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Fever From Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Like most forms of cancer, mesothelioma can present fevers as a symptom. While a fever may be no more serious in mesothelioma patients than it is in otherwise healthy people, it can be a signal of more issues.
According to the American Cancer Society, a fever is defined as “a body temperature of 100.5° F or higher (when taken by mouth) that most often goes up and down over the course of a day.”[1] Cancerous growths, such as tumors caused by mesothelioma, can cause a fever by depleting a large portion of the body’s energy. Cancers like mesothelioma of the stomach can also change the way the body converts food into energy. In some cases, the immune system may react to cancer by creating a fever in the same way it would create a fever to fight an infection.[2]
However, a fever in a mesothelioma patient should never be ignored. It could be a symptom of an infection, which can be deadly. Infections may be caused by the cancer itself, or as a side effect of a weakened immune system. Mesothelioma has been shown to reduce certain T lymphocyte populations (T-cells), and has also been shown to produce immunosuppressive cytokines (proteins that hinder the immune system).[3] As such, when an otherwise harmless infection develops, it can be fatal.
Surgical treatment of mesothelioma can also lead to fatal infections. Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and extended pleurectomy/decortication (EP/D) are the two most common surgeries used to treat mesothelioma.[4] According to a recent study, about 2% of patients who underwent either of these surgeries died due to infections related to pneumonia.[5] Because of the above risk factors for infections, fevers in mesothelioma patients should be taken seriously.
Certain treatments for mesothelioma, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can also hinder the immune system by suppressing the production of white blood cells.[6] It’s important for mesothelioma patients to speak with their doctor about protecting themselves while their immune systems are weak. A doctor may recommend increased food safety procedures, increased hand-washing, wearing a facemask, remaining in the hospital or other methods to avoid potentially deadly germs.
[1] https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/fever.html
[2] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/signs-and-symptoms-of-cancer.html
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2852572
[4] https://thoracic.surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions–procedures/extrapleural-pneumonectomy.aspx
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5497107/
[6] https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/body-systems-and-cancer/the-immune-system-and-cancer
