Are chills a sign of cancer

Q: What are 7 warning signs of cancer?

17 Cancer Symptoms You Shouldnt Ignore.

After weeks of suffering from fatigue and shortness of breath in the fall of 2016, Hunter Brady went to the doctor, who diagnosed him with the flu. But when the 16-year-old’s prescribed treatment didn’t relieve his symptoms, a second opinion revealed the Florida boy had stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. Fatigue, chills, fever, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes and persistent cough are common symptoms of the flu. But they also are common symptoms of some cancers, especially hematologic malignancies, such as lymphoma and leukemia.

Table of Contents Show

Cases of common symptoms
Cancer may increase flu risk
Unexplained Weight Loss
Skin Changes
What kind of cancer gives you chills?
What are 7 warning signs of cancer?
What are the warning signs of cancer?
What cancers cause fever and chills?

As flu season approaches, there may be rare cases when patients who think they have the flu are later diagnosed with cancer, says Mashiul Chowdhury, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), though he says there is no need for anyone to be alarmed, stressing that the occurrences are rare. “The symptoms of the flu or an infection often are similar to symptoms of cancer because some of the mechanisms are quite similar,” Dr. Chowdhury says. “Your immune system is down. So, you feel a malaise, you have a fever. Then you go to get a chest X-ray and you get a bad surprise—cancer.”

Cases of common symptoms

While it is rare for cancer to be inaccurately diagnosed as the flu, several cases have made headlines. For instance:

In 2012, a women who fought through weeks of flu symptoms was later treated at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, for thyroid cancer.
In 2016, Jaime Luis Gomez, known as rapper Taboo and a former member of pop group The Black Eyed Peas, said in an interview that he thought his pain, headaches and shortness of breath were brought on by the flu. He was later diagnosed with stage 2 testicular cancer.

The inaccurate diagnoses should not cause panic. Dr. Chowdhury says patients who have been diagnosed with the flu or have flu-like symptoms should not be alarmed or immediately think they have something other than the flu. But if symptoms worsen or do not get better after two weeks, they should see a doctor. “If you have an infection, and this is especially important for older people, and it lasts longer than the average period, then there should be concern,” Dr. Chowdhury says. “Then you need to go tell your doctor this is not going away.”

Cancer may increase flu risk

It’s also important to know that patients who are undergoing cancer treatment may be at a higher risk for catching the flu, because their immune system may be weak. As flu season approaches, here are some tips for cancer patients and their caregivers that may help reduce the risk of getting sick:

Get the flu vaccine. The American Cancer Society says flu vaccines are safe for cancer patients. But check with your doctor first.
Make sure your family members and caregivers also are vaccinated.
Avoid crowds or wear a mask if you must be in a large group.
Wash hands frequently.
If you think you may have been exposed to the flu, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. A doctor may choose to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics that may ease symptoms or prevent the flu from developing.

Learn more about the flu-like symptoms associated with leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Cancer Biopsies

Today, people are living longer than ever after a cancer diagnosis due to improved cancer screenings. Routine screenings catch diseases earlier, when they are more straightforward to treat.

Noticing one of the following symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer. But to be safe, talk to your doctor about these five signs and symptoms.

Unexplained Weight Loss
When you lose weight for no reason, call your doctor. A loss of 10 pounds or more could be nothing to worry about. However, in rare cases, it may be the first sign of cancer.
Fatigue
This isn’t fatigue similar to how you feel after a long day of work or play. Extreme fatigue that doesn’t get better with rest can be an early sign of cancer.
Cancer uses your body’s nutrients to grow and advance, so those nutrients are no longer replenishing your body. This “nutrient theft” can make you feel extremely tired.
There are lots of underlying causes of fatigue, many of them not cancer-related. If your symptoms are severe enough to affect your quality of life, call your doctor.
Fever
Fever can be a common symptom of colds and the flu, and clears up on its own.

Certain characteristics of recurring fever can foretell a possible cancer connection. You should pay particular attention if:
- A fever happens mostly at night.
- You have no other signs of infection.
- You experience night sweats.
Pain
Pain is another symptom that can be caused by a multitude of health issues, most of which are not cancer. But persistent pain, can also hint at an underlying disease.
Cancer can cause pain in different ways, including:
- A mass or tumor pushing on other areas of your body
- The chemicals a cancer releases
- Metastasis, or spreading from where a cancer started
If you’re experiencing pain that doesn’t go away — and you’re not sure where it came from — your doctor can help with the best next steps.
Skin Changes
Our skin is the largest organ of our body and can be a window into our overall health. Jaundice (yellowing of eyes or fingertips) is one symptom that could suggest a possible infection or cancer. Contact your doctor if you notice any signs of jaundice.

Changes in moles can also be cause for concern. Call your doctor if a mole:
- Is asymmetrical, or has jagged edges
- Has irregular borders
- Changes color or gets darker
- Is large or growing
These aren’t the only ways your body could react to an early cancer. Check out the symptoms Johns Hopkins gastroenterologist Anne Marie Lennon, M.D., Ph.D., wants you to be aware of.

What kind of cancer gives you chills?

Chills can also be a sign of blood cancers, including leukemia. Symptoms of leukemia may include swelling of the lymph nodes, along with fever, chills, fatigue, loss of appetite, night sweats, abdominal pain and recurring infections.