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Warning-sign checks

Liver metastases: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services for severe difficulty breathing, vomiting blood, black bowel movements, uncontrolled bleeding, collapse, or new marked confusion or unusual drowsiness.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek urgent same-day advice for:

    • New yellowing of the skin or eyes
    • Rapidly increasing abdominal swelling
    • Repeated vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
    • Fever or chills during cancer treatment
    • Severe or worsening pain after a biopsy, operation, or liver procedure
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Contact your cancer team or usual clinician for routine advice if you develop a persistent change such as increasing abdominal discomfort, reduced appetite, unplanned weight loss, new swelling, or worsening tiredness.

    New symptoms do not automatically mean that the cancer has grown, but they should be assessed.

The article also says

Follow any treatment-specific fever instructions you have been given.

Some cancer medicines lower infection-fighting white blood cells, so fever may need rapid assessment.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Liver metastases. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.