Health bodies have warned of a lesser-known cancer symptom that you can spot on your bedding in the morning. According to experts, bedsheets that are “soaking” in sweat every day could be a warning sign that something is seriously wrong.
Many of us experience some form of sweating at night, especially during the summer months.
The temperature of the room and whether you share a bed with a partner could influence this.
But regularly waking up to find yourself and your bedding coated in sweat could be a red flag sign of cancer.
The NHS explains: “Most people sweat during the night If you regularly wake up with soaking wet sheets you should get it checked by a GP.
“Night sweats are when you sweat so much that your night clothes and bedding are soaking wet, even though where you’re sleeping is cool.”
On its website, Cancer Research UK lists “very heavy night sweats” as one of the general signs of cancer.
However, it adds that it could also be a side effect of medications or less serious illnesses.
The charity says: “Sweating at night or having a high temperature (fever) can be caused by infections or a side effect of certain medications.
“It’s also often experienced by women around the time of the menopause.”
However, the charity advises seeing your GP if you do experience this symptom.
“But speak to your doctor if you have very heavy, drenching night sweats, or an unexplained fever,” it adds.
According to the NHS, there are some types of cancers that can cause you to sweat more than usual.
These include:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Carcinoid tumours
- Leukaemia
- Mesothelioma
- Bone cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Germ cell tumours
- Advanced medullary thyroid cancer.
Night sweats are experienced by around 30 percent of patients with leukaemia, according to Leukaemia Care.
“It is certainly not unusual to sweat during the night, especially in the summer when your room or bedding becomes too hot,” it says.
“However, severe night sweats that occur to an extent that your bed sheets or pyjamas become soaking wet, despite sleeping in a cool environment, can sometimes be a sign of leukaemia.
“Out of over 2,000 leukaemia patients asked in our survey, 31 percent reported night sweats as a major symptom before their diagnosis.”
It explains the difference between regular night sweats and those caused by cancer.
“You regularly have night sweats that wake you up at night – you may wake up drenched in sweat, unable to cool down even if your room is cool,” Leukaemia Care adds.
“Many describe the feeling as if they had just got out of a swimming pool and laid down in bed.”
Other warning signs of cancer as listed by Cancer Research UK are:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
- Unexplained pain or ache
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unusual lump or swelling anywhere
- Difficulty swallowing or mouth ulcers that won’t heal
- Persistent bloating
- Persistent heartburn or indigestion
- Appetite loss
- Croaky voice or hoarseness
- Breathlessness
- Persistent cough
- Problems urinating
- Bowel changes
- Blood in poo or urine
- Sore that does not heal
- Skin changes
- New mole or changes to a mole
- Unusual breast or chest changes.