Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
What if you fall ill before your operation? | CION Cancer Clinics
A fever before cancer surgery can postpone the operation, but it does not always. Call the surgical team as soon as you feel ill, and do not hide it to keep the date. The surgeon and anaesthetist weigh the illness, the operation and how urgent it is, then decide together. This page explains what to tell them, what they look at, and what happens if the date moves. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Will my operation be postponed if I get a fever?
- Which illnesses should you tell the team about?
- What should you do the moment you feel ill?
- What does the team weigh before changing the date?
- What happens if your operation is postponed?
- What do families often believe about falling ill before surgery?
- Common questions about falling ill before surgery
The short answer
Will my operation be postponed if I get a fever?
Sometimes, but not always. If you fall ill in the days before cancer surgery, call the surgical team straight away. They decide whether to go ahead, wait a short while or change the date.
Why a fever changes the plan
A fever usually means your body is fighting an infection. Anaesthesia and a large operation put extra strain on the heart and lungs. An infection at the same time can raise the chance of a chest infection, a slow-healing wound or a longer stay in hospital. Waiting until you are well again is often the safer choice.
Why a mild cold may not stop it
A runny nose with no fever, and a clear chest, is not the same as a chest infection. For many operations the team will go ahead. The anaesthetist, the doctor who keeps you asleep and safe during surgery, listens to your chest and makes that call on the morning.
What this page cannot decide for you
No page can tell you whether your own operation should wait. That depends on the illness, the operation, your other health conditions and how urgent the cancer surgery is. Only your treating team can weigh those together.
Do not hide an illness to keep your date. The team will find out in theatre, and that is the worst time for them to learn.What counts
Which illnesses should you tell the team about?
Tell them about anything new, even if it feels small. These are the ones that most often change the plan.
Fever, chills or body ache
Any fever in the days before surgery is worth a phone call. Tell the team how high it went, when it started and whether you took anything to bring it down, because that can hide a fever.
Cough, cold or breathlessness
A cough that brings up yellow or green phlegm, a tight chest or breathlessness matters more than a blocked nose.
Mention especially
- Wheezing or chest pain
- A recent flu or COVID test result
Loose motions or vomiting
These drain fluid and salts from the body quickly. They can also upset bowel preparation and the fasting plan before an abdominal operation.
A new infection somewhere else
A burning feeling when passing urine, a painful tooth, a boil, or a red, sore patch of skin near where the cut will be.
An infected area on the skin over the operation site is one of the clearest reasons to wait.Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistIf you feel unwell
What should you do the moment you feel ill?
Call early, not on the day
Ring the number on your admission sheet as soon as symptoms start. An early call gives the team time to see you, run a test or free the theatre slot for someone else.
Have the details ready
When it started, your temperature readings, what you have eaten and drunk, and every tablet you have taken since. Keep a written note so the family member calling can read from it.
Do not start medicines on your own
Do not begin antibiotics or cough syrups from a pharmacy without asking. Some interact with anaesthesia, and some hide the signs the team needs to see.
Come in if you are asked to
You may be asked to come for a check, a blood test or a chest X-ray. The surgeon and anaesthetist then decide together, and tell you what happens next.
Their side of the decision
What does the team weigh before changing the date?
Leans towards waiting
Leans towards going ahead
A fever, or a chest that sounds infected
A mild cold with a clear chest and no fever
A long operation under general anaesthesia
A shorter procedure, sometimes under local anaesthesia
Heart or lung disease, or poorly controlled diabetes
Otherwise good general health
A cancer the team judges can safely wait a little
A cancer causing a blockage or bleeding that cannot wait
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
If the date moves
What happens if your operation is postponed?
You are given a new date once you are well. In most cases the delay is short, and the plan for the operation itself stays the same.
Will the cancer grow while we wait?
This is the fear families raise first. For most cancers, a short wait to let an infection settle does not change the plan. The team knows your cancer and how quickly it tends to behave. If they feel a delay is not safe, they will say so and plan around the illness instead. Ask them directly how long they feel is reasonable for you.
Tests and approvals may need repeating
Some blood tests or fitness checks may need to be done again. An insurance or Aarogyasri approval can carry a validity window, so tell the insurance desk about the new date early. CGHS, ECHS and EHS approvals may also need updating.
Who this does not apply to
An emergency operation, for a bleed, a blocked bowel or a burst organ, does not wait for a cold to pass. In that situation the team treats the infection and operates at the same time.
Commonly believed
What do families often believe about falling ill before surgery?
"If we mention the fever, we will lose our slot for months."
A postponed date is usually rebooked soon after you recover. Hiding a fever does not protect the date. It moves the risk into the operating theatre, where it is harder to manage.
"A paracetamol in the morning will get us through the check."
Bringing a fever down does not treat what is causing it. It only makes the infection harder for the anaesthetist to spot. Tell the team what was taken and when.
"It is only a cold, so it does not count."
It may not count. It may also be the start of a chest infection. Let the team decide, since they will listen to your chest and may check a blood count before choosing.
"Postponing means the doctors think it is hopeless."
A new date is a safety decision about the next few days, not a judgement about the cancer. It says nothing about how the operation or the treatment afterwards will go.
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When not to wait for a phone call back
If you have a high fever with shivering, confusion, fast breathing, chest pain, or you are too weak to stand, go to the nearest emergency department the same day. Say that you are waiting for cancer surgery and carry your reports. Do not wait for the admission date or for the clinic to open in the morning.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about falling ill before surgery
Can I have surgery with a mild fever?
It depends on the cause and the operation. Many planned cancer operations are put back until the fever has gone and the cause is clear. Some are not, especially if the cancer itself is causing the fever. Call the surgical team rather than deciding yourself, and let the anaesthetist examine you.
Will a cough or cold cancel my operation?
Not always. A runny nose with no fever and a clear chest often does not stop surgery. A wet cough, wheezing or breathlessness is more likely to, because the lungs have to work hard after anaesthesia. The anaesthetist listens to your chest on the day and decides with the surgeon.
I tested positive for COVID or flu. What now?
Tell the surgical team the same day you get the result. Most planned operations are delayed until you have recovered, because these infections affect the lungs and healing. How long to wait depends on how unwell you were and how urgent the operation is. Your team will set the new timing.
Should I take antibiotics to get better in time?
Not on your own. Many fevers are caused by viruses that antibiotics do not treat, and an unneeded course can cause loose motions and other problems. Some medicines also need to be planned around anaesthesia. Call the team first. If you need an antibiotic, they will prescribe the right one.
Can I take paracetamol for a fever before surgery?
Ask the team before you do, and always tell them if you already have. Paracetamol can bring a temperature down and hide an infection they need to know about. Write down what you took and at what time, so the family member speaking to the team can tell them exactly.
My father has a fever and we have travelled from a district. Should we still come?
Call before you set out. The team may still want to see him, or may ask you to see a local doctor first and come later. A long journey while ill is tiring and can make him worse. If he is very unwell on the way, stop at the nearest emergency department.
Does a postponement affect my insurance or Aarogyasri approval?
It can. Some approvals are valid only for a set period, and a new date may need a fresh request. Tell the insurance or scheme desk as soon as the date changes. The same applies to CGHS, ECHS and EHS approvals and to cashless insurance, so nothing lapses before you are admitted.
What if I get loose motions after starting bowel preparation?
Loose motions are expected with bowel preparation, since that is what it does. What is not expected is a fever, blood in the stool, severe cramps or feeling faint. Call the team if any of those happen, and keep drinking the clear fluids you were told you may have.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
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
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- NICE — Perioperative care in adults (NG180)
- NHS — High temperature (fever) in adults
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Surgery
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.
Keep reading
Related pages
Preparing for Cancer Surgery: A Complete ChecklistWhat to do in the weeks and days beforeFitness, Tests and PrehabilitationThe checks that decide whether you are readyAnaesthesia for Cancer SurgeryWhy the anaesthetist cares about your chestCost, Insurance and Schemes for Cancer SurgeryKeeping approvals valid when a date changes
Talk to us
Unwell and not sure what to do about your date?
Call the helpline with your admission sheet in hand. We will help you reach the surgical team caring for you. One helpline serves every CION centre.