Lung Cancer Surgery Recovery & Fever Complication

Surgery is an option for lung cancer patients in order remove the cancer itself and help prolong your life. Some patients are successful with lung surgery. However, there are a variety of side effects, with fever being one of the most common.

Types

• The severity of cancer dictates the type of surgery you will undergo. Either a lobe or a whole lung is removed, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Causes

• A mild fever is a common symptom post-surgery. Anesthesia is the cause in some patients. However, Doctor’s Guide also reports that your chance of fever increases when you undergo radiofrequency ablation for lung cancer.

Location

• A fever can occur immediately following lung cancer surgery. In such a case, you are likely to be treated quickly, as you will be in the hospital for at least one day following surgery. It is also important to monitor your temperature during home recovery in order to detect a fever.

Prevention/Solution

• The University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine recommends that you call your doctor if your fever reaches 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other Side Effects

• A fever may be accompanied by heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, and an infection at the site of the incision.