Fevers

Hi Allison-
So glad you’re mother’s doing better! My mother did receive Procrit yet still wound up severely anemic, but she’s 64 and your mother’s much younger, so that may have something to do with it. Also, my mother has never tolerated drugs well, has many autoimmune and allergy issues, and her disease is very advanced. I can get mad as hell at her doctor for suggesting this chemo regime and thinking she could tolerate it, but it seems a lot of people DO tolerate it well. I’m happy it’s working for you and I’ll keep you in my thoughts — lots of hope for the best! – Joyce

Hi – My mother, age 64, is also stage 4 with mets to liver and lungs, but no blockage or stents. She has had tumor fevers for two months now, every night, they said not to worry unless it goes over 101.5 and doesn’t respond to Tylenol, or if the fevers start happening during the day (any change in her symptoms). Last week, though, she had to be hospitalized for infection and high fever and shortness of breath, and they thought originally that she had blockage, but it turns out her ducts aren’t blocked, but just the buildup of fluid in the abdomen is a breeding ground for bacteria to cause infection. Also, she has been on Gemzar and Xeloda (5FU), and this has really compromised her immune system. Another possibility that the doctors suggested is that the infection is actually caused by the chemo killing a tumor in her liver and now the tumor is kinda like dead meat and causing infection but it’ll be fine after aggressive antibiotic therapy. They’re giving her broad-spectrum antibiotics, except penicillin, which she’s allergic to, and they say if she could tolerate penicillin it would be easier to treat her.

It’s so confusing when even the “experts” don’t know anything, but I suspect my mother was having regular tumor fevers that then developed into infection and the doctors didn’t realize it at first, so it went too long. Definitely get blood work regularly and see if her white blood cells are elevated and she has an infection. This week at the hospital was hell, even though I’m glad we finally caught it. It’s also a hopeful note that chemo could be causing the fevers just because it’s actually working and killing off some of the tumors.

Hope this helps ! Has your mother had any problems tolerating the chemo? It seems well tolerated by most people, but my mother has had a lot of problems with it, mainly the terrible anemia that saps her strength and makes her short of breath. I’d be interested in hearing if anyone else has had negative effects, as we’re thinking of doing a moderated dose if anything from now on.

My Mum had a resection in June last year. She hasn’t had chemo or radiotherapy, but has had a few fevers, which is unusual for her, so we guess it is something to do with having had such major surgery.