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
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Seek emergency help for:
Severe or rapidly worsening difficulty breathing
Noisy breathing or difficulty swallowing saliva
Sudden swelling of the face, neck, or upper chest
New weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Severe confusion, fainting, or uncontrolled bleeding
These symptoms can have causes other than cancer, but they need immediate assessment.
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
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
If you have already been diagnosed, contact your cancer team promptly about new or worsening symptoms.
Fever during chemotherapy or after a stem-cell transplant needs urgent advice because treatment may reduce your ability to fight infection.
Follow the temperature and contact instructions in your treatment plan.
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Arrange a routine medical appointment if you have a lymph node that remains enlarged, keeps growing, feels unusual, or has no clear connection to a recent infection.
Also seek assessment for repeated fever, drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss, persistent itching, or ongoing tiredness.
And for anyone, someone who:
has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Lymph node cancer. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.