The one sign on your bed sheets that could be an indication of cancer

It's important to be aware of the signs of cancer including night sweats
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


The early detection of cancer significantly improves the chances of survival, which means it's so important to recognise the signs promptly - even those that are less well-known. Symptoms can be specific to certain body parts like the stomach or skin, but they can also be more general, encompassing weight loss, fatigue, or unexplained pain.

While some potential indicators of cancer, such as lumps, are widely recognised, others like unexplained bleeding or persistent bloating are not as well known. However, this doesn't mean they're less significant or less likely to indicate cancer.

It's crucial to seek medical advice for any possible cancer symptom. Another lesser-known sign is night sweats, where a person excessively sweats while sleeping. Despite its name, excessive sweating and hot flashes can occur both at night and during the day.

READ MORE: Woman in intensive care abroad after falling ill while on holiday with boyfriend

READ MORE: The £2.49 sun cream that passed sun protection tests with flying colours

Night sweats can be an overlooked warning sign of cancer, especially in the summer months. Experts suggest checking your bedding in the morning for signs of excessive sweating during sleep.

If you've been sweating excessively, your sheets and pillows will likely be noticeably saturated by morning. Commenting on night sweats as a potential cancer symptom, Cancer Research has said: "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. But speak to your doctor if you have very heavy, drenching night sweats, or an unexplained fever."

Based on information from Cancer Research, one of the main causes of sweating among those with cancer is infection. Infections may trigger a high temperature wherein the body uses sweat as a natural mechanism to lower it.

Some cancer types can also 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

Cancer can manifest itself in a wide variety of symptoms, and it’s important to note what is normal for you and notify your doctor if you are worried about any changes to your health. Sweating doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer, but if it’s not normal for you, it’s important to speak to your doctor about it.