Cancer Symptoms Is a Persistent Low-Grade Fever a Symptom of Cancer? Cancer-related body temperature increases differ from other fevers By Lisa Fayed Lisa Fayed is a freelance medical writer, cancer educator and patient advocate. Learn about our editorial process Lisa Fayed Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on November 01, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is triple board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. He is an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and attending physician in the Department of Hematology Oncology at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on April 10, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Fever and Cancer Signs and Symptoms What to Expect at the Doctor A Word From Verywell A fever is an extremely common symptom that's related to many conditions, most of which are benign. An increase in body temperature is most often a biological response to a viral or bacterial infection (like if you're experiencing a cough or congestion). The body simply raises its temperature to help destroy the invading germ. But what if you're not fighting off a cold? In some cases, a persistent and otherwise unexplained fever can be related to cancer. Laura Porter / Verywell Fever and Cancer Leukemia and lymphoma, for example, are two types of cancer that are commonly known to cause fevers. Leukemia is cancer of the blood-forming tissues in the body. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system (which is part of the immune system). One type is called Hodgkin disease and the other types are called non-Hodgkin lymphomas. 5 Major Differences Between Leukemia and Lymphoma Signs and Symptoms These are the three key signs of a cancer-related fever: It's a persistent fever, meaning it lasts longer than three days. It can be either a low- or high-grade fever, so don't brush off a persistent, low-grade fever just because it isn't high. It can be accompanied by other symptoms or it can occur without other symptoms. Other common symptoms of leukemia include fatigue, weakness, frequent infections, abdominal bruising or excessive bleeding, bone, and joint pain, enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal discomfort, and headaches. Other common symptoms of lymphoma include unexplained rapid weight loss, excessive sweating at night, itchiness all over the body, loss of appetite, weakness, breathlessness, and swelling of the face and neck. If your low-grade or high-grade fever is very persistent, it's important to see your doctor to determine the cause of the fever. Keep an eye on your temperature regularly by using a thermometer. Even if over-the-counter fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen relieve your fever, it's still critical to see your physician if the fever lasts for more than three days. Getting an Accurate Reading When Using a Thermometer What to Expect at the Doctor Unexplained fevers can be caused by a myriad of conditions, and your doctor will likely ask a lot of questions to help make an accurate diagnosis, such as: How long have you had a fever? Do you have any other symptoms? What medications are you taking? Do you suffer from any diseases or conditions? How often do you have a fever? Do you notice it more at night? Do you have a dental abscess or other dental problems that may have an infection? Have you traveled to any other countries within the last few months? Your doctor may decide to do a few routine tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC). Your doctor may also order a chem 7 panel or may want to do a urinalysis, to rule out a urinary tract infection as the cause. A Word From Verywell Keep in mind that a fever is a very general, vague symptom of cancer. It's not a red flag, but more of an indication to your doctor to run certain medical tests. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Foggo V, Cavenagh J. Malignant causes of fever of unknown origin. Clin Med (Lond). 2015;15(3):292–294. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.15-3-292 Zombori L, Kovacs G, Csoka M, Derfalvi B. Rheumatic symptoms in childhood leukaemia and lymphoma-a ten-year retrospective study. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2013;11:20. doi:10.1186/1546-0096-11-20 American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Updated August 21, 2018. American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Updated August 1, 2018.