Lung changes and cancer therapies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can make you sensitive to colder weather. Staying hydrated, keeping up with hygiene, and dressing in layers are essential ways to stay comfortable.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a category of lung cancers that affect the large epithelial cells of your lungs. Adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and large cell carcinomas are the three main subtypes of NSCLC.

When you have this type of cancer, staying comfortable in colder weather can become an issue. Treatment side effects and changes in your lungs can contribute to challenges such as dry skin, increased respiratory infections, and temperature sensitivity.

Understanding why you feel more susceptible to cold weather may help you take steps to stay comfortable.

Several factors related to NSCLC can cause you to feel colder more often.

Cancer, by nature, disrupts your body’s internal balance and can directly and indirectly affect processes that are important to body temperature regulation. For example, NSCLC can lead to cachexia, a type of severe weight loss and muscle loss that makes you more vulnerable to temperature changes.

Chemotherapy side effects, anemia, dehydration, and chronic inflammation can also contribute to cold sensitivity in NSCLC.

Dressing in layers is an easy way to help manage your body temperature and comfort level. You can add or shed layers as needed, and the air trapped between layers acts as additional insulation to help keep you warm.

When dressing for warmth with NSCLC, don’t forget to cover the topmost parts of your airways. Cold, dry air can be harsh and irritating to your sensitive lung tissue.

Covering your neck and mouth with a scarf helps keep your skin warm, but it also helps warm the air coming into your body before it reaches your lungs. Breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth can also help control the flow of air and filter out harmful particles and pathogens.

Cold temperatures can be drying, even for people who don’t have a health condition — and when you have NSCLC, your skin may already be dry, itchy, and irritated from chemotherapy treatments. Cancer-related nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea can also lead to dehydration, which compounds challenges with dry skin.

Staying hydrated can help ease skin discomfort in cold temperatures. Proper hydration supports skin barrier health and moisture. You can start by making an effort to drink small amounts of fluid often and adding foods with high water content, like soups, to your diet.

Taking an electrolyte supplement can also help your body use the water you take in.

Receiving an NSCLC diagnosis can feel overwhelming, and many people with cancer generally experience feelings of depression. If you notice that your mood is persistently low during the cold-weather seasons, you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a depressive condition associated with seasonal patterns.

A mental health professional can help you develop coping strategies and positive thought and behavior patterns to address the effects of SAD.

Exercising regularly; eating a nutritious, balanced diet; and taking time for self-care and enjoyable activities can also support your mental well-being during the months when cold temperatures and lack of sunlight may negatively affect your mood.

Cold weather is associated with a surge of viral respiratory infections. Cold temperatures promote the survival of viruses outside the body. Colder months are also a time of crowding, when people gather in closed environments, making viral transmission easier.

When you have NSCLC, changes in your lung function and suppressed immunity from cancer and its treatments can make you more vulnerable to infections. Having back-to-back illnesses is uncomfortable and can make daily life during cold weather more difficult.

Even when viruses are at full force, you can reduce your chance of contracting respiratory infections by following good hygiene practices such as:

  • frequently washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer
  • taking daily showers
  • wearing protective gloves
  • avoiding large crowds or wearing a mask when going out
  • regularly sanitizing high-touch surfaces
  • keeping any cuts or wounds clean and dry
  • not sharing lip balms, drinks, or other personal items
  • avoiding buffets or self-serve food sections at restaurants

NSCLC and many of its treatments can cause fatigue and low energy. Cold weather can worsen these feelings because it creates an energy demand on your body to maintain warmth.

While you can support your body’s temperature needs by dressing appropriately, conserving your energy and planning ahead can also help prevent moments of extreme fatigue.

It’s OK to pace yourself in cold temperatures. Focus on the most important tasks and take time between activities to rest. You can support your body’s energy needs with nutrient-dense foods, proper hydration, and quality sleep.

NSCLC is a category of common lung cancers that can affect your comfort in a variety of ways. Challenges with body temperature regulation, dehydration, immune suppression, and cancer-related fatigue are examples of factors in NSCLC that might make cold weather extra uncomfortable.

It’s not always possible to be cozy in a frigid environment, but dressing in layers, keeping your fluid intake up, and prioritizing hygiene can help.