1800 202 8726
Chemotherapy emergencies

Your Chemotherapy — Emergency Action Card

Some chemotherapy side effects are emergencies. This card tells you and your family which signs need the emergency department now, which need a same-day call, and what to say when you get there. Print it on cycle one.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh Gundu, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar) · DNB Internal Medicine (Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi) · DM Medical Oncology (AIIMS) · Last reviewed September 2026

  • Fever is always an emergency — A new fever during chemotherapy means your immune defences may be down. Go now — do not wait for a callback.
  • Go to emergency first, then call — For the serious signs: hospital first, not a clinic call. The emergency team needs to see you.
  • Write your chemotherapy name on this card — It is the first thing emergency staff need. Have it ready before you go.
  • Print on cycle one — Most emergencies happen between cycles, at home, when your counts are lowest.
4.8 · 800+ Google reviews · 15,000+ patients treated
Limited Slots Today

Speak to our team now

₹950   Today: FREE  ·  Including free written second opinion

Reply within 2 working hours
Reviewed by a senior medical oncologist
Confidential. No commitment to start treatment.
or
Call 1800 202 8726
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)

This card tells you which chemotherapy side effects need the emergency department right now, which need a same-day call to your oncology team, and what information to have ready. Print it on cycle one. Keep it where your family can find it.

If a symptom below applies to you, do not wait for a callback. Call 1800-202-8726 or go to your nearest emergency department.

What information do I give at emergency or when I call?

  • Your name and hospital or patient number
  • The name of your chemotherapy — write it on this card now
  • Date of your last chemotherapy cycle
  • Which symptoms you have and when they started
  • Your temperature, if you have a thermometer at home
  • Other medicines and supplements you are taking
  • Contact number of your oncology centre

If you are worried right now, call

Our helpline is answered by clinical staff. If a symptom is on the list above, do not wait for a callback — call, or go to your nearest emergency department.

Meet the Specialists

17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.

Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.

Dr. Naresh Gundu
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Naresh Gundu

MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
Medical Oncologist

Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy

MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)

View Profile
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla

MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)

View Profile
Dr. Owais Mohammed
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Owais Mohammed

MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)

View Profile
Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy
Medical Oncologist

Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy

MBBS, DM (Medical Oncology), MD (Radiation Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. N. Kiranmayee
Medical Oncologist

Dr. N. Kiranmayee

MBBS, DM (Medical Oncology), MD (Internal Medicine)

View Profile
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty

MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)

View Profile
Dr. Raghavendra Naik
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Raghavendra Naik

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Mohammed  Imaduddin
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Mohammed Imaduddin

M.B.B.S, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Vinay Mamidala

MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)

View Profile
Dr. Paila Gowri Naidu
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Paila Gowri Naidu

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology), FMAS

View Profile
Dr. Venkata Sushma P
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Venkata Sushma P

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Kirti Ranjan Mohanty
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Kirti Ranjan Mohanty

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology)

View Profile
Dr. Gangadhar Vajrala
Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Gangadhar Vajrala

MBBS, MD (Radiation Oncology), MPH

View Profile
Dr. Basudev Pokhrel
Hematologist

Dr. Basudev Pokhrel

MBBS, M.D (Immunohematology & Blood Transfusion)

View Profile
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Interventional Radiologist

Dr. Mohammed Imran

View Profile
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology

View Profile
Dr. Sridhar Kamani
Surgical Oncologist

Dr. Sridhar Kamani

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology)

View Profile

Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.

Book Free Consultation

Not sure whether this counts as an emergency?

Call the helpline. It is always better to check than to wait.

Book Free Consultation Call 1800 202 8726

What order do I follow — emergency department or call first?

For the signs in the red section above, go straight to the emergency department. Do not call the clinic first. Tell the team at the door that you are on chemotherapy — this changes how quickly they assess you and what tests they run.

For anything new or worrying that is not in that section, call your oncology team the same day. Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment.

If you are not sure which category a symptom falls into, treat it as an emergency. Your team would rather you came in for nothing than stayed home with something serious.

Which signs need which level of response?

SignEmergency department — go nowOncology team — call today
FeverAny new fever — go even before you find a thermometerFeeling hot or unwell but no clear reading — still call the same day
BleedingBleeding that will not stop within a few minutesUnusual new bruising or clusters of small red spots on skin
BreathlessnessSudden breathlessness at rest or coming on quicklyNew breathlessness that is mild but getting slowly worse
VomitingCannot keep any fluid down at allVomiting more than expected, or not settling after a day
ConfusionAny confusion, fits, or loss of consciousnessUnusual drowsiness or not feeling like yourself
Typically startsMost often in the days after a cycle, when white cell counts are at their lowestCan happen at any point during or between cycles

Explore 69 more Blood Counts, Infection, Fever & Emergencies topics

Blood Transfusion & Donor Arrangement

HUB — Low Blood Counts, Infection and Fever During Chemotherapy

Vaccination During & After Chemotherapy

All Blood Counts, Infection, Fever & Emergencies →

Next step

Still not sure what applies to you?

Send your reports across and a senior medical oncologist will go through what they mean, what is known, and what the options actually are.

Book Free Consultation Call 1800 202 8726
Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the most dangerous sign to watch for between cycles?

Fever. A new fever during chemotherapy may mean febrile neutropenia — an infection your immune system cannot fight because your white cell count is too low. ASCO and NCCN both treat fever on chemotherapy as an emergency until proven otherwise. Do not wait for a thermometer reading before going. Tell the emergency team you are on chemotherapy at the door.

Should I call my oncologist first or go straight to emergency?

For the red signs — fever, uncontrolled bleeding, breathlessness at rest, confusion — go straight to the emergency department. Do not call the clinic first. For anything else that is new and worrying, call your oncology team the same day. When you are unsure, treat it as an emergency. Going in for nothing is always safer than staying home.

What if the emergency department does not know my treatment?

Tell them your chemotherapy name at the door — it is on this card. Knowing you are on chemotherapy changes how quickly they see you and what tests they run. Your white cell and platelet counts will almost certainly be checked. Your chemotherapy name and the date of your last cycle are the two most important pieces of information to have ready.

Does this card apply to immunotherapy or targeted therapy too?

The fever and bleeding signs apply broadly, but immunotherapy and targeted therapy each have their own specific warning signs. This card is written for chemotherapy. Ask your team for a side-effect card matched to your exact treatment before your first cycle. If you are unsure which type of treatment you are receiving, ask your oncologist before you start.

Full index

Browse all 579 chemotherapy topics

Every page in this section, grouped by the part of treatment it belongs to. Open a group to see what is in it.

Before You Start: Tests, Ports & Fertility42
Blood Counts, Infection, Fever & Emergencies73

Anaemia & Low Haemoglobin

HUB — Low Blood Counts, Infection and Fever During Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy and Supportive Medicines by Name75

Chemotherapy Drugs by Name

HUB — Chemotherapy Drugs by Name

HUB — Generic, Branded and Biosimilar Chemotherapy in India

HUB — Supportive Medicines Used With Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy at CION Cancer Clinics1
Chemotherapy by Cancer Type and Special Situations5

Special Populations & Comorbidities

HUB — Chemotherapy in Special Situations

Chemotherapy in Hyderabad: Cost, Centres & Access93

HUB — Choosing a Chemotherapy Centre and Safe Administration

Common Side Effects and How They Are Managed78
Food, Diet, Hydration & Household Safety6
How Chemotherapy Is Given: Regimens, Cycles & Infusion Days85

Other Ways Chemotherapy Is Given

HUB — Cycles, Schedules and What Happens on Infusion Day

Is It Working, Finishing Chemotherapy & Survivorship7

Is It Working? Response & Scans

HUB — Is Chemotherapy Working? Scans and Response

HUB — When Chemotherapy Stops Working

Nerve, Skin, Heart, Kidney and Cognitive Effects5

Skin, Nails & Hand-Foot Syndrome

Heart, Lung & Organ Toxicity

HUB — Effects on the Heart, Kidneys, Liver and Nerves

Understanding Chemotherapy, Myths & Trials97

HUB — Chemotherapy Myths and Alternative Treatment Claims

HUB — Clinical Trials in Cancer Treatment

HUB — What Is Chemotherapy and Why Has It Been Advised?

Work, Family, Relationships and Emotional Support12
Call now Book free consultation