience night sweats. They rarely happen on their own, though. Most people have other symptoms as well, such as ongoing fever, weight loss, or increasing fatigue.
When to see a doctor?
Unless it can be shown that it's one sweaty night, you're unlikely to be worried. If, however, you are waking up with wet clothes and bedding and can't figure out why, it's time to see a doctor. Don't put it off if you also have:
Unexplained weight loss
Recurrent fever
Swollen lymph nodes
Tiredness (fatigue) all of the time
Frequent infections
Pain that doesn't improve
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms to find out how long they have been occurring and what medicines you are taking, which is the first step in the process. Your doctor may suggest that after that, you have blood tests, an X-ray, or a CT scan. If necessary, an MRI or ultrasound will be performed. Biopsy when further evaluation is needed, if there is a lump or area of concern
These tests can help to rule out other conditions and determine why you have symptoms. It's annoying to get up every night damp and sticky, but cancer is not the most common cause. Night sweats are usually due to something less serious. Despite this, they should not be ignored if they persist or occur in cases of unexplained weight loss, fever, enlarged lymph nodes,s or persistent fatigue. A thorough examination can determine what is causing it and if it requires any treatment.