Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionWhen to Call a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
When to Call a Provider
Fever is normally the body’s response to infection. Experiencing a fever during chemotherapy requires immediate treatment. Chemotherapy causes a low white blood cell count in the blood. Without a normal level of white blood cells, the body cannot fight the infection. This could quickly lead to serious illness.
FatCamera / Getty Images
Chemo fever is a fever that occurs during or after receivingchemotherapy treatment. When you experience a fever during a round of chemotherapy, it is important to call your healthcare provider right away.
What Temperature Defines a Fever?
When Does Chemo Fever Commonly Occur?A 2016 study found that individuals receiving chemotherapy are most likely to experience a fever during their first cycle of treatment. Fever may peak three to four days after treatment, and then again 10 to 14 days after treatment.
When Does Chemo Fever Commonly Occur?
A 2016 study found that individuals receiving chemotherapy are most likely to experience a fever during their first cycle of treatment. Fever may peak three to four days after treatment, and then again 10 to 14 days after treatment.
They will also ask if you are experiencing any other symptoms in addition to the fever. Symptoms to alert your medical team about include:
Your healthcare provider may also recommend the following blood tests to evaluate your fever:
Febrile NeutropeniaIf you are experiencing a fever when your white blood cell count is low, known as febrile neutropenia, you may be admitted to the hospital for close monitoring and intravenous antibiotics.
Febrile Neutropenia
If you are experiencing a fever when your white blood cell count is low, known as febrile neutropenia, you may be admitted to the hospital for close monitoring and intravenous antibiotics.
A fever during chemotherapy treatment may be a medical emergency because an infection can quickly spread throughout the body and lead tosepsis, an extreme, life-threatening response to infection.As soon as you realize you have a fever, call your healthcare provider right away. Your medical team will work with you to determine the cause of your fever.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) and Home Remedies
Chemotherapy often causes a low platelet count.Plateletsare cells in the blood that clot the blood and prevent bleeding. If you have a low platelet count, your healthcare provider will advise you to avoid any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen), or aspirin, as these drugs can cause bleeding.
Home remedies to help relieve fever symptoms include drinking fluids, resting, and using a cold compress on your forehead.
Make Sure OTC Medications Are ApprovedTo treat chemo fever, your medical team will recommend measures to address the symptoms. Talk with your healthcare provider before taking an over-the-counter medication.
Make Sure OTC Medications Are Approved
To treat chemo fever, your medical team will recommend measures to address the symptoms. Talk with your healthcare provider before taking an over-the-counter medication.
Medications
If your healthcare provider discovers or suspects that your fever is due to an infection, they will start treatment right away. Treatment options include:
There is no way to always prevent chemo fever. The best option is to be prepared with a plan for when a fever occurs.
Talk with your healthcare provider about possiblechemotherapy side effectsand how to address them. Make sure that you have a working thermometer at home in a convenient spot. Know your healthcare provider’s phone number or have it posted somewhere visible. Finally, if you have to go to the emergency room because of a fever, tell the health providers right away that you are receiving chemotherapy treatment.
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
During chemotherapy treatment, call your healthcare provider anytime you develop new symptoms, especially a fever. Anytime you feel warm, chilled, flushed, or just “off,” take your temperature. Any temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius is considered a fever.
Other symptoms often associated with fever include:
If you have symptoms of a fever but your temperature is normal, plan to continue checking your temperature every two to three hours. Let your healthcare provider know what is going on and keep monitoring yourself for fever.
Summary
Chemo fever is a possible side effect of chemotherapy. It’s also possible to experience an infection that leads to fever. Chemotherapy affects the body’s ability to fight infection, so it is very important to call your healthcare provider as soon as you develop a fever. Your healthcare provider will likely perform lab tests to determine the cause of your fever and may admit you to the hospital for antibiotic treatment.
5 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.National Library of Medicine.Fever.Ogawara D, Fukuda M, Ueno S, et al.Drug fever after cancer chemotherapy is most commonly observed on posttreatment days 3 and 4.Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(2):615-619. doi:10.1007/s00520-015-2820-8American Cancer Society.Fever.Chemocare.Fever, neutropenic fever, and their relationship to chemotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Watch out for fever.
5 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.National Library of Medicine.Fever.Ogawara D, Fukuda M, Ueno S, et al.Drug fever after cancer chemotherapy is most commonly observed on posttreatment days 3 and 4.Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(2):615-619. doi:10.1007/s00520-015-2820-8American Cancer Society.Fever.Chemocare.Fever, neutropenic fever, and their relationship to chemotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Watch out for 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.
National Library of Medicine.Fever.Ogawara D, Fukuda M, Ueno S, et al.Drug fever after cancer chemotherapy is most commonly observed on posttreatment days 3 and 4.Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(2):615-619. doi:10.1007/s00520-015-2820-8American Cancer Society.Fever.Chemocare.Fever, neutropenic fever, and their relationship to chemotherapy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Watch out for fever.
National Library of Medicine.Fever.
Ogawara D, Fukuda M, Ueno S, et al.Drug fever after cancer chemotherapy is most commonly observed on posttreatment days 3 and 4.Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(2):615-619. doi:10.1007/s00520-015-2820-8
American Cancer Society.Fever.
Chemocare.Fever, neutropenic fever, and their relationship to chemotherapy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Watch out for fever.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
