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.
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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
Where to find us
Our centres in and around Hyderabad
Addressed by landmark, because that is how this city navigates. Each centre also names the areas it serves, so you can place it without a map. Consultation and day-care Chemotherapy run at every one of them.
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Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
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Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
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MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
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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 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?
| Sign | Emergency department — go now | Oncology team — call today |
|---|---|---|
| Fever | Any new fever — go even before you find a thermometer | Feeling hot or unwell but no clear reading — still call the same day |
| Bleeding | Bleeding that will not stop within a few minutes | Unusual new bruising or clusters of small red spots on skin |
| Breathlessness | Sudden breathlessness at rest or coming on quickly | New breathlessness that is mild but getting slowly worse |
| Vomiting | Cannot keep any fluid down at all | Vomiting more than expected, or not settling after a day |
| Confusion | Any confusion, fits, or loss of consciousness | Unusual drowsiness or not feeling like yourself |
| Typically starts | Most often in the days after a cycle, when white cell counts are at their lowest | Can happen at any point during or between cycles |
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
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.
Chemotherapy Topics
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