Night sweats are a common symptom of lymphoma, particularly Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, they are not an indicator of cancer if no other symptoms are present. Treatment options include medications to prevent excessive sweating, wearing loose-fitting clothing, and keeping the room cool. Lymphoma is treatable if caught early, but more advanced cancers can be difficult to cure. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their doctor.
The main connection between night sweats and lymphoma is that night sweats are one of the most common symptoms of this disease. Among the cancers, night sweats are more strongly linked to lymphoma than other varieties. It is not determined what causes this, although two possibilities include an immune response emitted by the body to fight cancer or a high fever.
Although night sweats and lymphoma are linked, night sweats are not an indicator of cancer if no other symptoms are present. Sometimes other medical conditions can cause night sweats, as well as menopause, pregnancy, and other hormonal changes. Other symptoms associated with lymphoma are one or more enlarged lymph nodes that grow over time, fever, weight loss, fatigue, and malaise. Not all patients will experience all of these symptoms.
Night sweats appear to occur with both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and no longer seem to occur during any particular time of night. Patients may experience them overnight or at set intervals, and some nights may be worse than others. Many people will notice a reduction in symptoms once treatment is started, but this is not always the case. There are various treatments used to relieve the symptoms associated with night sweats and lymphoma.
If sweating becomes profuse or deeply disturbs sleep, medications may be used to prevent excessive sweating. Patients are also often encouraged to wear loose-fitting clothing that keeps moisture away from the body rather than clinging to it. Keeping the room cool and using lighter blankets while sleeping can also make patients more comfortable.
Sometimes night sweats and lymphoma progression can continue despite treatment. While both forms of lymphoma are treatable if caught early, more advanced cancers can be more difficult to cure. This can lead to prolonged treatments and more severe symptoms. In some patients, night sweats are a later symptom of the disease rather than an initial one. This will vary based on the individual.
The most common treatments for lymphoma are radiation, chemotherapy, lymph node removal, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation. Because lymphoma is a cancer that can affect the entire lymphatic system, primary tumors or growths that occur in an internal organ, such as the spleen, are often diagnosed later than those that start in a lymph node. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their doctor or other healthcare professional.
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