Night Sweats.. When Can They Be an Early Warning Sign of Cancer
As temperatures rise during the summer, many people are used to waking up drenched in sweat. However, a doctor has warned against ignoring this symptom, explaining that in some cases it could be an early sign of cancer.
According to Cancer Research UK, nearly one-third of people — 32% — who noticed a potential cancer warning symptom did not contact their doctor within six months. These warning signs can include night sweats, fatigue, persistent itching, changes in appetite, and bloating.
According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, Dr Jerry Kubes, a radiation oncology specialist at the proton therapy centre at University College Hospital in London, said the key distinction is whether there is a clear explanation for the symptoms. If the room is cool and someone repeatedly wakes up with their nightwear completely soaked in sweat, this is very different from simply feeling hot and clammy on a warm summer night.
Severe night sweats are associated with certain types of blood cancer and, along with fatigue and recurrent infections, are among the most common symptoms, although they vary depending on the type of disease.
Kubes stressed that experiencing one or two sweaty nights during a heatwave is rarely a cause for alarm. However, unexplained night sweats that persist regularly for more than two or three weeks should prompt a visit to the doctor. Medical advice should be sought sooner if the sweating is severe, accompanied by other worrying symptoms, or if the person feels seriously unwell.
Other common symptoms include unexplained bruising or bleeding, bone and joint pain that affects sleep and daily activities, unexplained weight loss, shortness of breath, persistent itchy skin that does not improve with treatment, and painless swelling in the neck, armpits, or groin.
The specialist emphasised that cancer is far from the most common explanation for these symptoms. Night sweats can have many other causes, including menopause, anxiety, an overactive thyroid, alcohol consumption, and certain medications such as antidepressants, steroids, and some painkillers.
Kubes concluded by noting that feeling tired during a heatwave is extremely common. It becomes more concerning when it develops into severe and persistent fatigue accompanied by heavy sweating, fever, or weight loss. The message, he stressed, is not to panic after a couple of hot nights, but to pay attention to any persistent and unexplained changes, particularly when they occur alongside other warning signs.
