Bleeding That Won't Stop — What to Do Right Now
Chemotherapy reduces your platelet count — the part of your blood that forms clots. A cut that would normally stop quickly may keep bleeding, and some bleeds with no visible wound are the most dangerous. This page tells you which signs mean go now.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Low platelets slow clotting — Many chemotherapy regimens reduce the platelets your body relies on to seal a wound.
- Some bleeds are internal — Bleeding inside the body has no wound you can press on — the signs appear in urine, stool, or vomit.
- Pressure helps surface wounds only — Steady, unbroken pressure on a surface cut is the immediate step — while you arrange to be seen.
- Do not wait and see — If pressure is not working, or if you are unsure, go to the emergency department rather than waiting for a call back.
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Chemotherapy reduces your platelet count — what your body uses to form clots. NCCN and ASCO guidance treats bleeding that does not stop with direct pressure, blood you cough or vomit, blood in urine or black stool, or bleeding from multiple sites as needing emergency assessment without delay.
If a symptom below applies to you, do not wait for a callback. Call 1800-202-8726 or go to your nearest emergency department.
When is a bleed manageable, and when is it an emergency?
| Feature | Likely manageable | Emergency — go now |
|---|---|---|
| How it started | Clear injury — cut or graze | No injury, or bleeding after only a light bump |
| Response to pressure | Slows with steady, unbroken pressure | Not slowing despite sustained pressure |
| Colour and character | Bright red from a surface wound | Coffee-ground vomit, black or tarry stool, pink or red urine |
| How you feel | Otherwise well | Dizzy, faint, rapid heartbeat, or severe headache |
| Other bleeding sites | One place only | Gums, nose, or other sites bleeding at the same time |
| Typically starts | Any time after a minor injury | Highest risk in the days platelet counts reach their lowest — usually mid-cycle after chemotherapy |
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Not sure whether this counts as an emergency?
Call the helpline. It is always better to check than to wait.
What do you do right now while you arrange to be seen?
For a surface wound, apply firm, steady pressure using a clean cloth. Do not lift it to check — lifting breaks the clot that is trying to form.
If pressure is not helping, or the bleeding is somewhere you cannot press — mouth, throat, gut — go to the emergency department rather than trying to manage it at home.
Tell the emergency team immediately that you are on chemotherapy. Platelet levels may need to be checked and corrected urgently, and the team will need to reach your oncologist.
What should you tell the emergency team when you arrive?
- The name of your chemotherapy regimen and which cycle you are currently in
- The date of your last chemotherapy infusion
- Whether you have had a recent blood count and what your platelet level was
- Any blood thinners or aspirin you take regularly
- Your CION centre or oncologist's name so the team can contact them
- How long the bleeding has been going on and whether it is getting worse
Explore 69 more Blood Counts, Infection, Fever & Emergencies topics
Emergencies & Red Flags
- A Printable Emergency Action Card
- Bleeding That Will Not Stop
- Breathlessness: When It Is an Emergency
- Chemotherapy Emergencies: The Complete Red-Flag List
- Chest Pain During Chemotherapy
- Confusion, Drowsiness or Fits
- Emergency Contacts: Who to Call and When
- Fever: The Number One Emergency
- Going to a Different Hospital in an Emergency
- Leg Swelling and Calf Pain
- Not Passing Urine or Passing Very Little
- Problems With Your Port or Line
- Severe Mouth Pain Stopping Fluids
- Severe Pain That Is Not Controlled
- Swelling of the Face, Lips or Throat
- Uncontrolled Vomiting or Diarrhoea
- What to Keep Ready at Home for an Emergency
- When to Call the Helpline vs Go Straight In
Blood Transfusion & Donor Arrangement
Fever During Chemotherapy
- A Printable Fever Action Plan
- Can You Wait Until Morning With a Fever?
- Fever After the Course Has Finished
- Fever During Chemotherapy: What to Do Right Now
- Fever When You Cannot Reach Your Team
- Fever With Chills and Rigors
- Fever With No Other Symptoms
- Fever in a Child on Chemotherapy
- How Long Will You Be Admitted for a Fever?
- Is 99, 100 or 101 Degrees an Emergency?
- Preventing Infection to Avoid Fever Episodes
- What to Carry to Hospital With a Fever
- What to Tell the Hospital When You Call
- Why Fever Is Treated as an Emergency
HUB — Low Blood Counts, Infection and Fever During Chemotherapy
Infection Prevention at Home
Low Platelets & Bleeding
- A Printable Bleeding Red-Flag Card
- Arranging Platelet Donors
- Bleeding Gums and Nosebleeds
- Bruising Easily During Chemotherapy
- Dental Work and Procedures With Low Platelets
- Everyday Precautions With Low Platelets
- Foods That Are Said to Raise Platelets
- Low Platelets During Chemotherapy
- Painkillers to Avoid When Platelets Are Low
- Platelet Transfusion: What to Expect
- What Platelet Count Is Dangerous?
Low White Cells, Neutropenia & Infection
- A Printable Neutropenia Safety Card
- Avoiding Infection During the Low-Count Days
- Bone Pain After Growth Factor Injections
- Can You Go Out When Your Counts Are Low?
- Foods That Are Said to Raise White Cells
- Getting to Hospital Fast From a District
- Growth Factor Injections to Raise Your Counts
- How to Take and Record a Temperature Properly
- Low White Cell Count During Chemotherapy
- Neutropenia in Children on Chemotherapy
- Neutropenic Fever: A Medical Emergency
- Preventive Antibiotics During Chemotherapy
- Recovering Counts Between Cycles
- Should You Take Paracetamol for a Fever?
- Signs of Infection to Watch For
- Understanding Your Blood Count Report
- Visitors When Your Counts Are Low
- What Happens When You Go In With Neutropenic Fever?
- What Is Neutropenia?
- What Is an Absolute Neutrophil Count?
- What Temperature Means You Must Go to Hospital?
- Which Days Are You Most at Risk of Infection?
Vaccination During & After Chemotherapy
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Frequently asked questions
Is a nosebleed on chemotherapy an emergency?
A nosebleed during chemotherapy is not always an emergency, but it is not an ordinary nosebleed either. Sit upright, pinch the soft part of the nose, and hold steady pressure without releasing to check. If it does not slow, if blood is flowing into your throat, or if you are bleeding anywhere else at the same time, go to the emergency department. Report any nosebleed to your oncology team even if it settles, so your platelet count can be reviewed.
Why does chemotherapy cause bleeding problems?
Many chemotherapy regimens suppress the bone marrow, where platelets are made. Platelets are the tiny cells that rush to a wound and form the initial seal before a clot can set. When the count falls, even small injuries bleed longer than usual, and spontaneous bleeding — with no injury at all — becomes possible. This is why your team monitors your blood count between cycles, and why attending those blood tests matters as much as attending your infusions.
I take a blood thinner as well as chemotherapy. Does that change things?
Yes, significantly. Medicines such as warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban, or heparin reduce clotting independently of chemotherapy, so the combination raises bleeding risk further. Tell every doctor and nurse you see that you are on both. If you are bleeding and you take a blood thinner, treat it as an emergency even if the bleed appears minor, and go to the emergency department rather than waiting for a callback.
My gums bleed when I brush my teeth. Is that a warning sign?
Gum bleeding is one of the early signs of a low platelet count and is worth reporting to your oncology team at your next contact. Go sooner if the bleeding is heavy, happens without brushing, or if you also notice small red or purple spots on your skin. Those spots — called petechiae — are tiny bleeds under the skin and are another sign that platelets may need to be checked.
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