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 urgent or emergency medical care for:
Severe or rapidly worsening difficulty breathing
Blue or gray lips, confusion, collapse, or fainting
Sudden severe chest pain
Coughing up more than a small streak of blood
Severe breathlessness or pain soon after a pleural procedure
These symptoms can have several causes, including a collapsed lung, blood clot, infection, or heart problem.
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
Contact your cancer or respiratory team promptly if breathlessness, cough, or chest discomfort is new or gradually worsening.
Also report a clear reduction in activity, a return of symptoms after fluid drainage, or problems managing a pleural catheter.
If you have a catheter, seek prompt advice about redness spreading around the site, increasing pain, pus-like drainage, fever, a damaged tube, or fluid that suddenly stops draining while breathlessness is worsening.
These may indicate infection, blockage, or another complication.
They need prompt assessment rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Metastatic pleural tumor. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.