Your safety first
When to call your oncologist first
Some symptoms need your oncology team or emergency care straight away. They are not a reason to wait for an Ayurvedic consultation.
A new lump, unexplained bleeding or weight loss, persistent pain, breathlessness, or fever during chemotherapy needs your oncologist or emergency care first.
Your oncology team’s own instructions always come first. If they gave you a temperature limit or a 24-hour number, follow it.
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department now if:
- Breathing is a struggle, or breathlessness comes on suddenly
- There is chest pain or pressure
- The person faints, is hard to wake, becomes confused, or has a fit (seizure)
- There is heavy bleeding that does not stop, or vomiting of blood
- The face, lips or throat swell after a medicine or infusion
For an ambulance, call 108.
Call your oncology team the same day if you notice
- Fever, chills or shivering during or after chemotherapy, even if you feel fine otherwise. Do not wait until morning.
- A new lump or swelling anywhere in the body
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising: blood in urine or stools, black stools, nosebleeds or gum bleeding that will not stop
- Weight loss you cannot explain
- Pain that is new, getting worse, or not settling with the medicines you were given
- New or worsening breathlessness or a cough that does not go away
- Vomiting or diarrhoea that does not settle, or being unable to keep fluids down
- Mouth sores that stop you eating or drinking
- Redness, swelling, pain or discharge around a port, line, drip site or surgical wound
- Swelling, pain or warmth in one leg
- A new rash after starting a medicine
- Anything your oncology team told you to watch for
This list gives general guidance. It is not complete. If you are unsure, call your oncology team.
Be ready before you need it
- Save your oncology team’s 24-hour number in your phone, and in a family member’s phone.
- Keep a working thermometer at home.
- Keep your latest discharge summary and medicine list where a family member will find them.
- Write down which hospital to go to in an emergency.
Where Ayurvedic supportive care fits
We do not manage emergencies or urgent symptoms. Please do not try to treat any of the symptoms above with home remedies or Ayurvedic Medicine.
You continue under your oncologist. Our Ayurvedic care is coordinated with, and subject to, your treating oncology team.
Never start any Ayurvedic Medicine during chemotherapy or radiation without your oncologist and our doctor reviewing it together.