Fever and Night Sweats in Mesothelioma Patients
Mesothelioma usually does not cause fever or night sweats until the cancer has reached an advanced stage. Fever may indicate a viral or bacterial infection, which is dangerous for mesothelioma patients. Night sweats may be caused by fever or another condition such as anxiety.
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Fever, Night Sweats and Cancer
Fever and night sweats are uncommon mesothelioma symptoms in the early stages of the cancer. Less than 10% of mesothelioma patients experience fever or night sweats when they are diagnosed.
These symptoms are more common in the final stage of mesothelioma, when the cancer begins to spread throughout the body.
Some treatments can help reduce these symptoms. For example, in a 2021 clinical research study, six out of seven peritoneal mesothelioma patients who underwent HIPEC surgery reported that the treatment resolved their fevers and night sweats.
Fever can be a sign the body is fighting cancer cells, and it is also a common side effect of cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Fever can also be a sign of infection. Chemotherapy often weakens a patient’s immune system, leaving the patient vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and other types of germs.
What Causes Fever and Night Sweats?
Normal body temperatures range from 97 F to 99 F.
A fever is when the temperature goes above 100.4 F for more than an hour or any temperature higher than 101 F, which is a common sign your immune system is fighting an illness.
Night sweats may result from your body temperature rising and falling significantly when you are sleeping.
The human body has ways of automatically regulating its temperature, like a thermostat. When your body needs to raise its temperature, you begin to shiver, and the feeling may make you want to go to bed with an extra blanket.
If your body sets its natural thermostat back to normal while you are sleeping, your body will then sweat to try to cool off. This can result in night sweats.
Many other conditions can cause night sweats, including anxiety and depression.
Fever and Night Sweats During Mesothelioma Treatment
Night sweats are usually nothing to worry about on their own, as long a patient drinks plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. On the other hand, a fever may be a symptom of infection. Infections are very dangerous for mesothelioma patients, especially during chemotherapy.
Mesothelioma patients should have their temperature checked whenever they feel flushed or chilled, or if they experience cold or flu symptoms. If a cancer patient runs a temperature over 100.4 F for more than an hour or any fever higher than 101 F, it is a medical emergency.
Mesothelioma patients and caregivers must take special precautions to prevent infection. To control night sweats, doctors may be able to prescribe medication.
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