Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCancers That Cause FeversSigns and SymptomsOther Causes of FeversAt Your Appointment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Cancers That Cause Fevers
Signs and Symptoms
Other Causes of Fevers
At Your Appointment
Afeveris a common symptomrelated to many conditions, most of which are benign. An increase in body temperature is most often a biological response to a viral or bacterial infection (like thefluorstrep throat). Occasionally, something other than infection can cause your fever.
A person is generally considered to have a fever when they have a temperature of 100.4°F or greater. Most experts define alow-grade feveras a temperature that falls between 99.5°F and 100.3°F.Ahigh-grade feveris a body temperature greater than 103°F.Hyperpyrexiais a fever higher than 106.7°F.
Verywell / Laura Porter
With infection, your body raises its temperature to help destroy the invading germs. But what if you are not fighting off a cold? In rare cases, a persistent and otherwise unexplained fever can be a symptom of cancer.Canceris estimated to cause approximately 18% of fevers of unknown origins (FUO).
This article explains fevers related to cancer, the associated symptoms, and some other conditions that may cause low-grade fevers.
Sometimes cancer can cause fever when there is not an active infection in the body. These are often called “tumor fevers.“They can also be called neoplastic fevers. Certain types of cancer are more commonly known to cause fevers.
Leukemia
Leukemiais a cancer of the tissues that create blood cells. Unexplained fevers can be one of the symptoms of leukemia.
Some leukemias lower your white blood cell count. With fewer white blood cells, your immune system is weakened. This may make infections and fevers more common.
In some cases, cancer cells can release signals to the body to raise your body temperature and cause fevers. Cancer fevers do not always follow the same pattern from person to person.The frequency of cancer fevers has not been well studied in leukemia.
However, fevers are usually not an isolated symptom of leukemia. Other possible symptoms include fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes, unexplained bruising, body pains, and weight loss.
Lymphoma
Lymphomais a cancer of thelymphatic system(which is part of the immune system). One type is called Hodgkin lymphoma, and the other types are callednon-Hodgkin lymphomas.
Hodgkin lymphoma can present with fevers in about 25% of people. Fevers, night sweats, and weight loss are grouped and called “B symptoms” in people with this cancer.
Some other symptoms of lymphoma include swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Major Differences Between Leukemia and Lymphoma
Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancersometimes called renal cell carcinoma (RCC), is cancer that forms in the very small tubes of the kidneys where the blood is filtered and waste products are removed.
About 20% of people with kidney cancer have fevers related to their cancer.
Some additional symptoms of kidney cancer include blood in the urine (hematuria), low back pain,fatigue, low red blood cell levels (anemia), andunintentional weight loss.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancersometimes, called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is cancer that forms in the cells of the liver.
Liver cancer is very rare, and fevers as an early symptom are even rarer. A 2016 study found that over 10 years, only 63 out of 363 people had fevers as the first symptom of liver cancer.
Some possible symptoms of liver cancer include unintentional weight loss, nausea, vomiting, feeling very full after eating, itching, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. Abdominal pain, swelling, and extra fluid can also be symptoms of this disease.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian canceris cancer that typically begins in theovaries(part of thefemale reproductive system).
Data is not widely available on the frequency of fever for people with ovarian cancer.
Some symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal bloating, pain, fullness, or upset stomach. Fatigue, constipation, and back pain can also be symptoms of ovarian cancer in some women.
A low-grade fever does not automatically mean a cancer diagnosis. It is rare for a fever to indicate cancer.
The key sign of a cancer-related fever is that it is persistent—meaning it lasts longer than three days.It can be either a low- or high-grade fever. Other symptoms can accompany a fever, or it can occur without other symptoms.
Getting an Accurate Reading When Using a Thermometer
Fever as a sign of cancer is rare. Many things unrelated to cancer can lead to fevers. The most common cause of fever is an infection. Viruses,bacteria,parasites, and other pathogens commonly result in fevers as the body works to fight the infection. There are also some non-infectious causes of fevers. Over 200 non-infectious causes of fevers have been identified.
Some potential causes of fevers include:
If your low-grade or high-grade fever is persistent, it is essential to see a healthcare provider to determine the cause.
Since many conditions can cause unexplained fevers, your healthcare provider will likely ask many questions to help make an accurate diagnosis. Be prepared to answer the following:
Your healthcare provider may decide to do a few routine tests to help pinpoint the source of your fever. These might include:
Understanding Fever in Children
Summary
Rarely, unexplained fevers may be a symptom of cancer. For example, leukemia and lymphoma are two types of cancer that can present with fevers. Most commonly, though, fevers indicate an infection.
A Word From Verywell
Keep in mind that a fever is a very general, vague symptom. It is not a red flag, but it does indicate something is going on in your body.
If you have had a fever for more than a few days, it is a good idea to see your healthcare provider. They will run specific medical tests that can help pinpoint the source of the fever.
Frequently Asked Questions
A temperature between 99.5°F and 100.3°F is considered a low-grade fever.
Lymphoma cancer cells cause chemicals to be released in your body that increases your body temperature. This results in sporadic fevers of 100.4°F or higher without any infection.
Learn MoreFacts About Paraneoplastic Syndrome
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Affronti M, Mansueto P, Soresi M, et al.Low-grade fever: how to distinguish organic from non-organic forms.Int J Clin Pract. 2010;64(3):316-321. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02256.xStamford Health.Fever in adults: when to worry.Suwanwongse K, Shabarek N.Hyperpyrexia in patients with COVID‐19.J Med Virol. 2020;92(11):2857-2862. doi:10.1002/jmv.26154Foggo V, Cavenagh J.Malignant causes of fever of unknown origin.Clin Med (Lond). 2015;15(3):292–294. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.15-3-292Cunha BA, Lortholary O, Cunha CB.Fever of unknown origin: a clinical approach.Am J Med. 2015;128(10):1138.e1-e1138.e15. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.06.001Pasikhova Y, Ludlow S, Baluch A.Fever in patients with cancer.Cancer Control. 2017;24(2):193-197. doi:10.1177/107327481702400212Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): signs and symptoms.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Cancer.govKidney cancer.American Cancer Society.Kidney cancer signs and symptoms.Gong ZJ, Guo W, Sun YF, et al.Prognostic value of fever grade combined with neutrophil percentage in hepatocellular carcinoma patients presenting fever as the initial manifestation.Onco Targets Ther. 2016;9:6281-6290. doi:10.2147/OTT.S109023American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of liver cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.Zombori L, Kovacs G, Csoka M, Derfalvi B.Rheumatic symptoms in childhood leukaemia and lymphoma—a ten-year retrospective study.Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2013;11:20. doi:10.1186/1546-0096-11-20MedlinePlus.Fever.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Affronti M, Mansueto P, Soresi M, et al.Low-grade fever: how to distinguish organic from non-organic forms.Int J Clin Pract. 2010;64(3):316-321. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02256.xStamford Health.Fever in adults: when to worry.Suwanwongse K, Shabarek N.Hyperpyrexia in patients with COVID‐19.J Med Virol. 2020;92(11):2857-2862. doi:10.1002/jmv.26154Foggo V, Cavenagh J.Malignant causes of fever of unknown origin.Clin Med (Lond). 2015;15(3):292–294. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.15-3-292Cunha BA, Lortholary O, Cunha CB.Fever of unknown origin: a clinical approach.Am J Med. 2015;128(10):1138.e1-e1138.e15. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.06.001Pasikhova Y, Ludlow S, Baluch A.Fever in patients with cancer.Cancer Control. 2017;24(2):193-197. doi:10.1177/107327481702400212Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): signs and symptoms.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Cancer.govKidney cancer.American Cancer Society.Kidney cancer signs and symptoms.Gong ZJ, Guo W, Sun YF, et al.Prognostic value of fever grade combined with neutrophil percentage in hepatocellular carcinoma patients presenting fever as the initial manifestation.Onco Targets Ther. 2016;9:6281-6290. doi:10.2147/OTT.S109023American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of liver cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.Zombori L, Kovacs G, Csoka M, Derfalvi B.Rheumatic symptoms in childhood leukaemia and lymphoma—a ten-year retrospective study.Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2013;11:20. doi:10.1186/1546-0096-11-20MedlinePlus.Fever.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Affronti M, Mansueto P, Soresi M, et al.Low-grade fever: how to distinguish organic from non-organic forms.Int J Clin Pract. 2010;64(3):316-321. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02256.xStamford Health.Fever in adults: when to worry.Suwanwongse K, Shabarek N.Hyperpyrexia in patients with COVID‐19.J Med Virol. 2020;92(11):2857-2862. doi:10.1002/jmv.26154Foggo V, Cavenagh J.Malignant causes of fever of unknown origin.Clin Med (Lond). 2015;15(3):292–294. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.15-3-292Cunha BA, Lortholary O, Cunha CB.Fever of unknown origin: a clinical approach.Am J Med. 2015;128(10):1138.e1-e1138.e15. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.06.001Pasikhova Y, Ludlow S, Baluch A.Fever in patients with cancer.Cancer Control. 2017;24(2):193-197. doi:10.1177/107327481702400212Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): signs and symptoms.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Cancer.govKidney cancer.American Cancer Society.Kidney cancer signs and symptoms.Gong ZJ, Guo W, Sun YF, et al.Prognostic value of fever grade combined with neutrophil percentage in hepatocellular carcinoma patients presenting fever as the initial manifestation.Onco Targets Ther. 2016;9:6281-6290. doi:10.2147/OTT.S109023American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of liver cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.Zombori L, Kovacs G, Csoka M, Derfalvi B.Rheumatic symptoms in childhood leukaemia and lymphoma—a ten-year retrospective study.Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2013;11:20. doi:10.1186/1546-0096-11-20MedlinePlus.Fever.
Affronti M, Mansueto P, Soresi M, et al.Low-grade fever: how to distinguish organic from non-organic forms.Int J Clin Pract. 2010;64(3):316-321. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02256.x
Stamford Health.Fever in adults: when to worry.
Suwanwongse K, Shabarek N.Hyperpyrexia in patients with COVID‐19.J Med Virol. 2020;92(11):2857-2862. doi:10.1002/jmv.26154
Foggo V, Cavenagh J.Malignant causes of fever of unknown origin.Clin Med (Lond). 2015;15(3):292–294. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.15-3-292
Cunha BA, Lortholary O, Cunha CB.Fever of unknown origin: a clinical approach.Am J Med. 2015;128(10):1138.e1-e1138.e15. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.06.001
Pasikhova Y, Ludlow S, Baluch A.Fever in patients with cancer.Cancer Control. 2017;24(2):193-197. doi:10.1177/107327481702400212
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): signs and symptoms.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Cancer.govKidney cancer.
American Cancer Society.Kidney cancer signs and symptoms.
Gong ZJ, Guo W, Sun YF, et al.Prognostic value of fever grade combined with neutrophil percentage in hepatocellular carcinoma patients presenting fever as the initial manifestation.Onco Targets Ther. 2016;9:6281-6290. doi:10.2147/OTT.S109023
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of liver cancer.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Zombori L, Kovacs G, Csoka M, Derfalvi B.Rheumatic symptoms in childhood leukaemia and lymphoma—a ten-year retrospective study.Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2013;11:20. doi:10.1186/1546-0096-11-20
MedlinePlus.Fever.
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