The human body maintains a relatively constant internal temperature, typically around 37°C (98.6°F), through thermoregulation. This system balances heat production and loss, with the hypothalamus in the brain acting as the body’s thermostat. Cancer can affect this balance, potentially leading to lower body temperatures.
The Link Between Cancer and Low Body Temperature
Cancer can be associated with lower-than-normal body temperature, known as hypothermia (below 35°C or 95°F). This can signal underlying issues, arising directly from the disease’s impact on physiological processes or as an indirect consequence of its progression.
Mechanisms Behind Temperature Changes in Cancer
Cancer can directly influence thermoregulation through several physiological mechanisms. One significant pathway involves cancer cachexia, a complex metabolic disorder characterized by unintentional weight loss, muscle wasting, and fat depletion. Patients with cachexia experience an altered energy balance and increased energy expenditure, which can impair the body’s ability to generate sufficient heat. This metabolic disruption consumes energy reserves, making it difficult for the body to maintain its temperature.
Advanced cancers can directly affect the hypothalamus, the brain region responsible for temperature control. When the disease progresses, it can disrupt the hypothalamus’s ability to maintain internal homeostasis, leading to a shift in body temperature regulation. Systemic inflammation, often associated with cancer, can also play a role, as inflammation may interfere with normal thermoregulatory processes.
Treatment-Related and Other Contributing Factors
Beyond the direct effects of cancer, various factors related to treatment and complications can contribute to low body temperature. Chemotherapy, for instance, can induce side effects such as fatigue, dehydration, and anemia, all of which can increase susceptibility to hypothermia. These side effects can impair the body’s capacity to produce and retain heat efficiently.
Radiation therapy and certain targeted therapies can also affect the body’s temperature regulation, though targeted therapies are more commonly associated with fever and chills.
Infections, particularly severe sepsis, can paradoxically lead to hypothermia in some cancer patients instead of the expected fever. Malnutrition, a common issue in cancer patients due to altered metabolism or reduced food intake, can slow cardiac activity and overall metabolism, contributing to a lower body temperature.
Adrenal insufficiency, which can arise as a complication of cancer or its treatments, may also impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature effectively.
Recognizing and Addressing Low Body Temperature
Recognizing the signs of low body temperature is important for cancer patients and their caregivers. Symptoms of hypothermia can include shivering, slurred speech, confusion, drowsiness, clumsiness, cold skin, and a weak pulse.
In infants, bright red, cold skin might be observed. Monitoring body temperature regularly is advised for cancer patients, particularly if they are experiencing symptoms or undergoing treatments known to affect thermoregulation.
Seeking medical attention is appropriate if a cancer patient experiences a persistent low temperature or worsening symptoms. Initial steps to help warm someone with hypothermia include moving them to a warmer environment, removing any wet clothing, and covering them with warm blankets.
Healthcare professionals can then provide proper diagnosis and management, which may involve medical interventions to gradually rewarm the patient or adjustments to their overall care plan.