Fevers and Infections

Fever refers to having a body temperature that is higher than the normal of 37.4 degree celcius, indicating that something is wrong within the body. It is common for people with cancer to develop fever, due to a number of reasons.

Causes of Fevers

Infections
An infection is caused by the invasion and growth of germs (e.g. bacteria, viruses, fungi) in any part of the body. Cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy can weaken the immune system for a short time, causing it to be more prone to infection. Infection is usually the most common cause of fevers in people with cancer.

Cancer
Some cancers are more likely to cause fevers than others. For instance, certain types of lymphomas can cause high body temperatures and night sweats without any obvious reason. Also known as “malignant fever” or “tumour fever”, these fevers come and go, and the reason is still poorly understood.
Certain medications (e.g. targeted treatments, drugs to prevent bone loss)
Reaction to blood products
Other medical conditions (e.g. organ inflammation, blood clots)

What you need to look out for

Body temperature of more than 37.4 degree celsius
Chills and rigors (severe shivering)
Feeling very tired and having generalised body discomfort
Feeling confused or dizzy
Flu- like symptoms
Cough with or without phlegm
Difficulties in breathing
Sore mouth
White coating in the mouth or on the tongue
Vomiting
Severe abdominal discomfort or pain
Urination problems (e.g. painful urination, cloudy or blood in urine, very little or no urine for > 12 hours)
Unusual vaginal or penile discharge
Diarrhoea
Any body area with redness or swelling
Pain, redness or discharge from catheter site
Any other abnormal and prolonged symptoms, which cause concern

How it can be treated

The treatment for fever will depend on what is causing it. For instance, fever caused by infections will be treated by antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal medications, depending on the type of germ found in your body. To manage fever caused by the body’s reaction to blood transfusion, your nurse will stop your blood transfusion and give you some medications to curb the reaction.

To determine the cause of your fever, your doctor will ask you a series of questions such as when the fever started, any associated symptoms and medications you are currently taking. Your doctor will also examine you and may order tests (e.g. x-rays, blood tests) to establish the exact cause or find out if there are any complications. To bring down your temperature and relieve your discomfort, you may be given paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory medication to take regularly until the fever goes away. If your white cell counts are low, your doctor may also prescribe you with growth factor drugs to increase your white cell counts to fight infection.

What you can do

Having a fever can be uncomfortable and worrying, and it is important to inform your doctor or care team early if you develop one, so that he or she can determine the cause and give you appropriate treatment early. Even a low grade fever may lead to more serious complications if left untreated, so do not wait for other signs before you seek medical attention.

Below are some tips you may find helpful in preventing infections and managing fever, especially if you are undergoing treatment for your cancer:

Prevent infections

Ensure personal hygiene by cleaning your mouth twice a day, bathing daily and washing your hands especially after using the toilet

Keep healthy by eating a well-balanced diet and drinking adequate amounts of fluids
Ensure smooth bowel movements and avoid constipation and straining as it can cause tears along the anal region, which in turn can lead to infection
Follow your doctor or nurse’s instruction on care of your device (port/catheter) and keep it clean and dry. Maintain personal hygiene by washing your hands before handling the device
Ensure food safety by washing hands thoroughly during food preparation. Consume only fully cooked foods
Discuss with your doctor before going for any of the following: immunization, dental work, other invasive procedures

Avoid large crowds, people who have recently received vaccinations (e.g. for chicken pox, smallpox, measles/mumps/rubella, or shingles), or anyone with signs of infection (e.g. flu). Wear a mask where unavoidable

Avoid placing fresh flowers and live plants in your room, and refrain from gardening and handling soil or fertilizers

Avoid changing cat litter or cleaning up bodily excretions from animals

Avoid eating raw, undercooked, unpasteurised, mouldy or spoilt foods

Avoid sharing personal items (e.g. toothbrush, razor) with others
Avoid sharing towels, drinking glasses with others in your household without washing them first with soap and water
Avoid cuts or skin breaks. Take care when using sharp objects, and use moisturizers to prevent cracks especially if your skin is dry

Avoid using tampons, suppositories or enemas unless approved by your doctor

Managing fever

Take your medications to bring down body temperature as prescribed

Drink cool fluids or suck ice chips
Remove extra clothing and blankets
Apply cold compress, or have a tepid bath or sponge down
Keep the room well ventilated by opening the window or by using a fan
Rest as much as possible

Avoid the use of multiple layers of blankets or clothing to increase your body temperature. One of the first symptoms of high fever is chills and rigors – this means you will feel very cold and start to shiver. You may naturally want to keep yourself warm, but the inside of your body is in fact very hot, and you should be bringing down your body temperature instead

When to call your cancer care team

Please inform your doctor or nurse if:

You develop any fever, especially if you are undergoing cancer treatment
You notice any of the symptoms listed earlier
Your fever or symptoms do not improve even after treatment

The below indicates possible severe infection, a MEDICAL EMERGENCY which requires IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION, especially if you are undergoing cancer treatment: please go to your nearest hospital as soon as possible. Delayed treatment may result in serious or even life-threatening complications from infection:

Feeling very unwell
Feeling confused or disoriented
Severe shivering or muscle pain
Not passing urine for 24 hours
Feeling very breathless or dizzy

If you have any questions regarding the above, please call Cancer Helpline at +65 6225 5655 or approach your doctor or nurse for further details.

Click here for an enlarged version.

Click here to download the PDF version of this article.

如果您要下载本文的中文版本，请点击此处。

Klik di sini untuk memuat turun versi PDF artikel ini.

The above contents are made available as part of TEMASEK FOUNDATION-ACCESS (Accessible Cancer Care to Enable Support for Survivors) PROGRAMME, a holistic care programme to support cancer patients during their care and recovery journey.

The contents have been approved by the Cancer Education Information Service, National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), for people with cancer and their families and caregivers. However, this information serves only as a guide and should not be used as a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment or advice. For specific medical conditions, please seek expert medical advice from your healthcare team.

Brought to you by: