Fever

myeager7
myeager7 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Long-Term Effects of Treatment #1
My sister was treated with 12 weeks of chemo (every 2 weeks) then followed up with 12 more weeks. She has been running a fever for 3 weeks now (less 3 days) and is hospitalized. All tests for infection are negative. This happened before at the end of her first 12 week chemo treatment. She is now so weak she can't walk, is still running 103 fever and is hospitalized. The doctors have no answers. Does anyone know of any experiences with this chemo side effect?

Comments

  • shrevebud
    shrevebud Member Posts: 105
    #2
    Fever
    HI:

    I initially had high fevers when I was first diagnosed over two and a half years ago. I still get fevers every now and then and like your sister I have no signs of infection (have had blood cultures done, etc.) Sometimes people just have fevers with cancer - it's the body's way of reacting to it. I keep motrin on hand and take it everywhere I go, including work jsut in case I feel like my temp is going up. She might have to be on a fever reducer everyday to keep it under control - might just be the way her body reacts to having disease and to the chemotherapy. Good luck and the two of you take care. Roy
  • hodgkoid2003
    hodgkoid2003 Member Posts: 94
    #3
    Fever
    My understanding about the protocol for cancer patients and survivors is that fevers are to be taken seriously. Fevers are not necessarily limited to infections. Any kind of fever should be reported to your doc at once for instructions.

    Here is my example. I am asplenic (my spleen was removed in 1988 as part of the staging process). The spleen plays a major role, not just in fighting infections, but as I found out last year, it also plays a role in cardiac disease (something I battle as a late side effect from rads and chemo). Anyhow, per my late effects specialist, any fever above 101.5 and I am to go to the emergency room where blood cultures are to be done, and this antibiotic is to be started. Fevers are very serious when you have a compromised immune system (such as when you are battling cancer).

    Fevers could end up being nothing, but as my doctor put it, it's like going to Vegas, and pulling the arm on the slots, hitting every time. How long do you expect that string of luck to continue (I did it for 18 years - the fevers, not the slots). I am blessed that I deal with someone who knows.

    Paul E (Hodgkoid2003)

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