Medical Oncologist
For caregivers
Caregiver Red Flag Chart: — When to Take Them to Hospital
Cancer emergencies do not follow a schedule. Knowing the difference between go now, call today, and watch and wait is what lets you act calmly when something frightening happens at home.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed August 2026
- At any hour — Cancer emergencies do not follow a schedule. This chart gives you an answer at 2am, not just in clinic hours.
- Know before you need it — Reading this before a crisis happens is what lets you act quickly and calmly when one does.
- You will not be wasting anyone's time — Emergency teams would rather see you early. A missed cancer emergency is the outcome everyone wants to avoid.
- When in doubt, go — This chart helps you decide — but if something still worries you after reading it, that feeling is reason enough to call.
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Take a cancer patient to hospital immediately for fever with shaking, breathlessness that stops them speaking in full sentences, uncontrolled bleeding, sudden severe pain, confusion, or inability to keep fluids down. For anything else that worries you, call your oncology team the same day rather than waiting for the next appointment.
How do I know which symptoms need emergency care right now?
| Sign | Emergency — go now | Urgent — call same day | Monitor — mention at next visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | Shaking, very hot to touch, or confused alongside the fever | Any new fever in a patient on active treatment — do not wait to see if it settles | Mild temperature rise with no other symptoms — take their temperature and note it |
| Breathing | Cannot speak in full sentences, lips turning blue, or sudden onset breathlessness | Breathlessness that has worsened over a few hours without a clear cause | Mild new shortness of breath on effort — note when it started |
| Bleeding | Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding from any site that does not stop with firm pressure | Any blood in urine, stool, or vomit — even a small amount | New bruising or small red spots on skin — note and photograph if possible |
| Pain | Sudden severe chest, head, or abdominal pain that comes on within minutes | New pain that current medicines are not controlling after a full dose | Mild new ache — note location, when it started, and what it feels like |
| Mental state | Confusion, seizure, unresponsiveness, or not recognising familiar people | Sudden unusual drowsiness, disorientation, or change in behaviour | More tired than usual — rest, monitor, and mention at next appointment |
| Eating and fluids | Cannot keep any fluids down — continuous vomiting for several hours | Unable to take any fluids for several hours and not improving | Nausea settling with prescribed medicines — continue and monitor |
| Typically starts | Can occur at any point in treatment — there is no safe window between appointments | Most treatment-related side effects appear in the days after each treatment session | Fatigue and mild nausea are most common in the first weeks of a new treatment |
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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What should you bring when you take them to hospital?
- The name of their current treatment and the date of their last dose
- A written list of all current medicines, including doses — or bring the original packets
- Recent blood test reports if you have them, even a photo on your phone is useful
- Your oncology team's contact number, to give at the emergency registration desk
- The patient's hospital registration number or ID card
- A note of when the symptom started and how quickly it came on
What do you do once you have decided to go?
Leave now, not later
Do not wait for symptoms to reach a peak. The time to go is when you decide — not when things are clearly worse.
Call your oncology team if it will not delay you
A two-minute call lets the team alert the emergency department and tell you what to say at the desk. If the patient is in a critical state, go first and call from the car.
Take someone with you
You will need help at the registration desk, and someone should stay with the patient while you speak to the doctors.
Say 'cancer patient on active treatment' at the desk
These words change how the emergency team prioritises you. Say it immediately — do not wait to be asked.
Hand over the medicine list and blood reports
Give these to the first doctor who sees you. Do not assume they have the records from your regular cancer centre.
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Next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a symptom is from the treatment or just a normal illness?
You usually cannot tell, and that uncertainty is exactly why you should call your oncology team rather than trying to decide alone. Treatment-related complications and ordinary illnesses look the same in the early hours, and the consequences of missing a treatment complication are more serious. The safer question is not 'is this the treatment?' but 'is this stopping them doing something they could do yesterday?' If the answer is yes, call today.
Should I call the CION team before going to the emergency department?
Call if it will not delay you by more than two or three minutes. A quick call can help the team alert the emergency department and tell you which hospital to go to if you are not sure. If the patient is unconscious, seizing, or bleeding heavily, go without calling — the call can happen from the car or once you arrive.
What if the patient does not want to go to hospital?
Name the fear rather than pushing back on it. Many patients refuse because they are frightened of what will be found, or because a previous hospital experience was difficult. Acknowledge that, then explain clearly what the specific symptom could mean if it is not checked. If they still refuse and you are seriously worried, call your oncology team — they can often speak to the patient directly and help have this conversation.
Is it safe to drive the patient myself or should I call an ambulance?
For most cancer emergencies, driving is fine as long as someone other than the patient is at the wheel. Call for an ambulance if the patient is unconscious, having a seizure, bleeding heavily and cannot be moved safely, or if you think they could deteriorate rapidly in the car. If you are unsure, call emergency services and describe what you are seeing — they will tell you whether to drive or wait.
What will happen when we arrive at the emergency department?
Tell the triage nurse immediately that the patient is on cancer treatment. You will be asked about the symptoms, when they started, and what medicines they are taking — this is why bringing that list matters. Blood tests are almost always the first step. Depending on the results, the team will decide whether the patient needs to stay or can go home with treatment. Your oncology team at CION can advise the emergency doctors if needed.