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Post-embolisation syndrome: pain, fever and nausea after TACE | CION Cancer Clinics
Post-embolisation syndrome is the pain, fever, nausea and tiredness most people feel after TACE. It is the body's reaction to a tumour losing its blood supply, and it usually eases over several days with the right medicines. This page explains what to expect, how long it tends to last, how to look after someone at home, and which signs mean going to hospital today. At CION Cancer Clinics, a multidisciplinary tumour board weighs your liver function and your scans before recommending any treatment.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh GunduConsultant Medical Oncologist · MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS) · last reviewed October 2026, next review due October 2027
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On this page
- What is post-embolisation syndrome?
- What are the usual symptoms after TACE?
- How long does post-embolisation syndrome last?
- How do I tell the expected reaction from a complication?
- What do families often get wrong about recovery after TACE?
- What can this page not tell you?
- Common questions about post-embolisation syndrome
The short answer
What is post-embolisation syndrome?
Post-embolisation syndrome is the pain, fever, nausea and tiredness that most people feel in the days after TACE. It is the body's reaction to a tumour that has suddenly lost its blood supply, and it usually settles on its own with the right medicines.
Why it happens
During TACE (transarterial chemoembolisation), chemotherapy and tiny particles are released into the arteries feeding a liver tumour. Starved of blood, the tumour tissue begins to die. The liver around it becomes swollen and inflamed, and the body responds the way it does to any inflammation: with an ache, a raised temperature and feeling unwell. You can read how the procedure works on how TACE works.
Who this page is for
This page is for people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, cancer that started in the liver) recovering from TACE, and for the family member looking after them at home. The same reaction can follow embolisation for cancer that spread to the liver, or after bland embolisation (particles without chemotherapy).
Feeling unwell after TACE is common and expected. The task is to tell the expected reaction apart from a complication.What it feels like
What are the usual symptoms after TACE?
Most people have some of these, a few have all of them, and some barely notice any.
Pain under the right ribs
A deep, dull ache over the liver, sometimes felt in the right shoulder. It is usually strongest on the first evening and the next day. Our page on whether TACE is painful covers pain relief in detail.
Fever
A mild to moderate temperature, often in the first few days. It comes from inflammation, not usually from infection, and paracetamol at a dose your doctor approves often helps.
Nausea and poor appetite
Feeling sick, vomiting once or twice, and not wanting food. Anti-sickness tablets help. Small, frequent meals are easier than large ones.
Gentle foods that often help
- Idli, curd rice or soft khichdi
- Buttermilk, coconut water or clear soups
- Small portions, eaten often
Tiredness
Often the symptom that lasts longest. Many people feel washed out for some time after the pain has gone. Rest, short walks and enough protein help the body recover.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistA typical course
How long does post-embolisation syndrome last?
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The day of TACE
Pain and nausea can begin within hours. Medicines are often given before the particles go in, and you are watched on the ward, usually overnight.
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The first day or two after
Usually the peak. Pain, fever and nausea are at their strongest. Pain relief through the drip, or regular tablets, keeps most people comfortable.
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The rest of the first week
Symptoms ease steadily for most people. Fever fades, appetite starts to return and the ache becomes milder. Many go home during this period.
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Afterwards
Tiredness can linger. A blood test checks how the liver coped, and a scan some weeks later shows how the tumour responded. See recovery after TACE for returning to work and normal life.
!
Signs this is not ordinary post-embolisation syndrome
Go to hospital today if symptoms get worse instead of better after the first few days, if fever returns or rises with shivering, if the skin or eyes turn yellow, if the belly swells quickly, if the person becomes confused or unusually sleepy, or if they vomit blood or pass black stools. These can mean a liver abscess, bleeding or the liver struggling. Tell the doctor about the TACE.
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Side by side
How do I tell the expected reaction from a complication?
Usually expected
Needs a doctor today
Fever in the first few days that slowly settles
Fever that returns later, rises, or comes with shivering
Ache under the ribs that eases with tablets
Pain that keeps building despite pain relief
Nausea and vomiting once or twice
Vomiting that does not stop, or vomiting blood
Tiredness and a poor appetite
Yellow eyes, new confusion or a fast-swelling belly
Commonly believed
What do families often get wrong about recovery after TACE?
"No fever after TACE means the treatment failed."
The strength of the reaction does not reliably show how well the tumour responded. Some people with a good response feel almost nothing. Only the follow-up scan can tell you.
"A liver patient should avoid protein while recovering."
Cutting protein is one of the commonest mistakes families make. The body needs protein to heal, and low protein makes weakness worse. Follow the dietitian or doctor, not general advice.
"A fever means we should start antibiotics at home."
Most early fever after TACE is inflammation, not infection. Starting leftover antibiotics can hide a real problem. Call the team and let them decide.
"A liver tonic will help the liver recover faster."
Herbal tonics and detox products can injure a liver that is already under strain. Tell your doctor about anything you take. Nobody will judge you for asking.
Being straight with you
What can this page not tell you?
It cannot tell you whether the symptoms you have right now are the expected reaction or a complication. That needs someone to examine you, check your temperature and look at your blood tests. If you are unsure, call the treating team rather than waiting to see.
Who this does not apply to
After TARE (radioembolisation with radioactive beads), the reaction is usually milder and different in kind; read recovery after Y-90 instead. After ablation or liver surgery, recovery follows another pattern. People whose liver was already weak before TACE need closer watching, because the risk that matters most is the liver itself struggling, covered on liver failure after TACE.
Who can answer your question
The interventional radiologist who performed the TACE and your oncologist know what was treated and how your liver was before. At CION, the tumour board reviews the plan, CION coordinates TACE through NABH-accredited partner hospitals, and CION's oncologists provide the follow-up and symptom care afterwards.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about post-embolisation syndrome
Does everyone get post-embolisation syndrome?
Most people have at least some of it, but how strongly varies a great deal. Treating a large area of the liver tends to cause a stronger reaction than treating a small tumour. Some people feel only mild tiredness. Your team will usually plan medicines for it whether or not you end up needing them.
Is the fever after TACE an infection?
Usually not. Early fever comes from inflammation as the tumour tissue breaks down. A fever that starts later, keeps rising, or comes with shivering can mean infection or an abscess in the liver. That needs to be checked in hospital the same day, not treated at home.
Can I take paracetamol for the fever?
Often yes, but only at the limit your doctor sets for your liver. A damaged liver handles some medicines differently, and several common painkillers are not safe with cirrhosis. Read about painkillers and a damaged liver and ask before taking anything new.
What should my father eat after TACE?
Soft, simple food in small portions, eaten often. Keep fluids going, especially with fever. Do not cut protein unless a doctor has told you to. If there is fluid in the belly, the team may advise less salt. Ask for a dietitian if appetite stays poor for a long time.
When can we go home after TACE?
Most people go home once pain and nausea are controlled with tablets, they are eating and drinking, and the blood tests look acceptable. For many that is after a night or two in hospital. Make sure you know who to call at night before you leave.
Will it happen again with the next session?
It can, though often less strongly if a smaller area is treated. Tell the team what was hardest the first time so they can plan pain and nausea medicines better. More on spacing is on the gap between TACE sessions.
Does a strong reaction mean the tumour is dying?
The reaction comes from tissue losing its blood supply, but its strength is not a reliable measure of how well the tumour responded. Some people with an excellent response feel very little. The follow-up scan is the only way to judge response, so do not read too much into how the first days felt.
Who do I call if I am worried at night?
Use the number the hospital gave you at discharge. If symptoms are severe, or include confusion, yellow eyes, vomiting blood or a high fever with shivering, go to the nearest hospital emergency department today and say the person recently had TACE. Take the discharge summary with you.
Your Specialists
Meet CION's liver cancer specialists. Bring your scan reports and liver blood tests.
Our medical and surgical oncologists plan liver cancer care together, weighing the tumour and how well your liver works before choosing surgery, a liver-directed procedure or medicines.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- American Cancer Society — Embolization Therapy for Liver Cancer
- Cancer Research UK — Treatment for liver cancer
- American Cancer Society — After Liver Cancer Treatment
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma HCC)
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
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Not sure whether these symptoms after TACE are normal?
Tell us when the TACE was done and what the person is feeling now. We will help you work out whether it needs the team today and support recovery at home. One helpline serves every CION centre.