What should I do if the tumor has a fever

For ordinary people, fever is just a common cold and fever, so there is no need to make a fuss. Just take some antipyretics. But for cancer patients, this is not good news. It is very likely a sign of worsening condition. Therefore, when cancer patients have a fever, they should be vigilant and pay attention to whether there are other symptoms in the body so as to seek medical attention in time.

reason

1. Common infection

The most common causes of fever in cancer patients are bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.

Cancer patients have low immunity and are prone to infectious diseases, the most common of which is respiratory tract infection, followed by urinary tract infection (especially common in patients after gynecological tumor surgery).

2. Drug fever

Cancer patients often use some special drugs, such as bleomycin, cisplatin, interferon, interleukin, zoledronic acid, etc. Common side effects of these drugs include fever.

Pyrogenic reactions related to blood transfusion and blood products can also cause fever, such as albumin infusion, blood transfusion, etc.

3. Central nervous system disease after brain metastasis

When the cancer metastasizes to the temperature regulation center of the hypothalamus and causes fever, this type of fever is rare and can be confirmed by brain CT or MRI.

4. Fever after radiotherapy

Mainly caused by radiation pneumonitis. Patients with esophageal cancer, lung cancer, and mediastinal tumors may often undergo radiotherapy. The radiation dose and accumulation may cause radiation lung damage, followed by radiation pneumonitis, which can be diagnosed based on medical history, physical examination, and chest X-ray.

5. Post-chemotherapy

It is estimated that more than 90% of patients will experience a decrease in white blood cell count after chemotherapy. About 70% of fevers in patients with leukocytopenia are caused by infection.

6. Hormone fever

Brain tumors or certain special cancers require long-term use of high-dose corticosteroids. Adrenal crisis caused by hormone administration is generally rare

7. Tumor fever

When the above reasons are excluded and no infectious cause is found, the possibility of tumor fever must be considered.

What are the characteristics of fever caused by different reasons?

1. Generally speaking, fever related to blood transfusion or drugs is short-lived and usually disappears on its own within 24 hours after treatment.

2. General characteristics of fever caused by brain metastasis: sudden high fever, body temperature can rise sharply to 40-41°C, continuous high fever, although high fever but no facial flushing and other symptoms, instead dry skin and cold limbs can be seen. Antibiotics and antipyretics are not very effective when the fever is high.

3. Infectious fever: The fever may be high or low, and is often accompanied by symptoms such as coughing, sputum, frequent urination, and urgency.

4. Tumor fever:

(1) The body temperature is greater than 37.5℃ at least once a day, and most of the time it does not exceed 38.5℃;

(2) Fever lasting more than 2 weeks;

(3) No evidence of infection in various laboratory tests;

(4) No allergic reactions

(5) Fever persists after 7 days of empirical and appropriate antibiotic treatment;

(6) Fever can disappear quickly and completely after taking naproxen.

How to deal with it

1. Drug fever: Generally, no special treatment is required, and the fever will subside on its own within 24 hours after stopping the drug. The general treatment method is to drink more water, stop taking suspected medications, and you can also take some conventional antipyretic drugs appropriately.

2. Fever after radiotherapy and chemotherapy is often complicated by infection.

It is reported that about 40% of infected patients have bacteremia; 35% of fevers are caused by bacteria but without bacteremia; and 15% are caused by mold or other fungal infections. Therefore, if such patients develop a fever, they should seek medical attention promptly.

3. Tumor fever is almost always intermittent and may last for several months. Various antipyretics such as aspirin and paracetamol have no obvious antipyretic effect on tumor-induced fever, while non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin and naproxen are effective for tumor-induced fever.

4. Common "headaches and fever" in cancer patients are usually called colds or upper respiratory tract infections. Generally, there is no need to worry. Just get more rest, drink more water, or take some anti-cold medicine and it will go away.

5. Fever after radiotherapy and chemotherapy: The notable feature is that they all have a recent treatment history. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can easily cause a sharp drop in the body's immunity and are prone to infection. Radiotherapy can also cause radiation tissue damage, stress inflammation, etc.