Fever - no sign of infection

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1

Hi,

I completed chemotherapy on the 30th August for LABC. I am due to have a mastectomy and ANC next week. Almost two weeks ago now I started with a fever, so I took myself off to A&E. Doctors confirmed there were no signs of neutropenic sepsis and sent me home with oral antibiotics.

A week later, the fever hadn’t subsided and I was waking every night shivering uncontrollably. My GP switched me to differnt antibiotics, but they haven’t worked either. I have been back to A&E and my inflammation markers are raised but no sign of any other infection.

The ongoing fever is exhausting. I am either shivering or sweating. The fevers make me feel really unwell and I need 8 paracetamol a day.

What could be causing this? Is it a sign the cancer has or is spreading? I had a CT scan on the 2nd September which showed no sign of further spread at this time. But this symptom is really worrying. Is it my body reacting to the cancer itself or the treatment?

I am incredibly anxious and getting very little sleep due to these fevers and erratic temperature changes.

Thank you.

2

Hi jays93

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Jayne

Ask Our Nurses Service Administrator

3

Hi jays93,

Thank you for your post.

It sounds as though you are having a difficult time over the last couple of weeks with ongoing fevers. It must be a particularly anxious time for you with your mastectomy and ANC due next week.

It’s not possible for us to say what is causing the ongoing fevers. It is reassuring that your visit to A&E has ruled out neutropenic sepsis. You say that your inflammatory markers were elevated when you went to A+E and that you have had 2 different types of antibiotics. Usually, the hospital will do a number of tests to try and identify the source of the infection, which can be bacterial, viral or fungal, so that they can target the infection. It may be worth contacting your treatment team to see if they have the results from any of these tests. It’s also important that they are aware that you are still having fevers.

Before starting chemotherapy, you should have been given a 24 hour contact number to call if you are unwell. You could contact this number, or alternatively your treatment team to get further advice and guidance.

Fevers would not usually be a sign of cancer spreading and it is reassuring that you scan from 2nd September showed no spread.

Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000. If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.

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Best wishes

Katie

Breast Care Nurse

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