As CLL progresses, some patients will experience night sweats. It is important to advise your hematologist/oncologist if this occurs, as this is an indication that your CLL is progressing.

There are no clear-cut answers about why night sweats occur in CLL. There are some plausible explanations about metabolic dysfunction and changes in certain hormone levels (somewhat similar to the night sweats experienced by peri-menopausal women), but there are no clear-cut answers.

CLL-related night sweats are all over the body and often necessitate a change of bedding and nightclothes, whereas, menopausal night sweats tend to be less severe and are usually confined to the chest, neck, and head areas, and sometimes the bend of the elbow or knee.