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- In some cases, night sweats occur due to cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, drugs that alter hormones, and morphine. If your night sweats occur due to cancer, you’ll likely experience other symptoms. This includes a fever and unexplained weight loss.
www.healthline.com › health › night-sweats-cancer
If hot flushes or sweating are a side effect of cancer treatment, your cancer doctor or nurse can explain how this is likely to affect you. For some treatments, hot flushes and sweating may gradually reduce as your body adjusts.
People also ask
Why do people with cancer sweat a lot?
Can cancer cause hot flashes & night sweats?
Can breast cancer cause hot flushes and sweats?
Jul 29, 2021 · Hot flashes and night sweats can be a side effect of cancer or its treatment and can occur in both women and men. Learn more about hot flashes and night sweats and ways to treat them in this expert-reviewed summary.
In people with cancer, certain conditions and medications can cause sweating, hot flashes, or night sweats. They happen when your body tries to lower its temperature. They can happen even when the area around you or the room you're in is cool.
- How Hot Flushes May Feel
- Causes of Hot Flushes
- Tips to Help with Hot Flushes
- Treatment For Hot Flushes
- Drug Treatment For Hot Flushes
- Other Therapies
Hot flushes can vary from one person to another. They can start as a feeling of warmth in your neck or face. This often spreads to other parts of your body. You might have: 1. reddening of the skin 2. light or heavier sweating 3. feelings of your heart beating in your chest (palpitations) 4. feelings of panic or irritability Hot flushes can last be...
It's not clear exactly how hormonal changes cause hot flushes. One idea is that the part of the brain called the hypothalamus controls the production of many hormones. It also controls our body temperature. It may be when oestrogen levels are low the hypothalamus can’t control body temperature as well as it should. And this could cause hot flushes....
Some of the following tips might help to reduce the frequency or intensity of flushes. 1. Keep your room cool – use a fan if necessary. 2. Wear layers of light clothing so you can easily take clothes off if you overheat. 3. Have layers of bedclothes to remove as you need to. 4. Wear natural fibres such as silk or cotton instead of synthetic (artifi...
If you are finding it difficult to manage your hot flushes, do talk to your doctor or specialist nurse. There are medicines that may help, but not all treatments are suitable for everyone.
Anti depressants
Research has shown that certain antidepressant medicines can be helpful in treating hot flushes. They can reduce the number and severity of hot flushes. But doctors don’t recommend some types of antidepressants if you are taking tamoxifen. These are fluoxetine or paroxetine. They may interfere with how well tamoxifen works. The dose you have for hot flushes is usually lower than the dose used to treat depression. Remember that all drugs have some side effects. Anti depressants can cause a dry...
Gabapentin
Gabapentin is a type of anti epileptic drug. It controls fits (seizures) but it can also help to reduce hot flushes. In trials for women with breast cancer, it reduced the severity of hot flushes and how long they lasted. Side effects of gabapentin include dizziness and drowsiness. Some women also develop a rash and fluid retention. We need more research to confirm how well these drugs work and find out more about side effects.
Clonidine
Clonidine is a drug used for a variety of conditions, including high blood pressure. It can reduce the number of hot flushes. But it doesn’t reduce their severity or how long they last. Doctors usually recommend trying other treatments before starting clonidine. Side effects include dizziness, a dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness, and difficulty sleeping.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
This treatment suggests there is a link between your thoughts and actions. It focuses on calming your body and mind and keeping a positive outlook. Research suggests that this may help with hormonal symptoms such as hot flushes. For example, one study found that CBT can reduce the effect of hot flushes and night sweats for women who have had breast cancer treatment. It helped women to feel better, sleep better, and have a better quality of life. You can ask your doctor or specialist nurse whe...
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been researched as a treatment for hot flushes in women. Studies have found that acupuncture can help to reduce hot flushes and sweats in women with breast cancer. The beneficial effects can sometimes continue for a few months after the course of acupuncture has finished. These are generally small studies. Further research is needed to understand more about the benefits of acupuncture. Some trials suggest that the following might help reduce hot flushes: 1. yoga 2. relaxation...
Supplements
There are many supplements available for the relief of hot flushes. Generally, the evidence for their use is mixed or limited. But some women have found them useful. It is worth bearing in mind that products can vary in terms of the dose and what they contain. And some may interact with other medicines you are taking, making these less effective or causing side effects. So always check with your doctor or pharmacist first. Supplements include: 1. vitamin E 2. sage 3. evening primrose 4. gingk...
[ show] Managing hot flashes and sweating might include taking medicines to treat the underlying cause of the symptoms, if possible, or medicines to help with the symptoms themselves. Making certain lifestyle changes might be helpful as well. Talk to your cancer care team about the right treatment for you. Medicines.
Oct 20, 2022 · In women, some cancer treatments can cause them to go into early menopause. Hot flashes and night sweats are common symptoms of menopause. These treatments include some types of: Radiation. Chemotherapy. Hormone treatment. Surgery to remove your ovaries.
May 16, 2023 · Sweating can be a cancer symptom or may be due to cancer treatment. It can be very distressing. It can also be embarrassing if you are in a social situation. Knowing more about the causes can help you understand why you might be sweating.
