Night Sweats
Learning to live with cancer
Cancer is a common disease. Many Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes. Even though cancer may be life-threatening, many people have successful treatment. Others live with cancer for a very long time.
For most people with cancer, learning to live with the disease is one of the biggest challenges they've ever faced. That's because having cancer touches just about every part of your life and the lives of those around you.
Cancer and its treatment may change:
- Your daily routines and ability to work
- Your important relationships
- The way you look, feel, and think about yourself
If you learn what to expect, you may feel more in control and prepared to cope with these changes. Your health care provider can help you find information and support services that are right for you.
Coping with feelings about having cancerHaving cancer may cause a range of strong emotions, such as sadness, anger, fear, worry, or guilt. These feelings are normal, and they're likely to change over time. It's helpful to sort out your feelings in a way that's comfortable for you. You might try:
- Talking openly with someone you trust
- Writing about your feelings
- Using relaxation methods, such as meditation and other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
- Doing the things you enjoy, giving yourself a break from focusing on cancer
If your emotions seem to take over your life, tell your provider. You may need extra support if you have symptoms of depression, stress, anxiety, or panic disorder.
Communicating with your health care teamDuring cancer treatment, you usually have a team of providers. Along with doctors and nurses, you may be able to talk with social workers, pharmacists, dietitians, and other health professionals.
These professionals are prepared to help you deal with the issues that cancer brings up, including concerns about finances. But it's up to you to let your team know what's on your mind.
Good communication with your providers may help you feel more in control and satisfied with your care. Your communications may be better if you:
- Tell your providers how much you want to know about your cancer and its treatment. Do you want all the details or just the big picture?
- Write down your questions and concerns before your visits.
- Bring a family member or a friend to your visits. This person can help by listening, taking notes, and asking questions.
Cancer changes the daily routines and roles of the people who love and support you. They may need to start doing the things you've always done for them. And you may need their help doing things you've always done for yourself. These changes can be difficult for everyone.
It may help to have an honest talk about changing roles and needs. If that sounds too hard, ask a social worker or another member of your care team to help you talk with family and friends who are helping with your care. These caregivers may need some support, too.
Dealing with changes in your self-imageCancer and its treatment may cause some big changes in how you look, feel, and think about yourself. For example, you may have:
- Less energy
- Temporary or permanent changes in your body, such as scars, or hair loss from chemotherapy
- Problems being sexually close or doubts about dating
Coping with these changes can be hard. But most people find ways to feel more positive over time. If you feel well enough, you might try:
- Exercise. Walking, yoga, or other types of movement may help you feel stronger and more in control of your body. But check with your provider first.
- Staying involved in life and helping others. Think about volunteering, hobbies, or other activities that might make you feel good about yourself.
- Counseling for sexual problems. Talking with a professional, either with a partner or on your own, may help.
After treatment, you'll have regular cancer follow-up care. Your provider will explain the schedule of checkups and tests you'll need. This is a good time to discuss the challenges you may face ahead. Knowing what to expect may help you make plans as you find a "new normal" with cancer as part of your life.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
Felter's Materia Medica on Night Sweats
I. Cinchona.-The dried bark of Cinchona Ledgeriana, Moens; Cinchona Calisaya, Weddell, and hybrids of these with other species of Cinchona yielding not... / ...ing fevers; in anemia and debility from chronic suppuration; and to arrest profuse and debilitating night sweats in one suffering from general debility with poor recuperative powers.1
The plants Impatiens pallida, Nuttall; and Impatiens capensis, Meerb., (Nat. Ord. Balsaminaceae). Moist shady places and rich soils in the United... / ...ic endometritis with discharge of glairy mucus. It relieves some cases of humid asthma and controls night sweats. Inula is of greatest service in bronchial irritation, with cough of a persistent, teas... / ...symptoms is concerned, is unquestioned, but so far we are skeptical concerning its power to destroy the tubercle bacillus within the body.1
The bark of the root of Rhus aromatica, Aiton (Nat. Ord. Anacardiaceae). A small shrub of the rocky regions of eastern United States. Dose, 5 to... / ...hagica and in very mild cases of hemoptysis of phthisis, but is a better agent for the diarrhea and night sweats of that disease. The principal use of fragrant sumach is to control bedwetting in child... / ...Fragrant Sumach, 1/2 fluidounce; Glycerin, 3 1/2 fluidounces. Mix. Sig.: From one-half to one teaspoonful, in water, every three or four hours.1
The lichen Sticta Pulmonaria, Linné (Nat. Ord. Lichenes). Found upon tree trunks and rocks in England and the eastern United States, mostly in... / ...olved. When these conditions prevail it has aided in the reduction of fever, and checked chills and night sweats, thus giving comfort in pulmonary tuberculosis. Sick headache, acute catarrhal disorder... / ...relieved by it simulates lameness, is increased by taking a deep breath, and feels like that arising from a bruise or muscular overexertion.1
Physician's Materia Medica on Night Sweats
Glacial Acetic Acid is caustic; used accordingly to destroy warts or exuberant granulations. The diluted acid is used to arrest hemor rhages and as a lotion to prevent night sweats. The official prepa-- rations are; Glacial Acetic Acid, containing about 99 per cent.; Acetic. Acid, 36 per cent., and Dilnted Acetic Acid, 6 per cent. of ab solute acid.2
A compound soluble in alcohol. but not in water. Antiseptic; prescribed especially for relief of night sweats. Dose 0.6 to 2.0 Grm. (10 to 30 grs.).2
The fungus, POLYPORUs OFFICINALIs, Fries. Suppresses secre tions of skin and lacteal glands. Used chiefly to relieve night sweats. In large doses, cathartic. The active principle is agaricin, which is given in doses of 0.016 to 0.06 Grm. ( % to 1 gr.).2
The leaves, also the root of ATROPA BELLADONNA, Lin. My driatic, a deliriant narcotic, analgesic, antispasmodic. Suppresses secretion of skin and mucous membranes; antagonistic to Morphine. Externally applied to relieve pain, to restrain secretion of milk and for its effect on the eye. Internally used in night sweats and incon tinence of urine, in febrile conditions, as an adjuvant with laxatives, etc. Dose, 0.03 to 0.13 Grm. (% to 2 grs. )or more. [The derivative alkaloids of Belladonnl-1, Atro2
The bark of an undetermined Bolivian tree, probably a species of NECTANDRA. The “Coto” commonly in use in this country is the variety which was formerly called “Paracoto.” Aromatic, astring ent, anodyne. Prescribed in obstinate diarrheas. in night sweats, neuralgia and rheumatism.2
Astringent. Perhaps the most eflicient styptic we have for in ternal hemorrhages. Used also in chronic diarrhea and dysentery. in night sweats and for checking profuse bronchial secretion. Local ly applied it is astringent and has a soothing effect in chronic eczema and in poisoning by Rhus. Dose, 0.06 to 0.50 Grm. (1 to 8 grs.).2
A neutral principle obtained from the seeds of ANAMIRTA COCCULUS, (L-) Wight & Arn. (Cocculus Indicus). In small doses,-it is an efficient remedy for night sweats. Dose, 0.0006 to 0.0025 Grm. (1-100 to 1-25 gr.).2
The leaves of SALVIA OFFICINALIS, Lin. Astringent, tonic. aro matic. carminative; in hot infusion diaphoretic; used in astringent gargles and washes and to repress night sweats. Fluid Extract Sage. Dose, 1 to 4 c. c. (15 to 60 M).2
Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Night Sweats
The remedies most efficient are belladonna or atropine, camphoric acid, zinc oxide, pilocarpine (as a stimulant to the sweat-glands), sulphuric acid; as a lotion, solution of alum in water or dilute alco hol; diluted acetic acid.2
References
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.