Infections
An infection can occur when harmful organisms, such as bacteria, fungi and/or viruses, invade your body and multiply, resulting in disease, illness or damage to your organs and tissues. Normally, your immune system destroys these germs before they can cause harm. But, because cancer and its treatments weaken the immune system (sometimes resulting in a low white blood cell count known as neutropenia/leukopenia), your immune system often cannot destroy the harmful organisms fast enough.
Some common disease-related causes of infection include:
- Chemotherapy medications that lower the production of white blood cells
- Cancers that directly affect the bone marrow, such as leukemia and lymphoma
- Cancers that spread to the bone, disrupting the production of white blood cells
- Treatment side effects, such as stress, poor diet, sleeplessness and others, that weaken the overall function of the immune system
- Neutropenia/leukopenia among people being treated with drug therapies, alone or in combination with other treatments.
When should you call your health care provider?
Managing an infection from the very beginning is important to avoid life-threatening situations, such as sepsis. Contact your health care provider immediately – do not wait until the next day – if you have any of these symptoms:
- Fever (oral temperature higher than 100.4 °F), chills and sweating
- Flu-like symptoms (body aches, general fatigue) with or without fever
- Cough, shortness of breath or painful breathing
- Sore throat or sores in your mouth
- Redness, pain or swelling on your skin
- Pus or drainage from any open cut or sore
- Diarrhea (loose or liquid stools)
- Pain or burning with urination
- Pain or sores around the anus
- Vaginal drainage or itching
- Rapid heartbeat or fast breathing
- Confusion
