A ‘little-known’ symptom that can happen at night may be linked to a common ‘silent killer’ disease – bowel cancer. Spotting the warning signs early is important, as bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK
Data from Cancer Research UK shows bowel cancer is the cause of 16,808 deaths every year. There are around 44,100 new bowel cancer cases in the UK every year, that’s around 120 every day.
Bowel cancer is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’ because it doesn’t always have clear symptoms. It frequently shows no symptoms in its initial stages. This lack of early signs can result in a delayed diagnosis and reduced chances of survival.
This week, the NHS has rolled out lifesaving home testing for bowel cancer. The move means hundreds of thousands more people will be sent a kit that can help to detect signs of bowel cancer, as the NHS expands its screening programme to those aged 50 in England.
An NHS spokesperson said: “The kit, known as the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), checks for blood in a small stool sample, which can be a sign of bowel cancer… Results are sent back to participants, along with information about further tests, if needed.”
Early detection of bowel cancer can significantly improve treatment outcomes. The most common symptoms include blood in your stool or bleeding from the bottom, changes in bowel habits, like constipation or diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness and a lump or pain in your stomach.
Night sweats and bowel cancer
However, there is one less common symptom that can cause an uncomfortable experience when sleeping. Night sweats may indicate advanced bowel cancer, especially if they occur alongside other symptoms – such as unexplained weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, or blood in the stool – which may indicate the cancer is in advanced stages.
Night sweats may happen when your immune system is working hard to combat cancer, particularly if you’re experiencing a fever. In response, your body sweats more than usual to help cool itself down.
However, night sweats alone are not typically a clear sign of bowel cancer and can result from various other factors. Therefore, it’s essential to see a doctor if you experience them. Night sweats can result from a range of factors, including infections, hormonal shifts such as those during menopause, certain medications, and stress.
If you’re worried about night sweats, particularly if they’re linked to other possible cancer symptoms, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor for a check-up. Your doctor may perform physical exams, blood tests, imaging scans (such as a colonoscopy), or other assessments to determine what’s causing your night sweats.
It’s important to keep in mind that the primary symptoms of colorectal or bowel cancer can vary, especially in advanced cases. Additionally, individuals who menstruate might mistakenly link some of these symptoms to menstrual pain. Those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may also face similar symptoms.