From the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Watch out for fever.
If you get a fever during your chemotherapy treatment, it’s a medical emergency.

Take your temperature any time you feel warm, flushed, chilled, or not well. If your temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher for more than one hour, or 101°F (38.3°C) or higher for any length of time, call your doctor right away.

Clean your hands. You and anyone who comes around you, including all members of your household, your doctors, and nurses, should clean their hands frequently. Don’t be afraid to ask people to clean their hands.Use soap and water to wash your hands. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Know the signs and symptoms of infection. During your chemotherapy treatment, your body may not be able to fight off infections like it used to. Call your doctor right away if you notice any signs or symptoms of an infection.

If You Think You Have an Infection

Call your doctor right away, even if this happens in the middle of the night. This is considered an emergency. Don’t wait until morning. Keep your doctor’s phone numbers with you at all times.

More Information

• Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients

• 3 Steps Toward Preventing Infections During Cancer Treatment