Medical Oncologist
Emergency guidance
Chest Pain or Palpitations — During Cancer Treatment
Chest pain and an irregular or racing heartbeat during cancer treatment are never symptoms to ignore. Some treatments affect the heart directly. New chest symptoms need same-day contact with your team — or emergency care if the pain is severe or comes on suddenly.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Not just anxiety — Chest symptoms during treatment have specific cardiac and other causes your team needs to rule out the same day.
- Some treatments affect the heart — Certain chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy drugs carry cardiac risks in a proportion of patients.
- Same day, not next appointment — New or worsening chest symptoms should be reported today, not held until your next scheduled visit.
- Palpitations matter too — A racing, fluttering or irregular heartbeat is as important to report as chest pain.
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Chest pain or palpitations during cancer treatment need same-day assessment — not wait-and-watch. Some treatments affect the heart directly. Call your oncology team today if you have any new chest symptom. Go to emergency immediately if the pain is severe, spreads to your arm or jaw, or you feel breathless alongside it.
If a symptom below applies to you, do not wait for a callback. Call 1800-202-8726 or go to your nearest emergency department.
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
Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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How do you know whether to call your team or go straight to emergency?
| Feature | Call your oncology team today | Go to emergency now |
|---|---|---|
| Pain severity | Mild or moderate, not rapidly worsening | Severe, crushing or pressure-like |
| Breathlessness | Absent or mild | Present alongside the chest symptom |
| Spread of pain | Stays in the chest | Moves to arm, jaw, shoulder or back |
| Consciousness | Fully alert and stable | Fainting, near-fainting or loss of consciousness |
| Palpitations | Racing or irregular but no dizziness | Racing or irregular with dizziness or blackout |
| Typically starts | Any point during or after treatment — report any new symptom the day it appears | Sudden onset at any time — do not wait |
Should you call your team even if the chest pain has passed?
Yes. A symptom that comes and goes is still a symptom your team needs to know about today. Many cardiac side effects of cancer treatment present intermittently before they become persistent.
Note when it started, how long it lasted, what you were doing at the time, and whether anything made it better or worse. That detail helps your team decide whether you need an ECG or heart monitoring before your next treatment cycle.
Do not wait until your next scheduled appointment to mention it. A manageable problem caught early stays manageable.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can cancer treatment damage the heart?
Some treatments can affect the heart, and oncologists monitor for this throughout treatment. Certain chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies and immunotherapy agents are known to carry cardiac risks in a proportion of patients. This is why a baseline heart assessment is done before some treatments start, and why new chest symptoms need to be reported rather than assumed to be unrelated. Your oncologist will tell you which risks apply to your specific treatment.
What causes palpitations during chemotherapy or immunotherapy?
A racing, irregular or fluttering heartbeat during cancer treatment can have several causes. Some drugs directly affect the electrical system of the heart. Anaemia, which is common during treatment, can cause the heart to beat faster because it has less oxygen to work with. Dehydration, electrolyte changes and infection can also trigger palpitations. Your team needs to know which drugs you are taking and what the palpitations feel like in order to find the right cause.
I had chest tightness during my infusion. What should I have done?
Chest tightness during a treatment infusion should be reported to the nurse or doctor in the room immediately — do not wait until the session ends. Some infusion reactions cause chest tightness and are managed by slowing or stopping the infusion promptly. If your tightness happened during a previous session and you did not mention it, tell your team before your next cycle so they can decide whether any monitoring or pre-medication is needed.
Will reporting chest pain mean my cancer treatment has to stop?
Not necessarily. Reporting a symptom gives your team the information they need to make a safe decision. A mild palpitation may need only an ECG without any change to your treatment. More significant findings may mean a short pause while your heart is assessed. What reporting prevents is a manageable problem becoming a serious one because it was not caught in time. Your team can only make a safe call if they know what is happening.