Fever During Chemotherapy: — What to Do Right Now
If you or someone you are caring for has a fever during chemotherapy, go to the nearest emergency department now. Do not wait to see if it improves. Do not wait until morning.
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
- Go now, not in the morning — A fever during chemotherapy cannot be managed at home. The emergency department is the right place, tonight.
- Your immune system is not working normally — Chemotherapy lowers white blood cells. Your body cannot fight infection the way it usually would.
- Feeling otherwise well does not mean it is safe to wait — People on chemotherapy can be seriously unwell before they look it. Do not use how you feel as the only guide.
- Say it first at the emergency department — Tell the triage nurse you are on chemotherapy and have a fever before anything else. This changes how quickly you are seen.
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A fever during chemotherapy is a medical emergency. Chemotherapy lowers your white blood cells, which means your body cannot fight infection the way it normally would. Any fever — even if you feel otherwise well — means go to the nearest emergency department now. Do not wait until morning.
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 level of concern needs what action?
| Sign | Call your oncology team | Go to emergency now — do not wait |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | You feel warm but are unsure, and otherwise feel fine | Any confirmed fever, or you feel hot and unwell for any reason |
| Other symptoms alongside fever | None, and you feel reasonably well | Chills, shaking, fast heartbeat, breathlessness, confusion, or new pain anywhere |
| How you feel overall | Mildly off, able to speak and drink normally | Very unwell, confused, unable to drink, or something feels seriously wrong |
| Typically starts | Can happen at any point during your treatment | Most often in the days after a chemotherapy cycle, when white blood cell counts reach their lowest point |
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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 should you do right now?
- Take your temperature if you have a thermometer. Any reading that is raised, or that concerns you for any reason: go to the emergency department now.
- Do not take paracetamol, ibuprofen, or any fever medicine before going. It can bring the temperature down and make it harder for the emergency team to see how unwell you are.
- Tell someone you are leaving and where you are going. Do not drive yourself if you feel very unwell.
- Bring your chemotherapy treatment card, the name of your drugs, and your oncologist's contact number if you have them.
- At the emergency department, say immediately: 'I am on chemotherapy and I have a fever.' Say this before you join any queue. It changes how quickly you are assessed.
Why fever during chemotherapy is different from an ordinary fever
An ordinary fever means your immune system is fighting back. During chemotherapy, that system is suppressed. Your body may not be able to mount the same defence, which means an infection can spread faster and become serious very quickly.
This is why NCCN, ASCO and ESMO all classify fever during chemotherapy as a situation that needs immediate hospital assessment — not a call to wait and see.
The condition this page is about — febrile neutropenia, fever in a person with low white blood cells — is treatable. The outcome depends almost entirely on how quickly assessment and treatment begin.
Explore 69 more Blood Counts, Infection, Fever & Emergencies topics
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
Blood Transfusion & Donor Arrangement
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
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
Can I take paracetamol first to bring the fever down before going to hospital?
No. Taking paracetamol or any fever medicine before you are assessed can lower your temperature and make it harder for the emergency team to see how unwell you are. It does not treat the underlying infection, and it can delay the tests and treatment you need. Go to the emergency department first. Once you are there, tell the team everything you have already taken.
What if I do not have a thermometer and I am not sure I have a fever?
If you feel hot, feverish, shivery, or generally unwell and you are on chemotherapy, treat it as a fever. You do not need a confirmed temperature reading to go to the emergency department. Feeling unwell during chemotherapy — even without a number — is enough reason to seek emergency assessment now. Do not wait until you can borrow a thermometer or until morning.
Will I definitely be admitted to hospital if I go in?
Not always, but most people with fever during chemotherapy are admitted so the team can check blood counts and begin any treatment needed. Some people are assessed, found to be lower risk, and managed differently. That decision is made by the hospital team after in-person assessment — not in advance and not over the phone. The only way to find out which applies to you is to go and be seen.
Can I just call my oncologist instead of going to the emergency department?
Call if it helps you get moving, but do not wait for a return call before going. Fever during chemotherapy needs in-person assessment, blood tests and monitoring — none of which can happen over the phone. If you cannot reach your oncologist, go directly to the nearest emergency department and tell them you are on chemotherapy. Your oncologist can be reached by the hospital team once you are there.
Chemotherapy Topics
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