Warning Sign of Bowel Cancer May Appear While Lying in Bed at Night
A little-known symptom at night could signal bowel cancer, a serious condition
Bowel Cancer, Night Sweats, UK, NHS, Symptoms
London: There’s a lesser-known symptom that might pop up while you’re trying to catch some Z’s, and it could be linked to bowel cancer. This disease is often called a ‘silent killer’ because it can sneak up on you without clear signs. In the UK, it’s the fourth most common cancer, and catching it early is crucial.
Every year, bowel cancer claims around 16,800 lives in the UK, with about 44,100 new cases diagnosed. That’s roughly 120 new cases daily! The tricky part is that many people don’t notice symptoms until it’s more advanced, which can make treatment tougher.
This week, the NHS is stepping up its game by rolling out home testing kits for bowel cancer. This means that many more folks, especially those aged 50 and up, will get a chance to check for early signs. The kit, called the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), looks for blood in stool samples, which can be a red flag for bowel cancer.
Getting diagnosed early can really make a difference in treatment success. Common signs to watch for include blood in your stool, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, and feeling super tired. But there’s also something less common to keep an eye on: night sweats.
Night sweats can be a sign of advanced bowel cancer, especially if they come with other symptoms like weight loss or abdominal pain. They might happen when your body is fighting off cancer, causing you to sweat more than usual. But don’t panic—night sweats can also be caused by other things like infections or stress.
If you’re experiencing night sweats and are worried, especially if they’re paired with other symptoms, it’s a good idea to chat with your doctor. They can run some tests to figure out what’s going on. Just remember, symptoms can vary, and sometimes they might be mistaken for other issues, like menstrual pain or IBS.