A printable oral chemotherapy safety card

A safety card puts the most important rules for your tablets in one place, so you and your family do not have to remember everything or search through leaflets when something happens. It should be filled in with your team at the start of treatment and kept with your medicines, with a photo on your phone and a copy for the main carer. The card below is a template of the headings to use. It does not replace your team's instructions; it is a way of writing those instructions down clearly. Ideally, your oncology nurse or pharmacist fills in the details with you and checks that you understand each section.

Oral chemotherapy is safest when everyone in the home follows the same rules: how and when to take tablets, how to handle and store them, what to do if a dose is missed or vomited, which symptoms mean holding the next dose and calling, and who to call at any time of day. Many problems happen in the evening, at weekends or during travel, when it is harder to reach the team and easy to guess. A completed card gives you and your family a clear plan in those moments. It is also useful to show to other doctors, pharmacists, emergency staff and anyone who helps care for you, because it tells them at a glance which medicine you are taking and what matters most.

Fill it in with your team

Ask your nurse or pharmacist to complete the medicine, schedule and warning sign sections.

Keep copies

Keep one with your tablets, one in your wallet or phone, and one with your main carer.

Update when anything changes

If your dose, schedule or medicine changes, make a new card.

It cannot fill in your medicine details, schedule, missed-dose or vomiting instructions. These must come from your team, because they differ between medicines. A card with blank or guessed sections is less safe than no card.

It also cannot replace talking to your team. If anything on the card is unclear, or a situation is not covered, call your helpline.

Language

Ask for the card to be completed in the language you and your family read most easily.

Large print

Older adults may prefer larger text. Print the headings in a bigger font.

Children on oral treatment

Parents and all carers, including school staff if relevant, should have a copy.

Travel

Carry the card with your tablets and prescription when travelling.

Other doctors

Show the card to dentists, family doctors and pharmacists before any new treatment.

Hospital admission

Bring the card and tablets if admitted, so staff know exactly what you take.

Old cards

Destroy old cards when your treatment changes, to avoid confusion.

Pair with a diary

Use the card for rules and a dose diary for daily records.

Share with helpers

Anyone who helps at home should read the card.

Why a card matters in real situations

Imagine vomiting late at night soon after taking a tablet, or a grandchild finding the medicine box, or waking with a fever while travelling. In moments like these, it is easy to panic, guess or waste time searching for leaflets and phone numbers. A completed safety card gives clear steps and the right number to call straight away. It also helps relatives who may be less familiar with your treatment act correctly if you are too unwell to explain. For emergency staff who do not know you, the card quickly shows which medicine you take and why symptoms such as fever or bleeding need urgent attention.

Making the card easy to use

Keep the wording short and practical, use large clear writing, and highlight the helpline number and the warning signs. Place the card where it can be seen when taking tablets, such as inside the medicine box lid, and take a photo so it is always on your phone. Review it with your family every few weeks, especially after any change in your treatment.

Using the card with a dose diary

The safety card holds the rules; the dose diary records what actually happened each day. Keeping them together means that when you call the helpline, you have both your instructions and your recent doses and symptoms in front of you. This makes conversations quicker and advice more accurate.

Checking the card together

Read the completed card aloud with your family once, so everyone understands it.

What to do next

Print the card headings, ask your team to complete them at your next appointment, keep copies with your tablets, phone and carer, update the card whenever treatment changes, and take it with you to any emergency or new doctor.