Managing fever and night sweats
Fever and night sweats are common symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and are used in the staging of the disease, along with unexplained weight loss. They can also occur as a result of treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
You can be given medication to help with these symptoms
Your doctor or your healthcare team may prescribe drugs such as paracetamol, which help bring down your temperature.
Techniques to reduce stress can also help
Relaxation techniques that help reduce stress levels and regular gentle exercise may also benefit you. It is important that you choose an activity that you enjoy and feel comfortable with, and that you can undertake relatively easily whenever you need to.
Try and avoid foods or drinks that can make the symptoms worse
Certain foods and drinks, such as spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, sugar and hot drinks, can make fevers and night sweats worse, so it may help to avoid those, particularly close to bedtime.
There are also practical tips that patients can adopt to help cope with fevers and night sweats
These include:
- Wearing cotton clothing, as the material absorbs moisture and still provides warmth after the fever is over
- Wearing layers of clothing that can be removed and put on as the body temperature changes
- Using several layers of bedclothes instead of one large duvet. This means the layers can be removed or added as necessary during the night. Bedclothes made of natural fabrics may also help as they are more likely to allow your skin to breathe.
- Using sprays and moist wipes to lower the skin temperature. Adding pleasant smelling oils to the spray may also be of benefit, such as peppermint, which is cooling, or lavender, which is relaxing