Can Cancer Cause Fever?
November 23, 2023 | by Yashaswi Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Yes, fever can be a symptom associated with cancer. Fever is the body’s natural response to various conditions, including infections, inflammatory processes, and sometimes cancer.
Fever in cancer patients can occur due to several reasons:
- Infection: Cancer and its treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, can weaken the immune system, making cancer patients more susceptible to infections. Infections can cause fever, which might be a sign of an underlying issue.
- Tumor-related fever: Some cancers can produce substances that trigger the body’s immune response and cause a fever. Certain types of cancers, such as lymphomas or leukemias, might cause fever due to the body’s reaction to the cancer cells.
- Complications of treatment: Some cancer treatments, including certain chemotherapy drugs or immunotherapy, can lead to side effects that include fever as a reaction to the treatment.
- Other factors: Fever can also occur due to other unrelated causes in cancer patients, similar to individuals without cancer, such as viral or bacterial infections.
It’s essential for cancer patients to monitor their health closely and promptly report any symptoms, including fever, to their healthcare team. The healthcare provider can evaluate the underlying cause of the fever and determine the appropriate treatment or management plan.
Fever management in cancer patients might involve treating the underlying cause, such as infections, and administering medications to reduce fever and alleviate discomfort, especially if the patient is undergoing cancer treatment or has a weakened immune system.