Neutropenia Safety Card — Your Temperature Threshold and Who to Call
If your temperature reaches 38°C during chemotherapy, go to hospital immediately. Do not wait to see if it settles. This card gives you the threshold, who to call, and what to say when you get there.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- 38°C means go now — One reading at or above 38°C is enough. You do not need to feel very unwell first.
- Day or night, this cannot wait — Neutropenic fever is an emergency at 2am the same as at midday. Go to the emergency department.
- Say you are on chemotherapy first — Those words, said immediately, change how quickly you are seen and assessed.
- Bring this card with you — It tells the team what they need to know when you may be too unwell to remember it all.
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If your temperature reaches 38°C at any point during chemotherapy, go to hospital now. According to NCCN and ASCO, a single reading at that level is enough to act — no need to wait for a second reading or for other symptoms. This card gives you the threshold, the number to call, and what to say.
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.
What do I say when I arrive at the emergency department?
- Say: "I am on chemotherapy." — say this first, before anything else.
- Say the temperature reading you had at home and the time you took it.
- Say: "I was told to come straight to hospital if I had a fever."
- Give your oncologist's name and your treatment centre.
- Give the date of your last chemotherapy dose.
- Show this card — it has the information the team needs.
What temperature is dangerous during chemotherapy?
| Feature | Ordinary fever | On chemotherapy — act immediately |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 38°C may settle with rest | 38°C on any single reading — go to hospital now |
| Shivering or rigors | Can happen, usually mild | Go immediately even without a thermometer reading |
| How fast it can change | Often improves in 24–48 hours | Can become life-threatening within hours |
| Typically starts | After exposure to illness, any time | Most often days 7 to 14 after a chemotherapy dose (NCCN) |
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Frequently asked questions
What temperature means I need to go to hospital on chemotherapy?
38°C on a single reading is the threshold, according to NCCN and ASCO guidance. You do not need a second reading to confirm it. You do not need to feel obviously unwell alongside it. A temperature of 38°C during chemotherapy is enough on its own to go straight to the emergency department. Write down the reading and the time before you leave home so you can tell the team what it was when you arrive.
What if I do not have a thermometer and I think I have a fever?
Go anyway if you feel feverish, are shivering uncontrollably, or feel suddenly worse than usual. You do not need a confirmed temperature to go to hospital during chemotherapy. Your instinct that something is wrong is enough reason to go. Once this episode is over, buy a basic digital thermometer — they are widely available — so you are not in this position again. Keep it near your bed during every chemotherapy cycle.
Should I call my oncology team before going to the emergency department?
Call if you can reach someone immediately, but do not let the call delay you going. If it is the middle of the night and the line is not answered at once, go directly to the emergency department and call from there or on the way. Tell the emergency team you are on chemotherapy before you explain anything else. That information changes how quickly you are assessed and what tests are ordered.
My temperature came down before I reached hospital. Do I still need to be seen?
Yes. A temperature that drops on the way does not mean the underlying problem has resolved. Tell the team what the reading was at home and when you measured it. They will still need blood tests to check your white cell count and look for signs of infection. Going and being sent home reassured is a far better outcome than not going and becoming seriously unwell overnight.
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