Who to Call During Chemotherapy — Day, Night, and When It Is an Emergency
The number on your CION discharge card is your first call for most worrying symptoms, at any hour. Some symptoms mean skipping the call entirely and going straight to the emergency department.
Medically reviewed by Dr. N. Kiranmayee, Medical Oncologist · Last reviewed September 2026
- Fever means emergency, not helpline — Any raised temperature during chemotherapy goes to the emergency department immediately — not a helpline call.
- Your helpline covers everything else — Nausea, new pain, mouth sores, unexpected changes — the helpline is there for all of it, around the clock.
- Night is not a reason to wait — After-hours cover exists specifically because symptoms do not keep clinic hours.
- No answer? Go in if it feels serious — If you cannot reach anyone and your symptoms feel severe, go to the emergency department without waiting for a callback.
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The helpline number on your CION discharge card is your first call for new or worsening symptoms, day or night. Call it for nausea, pain, mouth sores, or anything that worries you. Go straight to the emergency department — without calling first — for fever, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, or any symptom that feels severe and sudden.
If a symptom below applies to you, do not wait for a callback. Call 1800-202-8726 or go to your nearest emergency department.
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Not sure whether this counts as an emergency?
Call the helpline. It is always better to check than to wait.
Which contact should you call for which symptom?
| Symptom or situation | Who to contact | How urgent |
|---|---|---|
| Fever, chills, or feeling hot and shivery | Emergency department | Right away — day or night, no call first |
| Difficulty breathing, chest pain, or severe reaction | Emergency department | Right away — do not wait |
| Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding | Emergency department | Right away |
| Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea that is worsening | Oncology helpline | Same day — do not wait for your next appointment |
| New pain, swelling, or a wound that looks infected | Oncology helpline | Same day, or after hours if it feels urgent |
| Questions about medicines, meals, or your next visit | Clinic reception | During clinic hours |
| Typically starts | Side effects often appear within the first few days after an infusion but can develop at any point — report new symptoms any time, not just on clinic days | Any time during treatment |
What do you do if nobody answers?
If you call the helpline and reach voicemail, leave your name, your symptom, and your contact number — then make a decision based on what you are feeling.
For anything that feels severe — fever, breathing problems, bleeding, or pain you cannot describe as mild — do not wait for a return call. Go to the nearest emergency department and tell the staff you are on chemotherapy. Give them the name of your treatment centre and your medicines if you have them written down.
For milder concerns, keep trying the helpline and call the clinic directly as soon as it opens. Most worries can wait an hour; very few can wait a full day.
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 the oncology helpline available at night and on weekends?
Yes — after-hours cover exists because chemotherapy symptoms do not keep office hours. The number on your CION discharge card is available around the clock. If you are unsure whether your symptom warrants a midnight call, it does. The team would rather hear from you at 2am than have you wait until morning with something that is worsening.
What do I say when I call the helpline?
Start with your name and the fact that you are on chemotherapy at CION. Then give the date of your last infusion and describe your main symptom in plain words — what it is, how bad it feels, and when it started. If you have a fever, say so first. You do not need the medical name for what you are experiencing. The person who answers will guide you from there.
My family member on chemotherapy has a fever. Should we call first or go straight to emergency?
Go straight to the emergency department. Fever during chemotherapy is treated as a medical emergency, and calling first only adds delay with no benefit. Tell the emergency team that the person is on chemotherapy, give them the name of the treatment centre, and share the medicines if you have them listed. Time matters — do not wait to see if the fever settles on its own.
What if I cannot reach anyone and my symptoms feel serious?
Go to the nearest emergency department without waiting for a callback. When you arrive, tell the staff you are a CION patient on chemotherapy and give them the names of your medicines and the date of your last infusion. They can contact CION for your treatment history if they need it. Keeping a written list of your medicines with you at all times makes this faster.
Chemotherapy Topics
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