Night sweats - worried about cancer

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I have been experiencing night sweats for about a month. I had breast cancer earlier this year (which wasn't picked up on the original scan and only because I had to push the GP a LOT to get me seen again) so I am a bit paranoid about cancer. It hadn't spread and I didn't need chemo, but my faith in doctors is now very low!

I'm 42 and am on sertraline for anxiety and beta blockers for tachycardia. Other symptoms are tiredness, dry eyes and hair loss.

I'm wondering if this could be perimenopause but I had hormonal blood tests a few months ago that were normal. I'm going to get some blood tests done through the GP but in the meantime I'm worried about things like lymphoma and leukaemia and that my cancer has spread and they just didn't spot it (like the first time).

Just wondering if anyone can provide some reassurance before I convince myself I'm dying...

All of the symptoms you describe can be part of peri menopause. I had vile night sweats for years before I had the faintest clue it might be peri. HRT has sorted me out. I also get dry eyes. I don't think hormonal blood tests are necessarily conclusive - maybe you will get more answers about that if you query on the menopause board. You're on the young-ish side for peri but it's not impossible by any means.

Thanks, I did think it might be peri but I am quite young for it, my Mum was in her 50s so I assumed it would be similar for me. I won't be able to take HRT because of breast cancer. I can cope with the symptoms OK I just want to know for sure that it's nothing more sinister.

Low iron can also cause crazy night sweats

It's very unlikely to be cancer. If you didn't need chemo, presumably that means they removed the tumour with clear margins (or whatever the expression is) and there was no sign of anything having spread. They wouldn't take a risk with something like that. And I think leukaemia/lymphoma secondary to breast cancer, especially so soon, would be really unusual (not a doctor, though). But of course you are anxious, given what you've gone through, and I think IIWY I would probably get checked out, to put my mind at rest and also because it's a bloody annoying symptom.

Perimenopause can start up to 10 years before actual menopause. I'm 44 and noticing some cycle changes that I think mean it's starting for me.

It’s quite likely to be peri - but you don’t need the worry after your previous cancer, so talk to a GP , or your consultant if you are still in contact, and get a proper diagnosis.
Hope you stay well.

Sertraline can cause night sweats. Check with your GP , but this might be the reason .

Setraline is known to give night sweats and if you’re peri too it could well be the reason. Sorry that you’re going through this worry though and definitely talk with your GP.

Could it be a side effect from the sertraline?

Thank you all. The margins were clear but only by 0.1mm which to me seems tiny! But the oncologist seemed happy about it. I have just lost all faith in the medical profession as if I hadn't basically made a scene and pressured the GP to be reviewed I would now most likely have terminal cancer.

It could be sertraline but I started taking it (50mg) at the beginning of July so could it still be a side effect if it only started at the beginning of October?

I’m 41 and pretty certain I’m in peri! Night sweats and heavier periods. Bloods don’t always pick this up.

I had breast cancer two years ago and post treatment was assigned a specialist nurse to contact with any concerns. Called a survivorship scheme (hate that term). I presume you will have something similar?

While night sweats are a menopause symptom they are as you will know, a symptom of cancer. I would ring your breast care nurse who will direct you who to see. Don't ignore.

Are you on Tamoxifen? If so that could be the culprit.

Agree with suggestion to call your breast care nurse.

No I'm not on tamoxifen. You guys are scaring me now. I've had blood tests now and waiting for the results. Will they be able to tell from the blood tests if anything is wrong?

Certainly if it is a blood cancer the bloods will be a strong warning sign. You may also want hormone levels looked at.

have you had any results through yet?

Could also be your thyroid

It could be anything
They're v quick with blood results if something is very wrong. I was having really bad night sweats and it turned out I was neutropenic and that's what was causing them

I'll get the blood test results on Tuesday.

I'll get the blood test results on Tuesday

Keeping my fingers crossed for you

What type of breast cancer did you have? Because if you didn't have chemo and don't have Tamoxifen/ other AI then it quite likely that it was non invasive so hadn't even spread outside of the ducts let alone into your lymphatic system.

It's far more likely that you are perimenopausal and the night sweats are part of that.

Thanks @MrsPnut I had high grade DCIS and a mastectomy. Lymph node biopsy showed it hadn't spread. But I'm a bit paranoid about it all now as I had to go back to the breast clinic 4 times in a year before I was diagnosed as nothing showed up in the scans and it was only when I begged for a biopsy that they did one. So I've kind of lost my trust in both doctors and scans/pathology reports! The 0.1mm margin I find a scary thought as well, but the oncologist said he was happy with it.

I had terrible night sweats when I was on sertraline. I came off it because of them in the end.

Thinking of you OP and hope everything comes back ok in test results xx

I'm on Sertraline and it's causing horrendous night sweats, I'm waking up multiple times in the night absolutely drenched - apparently it's a common side effect with anti-depressants. I started mine a year ago and get them on and off, going through a horrible phase right now.

Apparently it is quite normal though so try not to worry!

Diabetes can also cause night sweats

Thanks. I did wonder if it could be sertraline but I've been on it for 4 months now and the night sweats only started a month ago, so not sure if it could be linked?