Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphoid tissue, a component of the body's immune system that produces cells to fight infection. The main source lymphoid tissue are the lymph nodes, tiny organs found in such places as the armpit, neck and groin. The spleen, thymus, bone marrow and a few other organs also contain lymphoid tissue. Lymphoma can affect any of these parts of the body. Lymphoma symptoms vary depending on the affected organ, but one common symptom is night sweats, or sleep hyperhidrosis.
Fever
Lymphoma causes some cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes, to start growing out of control, explains the American Cancer Society. This uncontrolled growth wreaks havoc on the immune system. One possible outcome of this is a fever. Sometimes, this fever can cause the body to become so hot that intense sweating results.
Unexplained Night Sweats
In some cases, severe night sweats can occur in the absence of a fever. In these cases, doctors do not fully understand what causes the sweating, according to Lymphation.org. It may be caused by the general dysregulation of the immune system caused by lymphoma. The sweating can sometimes be so heavy that the sheets and bedclothes become completely soaked. For this reason, the term "soaking night sweats" or "drenching night sweats" are often used. A patient with night sweats may wake up because of the discomfort caused by the wet sheets or wet pajamas.
Severity of Night Sweats
Doctors sometimes classify night sweats according to the severity of the sweating, according to the Standford University Sleep Well website. Mild night sweats do not require bathing or changing the sheets--removing blankets or flipping over the pillow is sufficient to resume sleeping. In moderate cases of night sweats, a person may feel the need to get out of bed to rinse of the face or other isolated body parts. Severe night sweats are characterized by the need to completely change the sheets and sleepwear, and the need to take a shower or bath.
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