Read the original article on Best Life. Night sweats are typically an early sign of cancer, says Chun Tang, MRCGP, a general practitioner from Pall Mall Medical—but they can also be a side effect of some cancer treatments, he notes.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb According to Mehmet Oz, MD, a cardiothoracic survey specialist and host of The Dr. Oz Show, there are a series of cancers that present as night sweats early on: leukemia, lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, liver cancer, bone cancer, and mesothelioma. And for more health concerns to be aware of when you’re getting rest, If You Feel This at Night, You Need to Get Your Liver Checked, Doctors Say. According to Oz, night sweats linked to cancer tend to be more persistent rather than sporadic, like night sweats caused by non-cancerous health conditions such as menopause. “Unlike sporadic night sweats that we may experience from changing seasons, or waking up from a bad dream, night sweats which may be indicative of cancer are persistent, drenching, and even require changing clothes,” Oz says. Other conditions that may cause more sporadic night sweating include pregnancy, some bacterial infections, low blood sugar, hyperthyroidism, stress, anxiety, and some medications, Healthline says. And for more up-to-date health news and tips delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Tang points out that lymphoma, for example, typically results in fever due to “lymphoma cells producing chemicals that cause your body temperature to rise.” That could then cause night sweats, but there is “no, clear definitive answer,” Tang notes. Leukemia follows a similar pattern. “Leukemia cancer limits the number of immune cells that your body produces. As a result, you’re more likely to develop infections. When your body is battling an infection, your body temperature will automatically increase in order to fight it off. As a result of this natural reaction, fevers and night sweats can occur,” Tang explains. As for liver cancer, David Beatty, MRCGP, a general practitioner with more 30 years of experience, says large liver tumors can use up blood sugar, which causes low blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar levels drop too low, your body produce excess adrenaline, which can lead to sweating. Additionally, carcinoid tumors may secrete serotonin, which makes sweating and flushing more likely, Beatty explains. And for more on what could be increasing your cancer risk, Drinking This Every Day Could Slash Your Cancer Risk, Study Finds. It is unlikely that night sweats will be your only symptom if you do have cancer, according to Beatty. “I don’t ever recall seeing a patient who presented with just night sweats who had cancer and hadn’t already been diagnosed,” he points out. Tang says other symptoms that may accompany your night sweats if they are the result of cancer can include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, excessive bruising, and of course, fever. And for more on what could be causing you other issues at night, If You Can’t Sleep, This Common Medication Could Be Why, Study Says.
