Radiation therapy for cancer: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Call emergency services for severe trouble breathing, severe chest pain, fainting, a seizure, sudden confusion, new one-sided weakness, or bleeding that will not stop.

   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
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Seek urgent advice for a fever when your team has warned that your blood counts may be low, repeated vomiting, inability to keep fluids down, rapidly increasing swelling, uncontrolled pain, heavy bleeding, or signs of infection around a brachytherapy insertion site.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Contact your radiation team during routine hours about worsening skin changes, persistent nausea, trouble eating, increasing diarrhoea, urinary discomfort, new pain, or fatigue that interferes with daily activities.

   These effects may need treatment, but they are not usually emergencies.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

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