When Immediate Help is Needed

Below are some of the warning signs in cancer patients that immediate (but not emergency) medical attention is needed. These signs indicate that it is time to contact your health care team for their assistance and support. There are many conditions and symptoms that can occur, of course, and common sense and erring on the side of caution should be your guide. Never hesitate to contact your health care team for information and support.

For warning signs needing emergency care, see the next section.

Some of the more common warning signs that immediate help is needed from the health care team include:

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours. This means that dehydration is likely. Dehydration is potentially dangerous.

• The patient is unable to eat or drink, and is experiencing swallowing problems. (Mouth sores can contribute to this problem; for more information, see Mouth Sores.)

• No bowel movements for 3 days.

• Fever higher than 100.5 degrees, lasting more than a few hours.

• Any fever higher than 100.5 degrees that is accompanied by sweating, shaking and chills.

• Persistent shortness of breath. This is sometimes seen in combination with paleness/blueness of the skin and lips.

These conditions are emergencies, warranting an immediate call for an ambulance:

• Extreme shortness of breath.

• Blood in the urine, rectal bleeding, or blood in vomit.

• Your loved one has fallen and may have serious injury.

• Chest pain.

• A sudden, very severe, disabling headache.

• Your loved one is unconscious.

• Your loved one has a seizure.

Resist the temptation to take your loved one to the emergency room yourself, if his or her condition is in any way unstable. Conditions could worsen in the car, and you could have difficulty getting additional help at that time.

If possible, accompany the patient to the emergency room. The staff there will need information about the cancer, medications (and amounts) being used, names of physicians treating the patient, health conditions other than cancer that may be present, and the names of physicians treating the patient, for cancer and other conditions. It can be helpful to have this information in written form carried in your wallet or other convenient place, so it is available at all times in the event of emergency.

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