chills/fever 10 days after each chemo

Kim59
Kim59 Member Posts: 43 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Anyone ever had this? I am having symptoms almost exactly 10 days after each chemo. I have had 3 treatments so far (cytoxan/taxotere) First the chills start. I feel like I am freezing. Then the fever, sometimes up to 101, then the achy muscles and weakness. It usually lasts 48 hours and then Im fine. The Onc didn't seem to concerned. I assume it is when my blood counts drop. I just find it strange that it happens on day 10 after each chemo.

Just weird

Comments

  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #2
    I didn't take chemo. Your
    I didn't take chemo. Your oncologist wasn't concerned? What did he say?

    Hoping it gets better for you!
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    #3
    Oh dear!
    That sounds awful! I had 4 rounds of C/T and never had a fever, but I was getting Neulasta shots, which helps white blood cell counts

    I guess as long as it does go away fairly quickly it's probably not a problem long-term, but it sure doesn't sound like fun. How many rounds do you have left?
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #4
    Kim, it is strange but just
    Kim, it is strange but just goes to show that we all react differently. I'm glad to read it is short lived and goes away within days. I would say as long as your onco is aware of it and not concerned, I wouldn't be either, but I'd still be vigilent on my monitoring and reporting of strange side effects. Good luck with the rest of your treatments.
  • Chrispea
    Chrispea Member Posts: 123 Member
    #5
    The only time I got a fever
    The only time I got a fever was when I was sick. The first time I had a sinus infection, and it was a really bad fever. I was in the hospital for 5 days.

    This past Sun. and Mon. I had a low grade fever, but didn't have to go to ER or anything. And I was able to get my chemo Wed, as long as I didn't have a fever, which I didn't. :)

    It might be do to your white cells. Can they give you something? My onc said that the white cells drop 5 days after chemo. Hmmmm.

    I'd ask next time if there is something they can give you.

    At my last chemo, I kept getting a burn at the injection site with the Taxotere, so yesterday my nurse diluted the Taxotere with some Saline so I hope that works, but at least she tried to make it better.

    Ask a lot of questions, and see if they can come up with something, even if it's taking Tylenol right away.. I know they don't like you to do that, but if you know day 10 you get chills and fever, maybe they'd OK it for you to take something on day 9 so you don't feel so miserable.

    Good luck to you!!
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #6
    Chrispea said:

    The only time I got a fever
    The only time I got a fever was when I was sick. The first time I had a sinus infection, and it was a really bad fever. I was in the hospital for 5 days.

    This past Sun. and Mon. I had a low grade fever, but didn't have to go to ER or anything. And I was able to get my chemo Wed, as long as I didn't have a fever, which I didn't. :)

    It might be do to your white cells. Can they give you something? My onc said that the white cells drop 5 days after chemo. Hmmmm.

    I'd ask next time if there is something they can give you.

    At my last chemo, I kept getting a burn at the injection site with the Taxotere, so yesterday my nurse diluted the Taxotere with some Saline so I hope that works, but at least she tried to make it better.

    Ask a lot of questions, and see if they can come up with something, even if it's taking Tylenol right away.. I know they don't like you to do that, but if you know day 10 you get chills and fever, maybe they'd OK it for you to take something on day 9 so you don't feel so miserable.

    Good luck to you!!

    Are you feeling any better
    Are you feeling any better Kim?
  • Marlene_K
    Marlene_K Member Posts: 508
    #7
    Fever
    It seemed strange to me that I always felt like I was getting a cold or the flu two days before my next treatment. I was scared that if I was sick, I wouldn't get my planned treatment. I never had a fever, though, and that was something my onco always asked when I saw him weekly... he was like a robot... 'any chills? fever?' I'm surprised your doctor doesn't seem concerned. Do you get the Neulasta shot, Kim? Because your blood counts shouldn't drop if you are. Sure hope you find out what that fever is all about.

    Hugs, Mar
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #8
    Marlene_K said:

    Fever
    It seemed strange to me that I always felt like I was getting a cold or the flu two days before my next treatment. I was scared that if I was sick, I wouldn't get my planned treatment. I never had a fever, though, and that was something my onco always asked when I saw him weekly... he was like a robot... 'any chills? fever?' I'm surprised your doctor doesn't seem concerned. Do you get the Neulasta shot, Kim? Because your blood counts shouldn't drop if you are. Sure hope you find out what that fever is all about.

    Hugs, Mar

    I had a fever for 5 out of 7
    I had a fever for 5 out of 7 days after I started taxol. for 3 weeks. no one knew why. I thought maybe it was the H1N1 shot I received. any way it seems that its how your body responds as it is predictable. I almost hate to post when people are new because I had such weird reactions, and not always the typical ones. but it may be how your body is responding. ask your onc when the WBC count is its lowest I think its at 10 days.
  • Whoknowz
    Whoknowz Member Posts: 82
    #9
    Day 4 and 5 for me
    I had the same cocktail as you and had the fever and chills every time on days 4 and 5. The fever was lowgrade and was usually just 24 hours; the chills were the hard, shaking kind and lasted 2-3 days. We also discovered my blood pressure plunged on those days. I had the neulasta shot every time and my blood counts were great.

    I thought this must be rather common because my onc wasn't worried either.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #10
    Whoknowz said:

    Day 4 and 5 for me
    I had the same cocktail as you and had the fever and chills every time on days 4 and 5. The fever was lowgrade and was usually just 24 hours; the chills were the hard, shaking kind and lasted 2-3 days. We also discovered my blood pressure plunged on those days. I had the neulasta shot every time and my blood counts were great.

    I thought this must be rather common because my onc wasn't worried either.

    My WBC was always ok when I
    My WBC was always ok when I went for treatment, but I found out that it does dip in between even on the neulasta. Iwas 1.2 at one point. I found this when I was hospitalized in between. on a two week schedule the lowest dip is around 10 days and then it comes up for your next treatment. I had though the neulasta made it stay up all throughout but this is not the case.
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    #11
    So Sorry
    So sorry you are not feeling well. I had chills and fever during all of my 6 rounds of Tax/Cytoxan. Some of it is the chemo drugs and some of it is due to you having low white cells and maybe picking up a bug. Stay on top of it.

    P
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #12
    cindycflynn said:

    Oh dear!
    That sounds awful! I had 4 rounds of C/T and never had a fever, but I was getting Neulasta shots, which helps white blood cell counts

    I guess as long as it does go away fairly quickly it's probably not a problem long-term, but it sure doesn't sound like fun. How many rounds do you have left?

    So sorry Kim. That does
    So sorry Kim. That does sound awful and it is strange that it is the 10th day. Did your doctor have any explanation for it? Glad it does go away rather quickly and that you feel better. Sending you hugs!

    Leeza
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #13
    aztec45 said:

    So Sorry
    So sorry you are not feeling well. I had chills and fever during all of my 6 rounds of Tax/Cytoxan. Some of it is the chemo drugs and some of it is due to you having low white cells and maybe picking up a bug. Stay on top of it.

    P

    Hoping your oncologist
    Hoping your oncologist helped you. Let us know!

    Hugs, Leeza
  • Kim59
    Kim59 Member Posts: 43 Member
    #14
    Whoknowz said:

    Day 4 and 5 for me
    I had the same cocktail as you and had the fever and chills every time on days 4 and 5. The fever was lowgrade and was usually just 24 hours; the chills were the hard, shaking kind and lasted 2-3 days. We also discovered my blood pressure plunged on those days. I had the neulasta shot every time and my blood counts were great.

    I thought this must be rather common because my onc wasn't worried either.

    thanks for everyone's comments
    Thanks everyone for your comments. It sounds like a few others have had the chills/fever thing too. I have not had the Neulasta shot. My Onc has not even mentioned it. I go for another chemo this Friday. I plan on talking to my Onc about it. I realize these Onc deal with chemo and all that goes with it on a daily basis, but this is all new to me and it's scary. I have a good Onc but they should show more concern.

    3 more chemo's and I am done!
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #15
    Kim59 said:

    thanks for everyone's comments
    Thanks everyone for your comments. It sounds like a few others have had the chills/fever thing too. I have not had the Neulasta shot. My Onc has not even mentioned it. I go for another chemo this Friday. I plan on talking to my Onc about it. I realize these Onc deal with chemo and all that goes with it on a daily basis, but this is all new to me and it's scary. I have a good Onc but they should show more concern.

    3 more chemo's and I am done!

    Yes, ask for the Neulasta
    Yes, ask for the Neulasta shot. See if your oncologist agrees that it might help you. I know that chemo is scary, but, you are almost done! Hang in there Kim!


    Sue :)
  • Kim59
    Kim59 Member Posts: 43 Member
    #16
    chills/fever update
    Well it seems this chills/fever on day 10 did corespond with dropping blood counts. Had blood work on day 10 after last chemo and WBC was only 0.9!!! "Dangeroulsy low" per the PA but ok to go to work, just stay away from crowds and sick people?? I could have used a few days off from work! Went in for injections every day (Leukine) and by Friday WBC was up to 8.6. Now why didn't the Onc check my blood counts the previous chemos?

    Oh well, almost done with chemo, 2 more to go!
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    #17
    Kim59 said:

    chills/fever update
    Well it seems this chills/fever on day 10 did corespond with dropping blood counts. Had blood work on day 10 after last chemo and WBC was only 0.9!!! "Dangeroulsy low" per the PA but ok to go to work, just stay away from crowds and sick people?? I could have used a few days off from work! Went in for injections every day (Leukine) and by Friday WBC was up to 8.6. Now why didn't the Onc check my blood counts the previous chemos?

    Oh well, almost done with chemo, 2 more to go!

    Ask the Onc
    You will have to ask the Onc. Sometimes the HMO will not pay for the bloodwork except at certain weeks. Take care of yourself. I got some incredible ailments and absesses when my counts were low.

    P
  • GrandmaJ
    GrandmaJ Member Posts: 209
    #18
    Fevers
    That happened to me twice and the fever was over 101.5, so they put me on Cipro both times. I had blood work before each chemo treatment.

    Judy
  • Cook55
    Cook55 Member Posts: 1
    #19
    Fever
    Not so wierd after all. Three times in a row exactly on the 8th day. Same symptoms. First time was checked for infection - none. second time went to ER for IV antibiotics - no infection. Today same old stuff. Keeping an eye on it.

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