Cancer: When to report symptoms

Cancer and its treatment can often result in symptoms and side effects. These can vary depending on many things, including the type and stage of your cancer, your treatment, and your overall health.

Some symptoms can be mild. But others can be more serious. Reporting these symptoms early to your healthcare team can help prevent complications and extra emergency room or hospital visits. Talk with your healthcare team about your specific situation, including what symptoms to watch for and when to report them.

Pain

Pain is a common symptom in people who have cancer. Pain can be caused by the cancer itself, its treatment, or other factors. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. Pain can affect your quality of life. It can prevent you from doing the things you need to do to feel better, such as deep breathing and exercise. Pain may also be a sign of other health problems.

The truth is that pain can interfere with your care. But your team will do everything they can to relieve it. Tell your healthcare team what your pain feels like, what makes it better, what makes it worse, and when it started.

Call your care team if you have:

• Pain that is new

• Severe pain

• Pain that is getting worse or is not controlled by your current pain treatments

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in appetite

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in appetite often occur with some forms of cancer care. They are often side effects of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. But they can also occur for other reasons. Whatever the cause, don't ignore these symptoms. If not addressed, they can lead to chemical changes in the body, malnutrition, and dehydration.

Call your care team if you:

• Feel nauseated and can’t eat all day for a day or more

• Lose 2 or more pounds in 1 to 2 days

• Have pain while eating

• Vomit for more than 24 hours

• Are unable to drink or keep down liquids

• Have dark pee or are not peeing as much as normal

• Have multiple watery or loose bowel movements several times a day for 1 to 4 days

Infection

Cancer care can unfortunately raise your risk of getting an infection. This can be dangerous! Because your immune system is weaker than normal, infections can lead to serious health complications.

Reach out to your care team right away if you have:

• A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Shaking chills

• Cough or sore throat

• Swelling, redness, or fluid draining anywhere, including around a wound, surgical incision, or catheter

• Sore or a white coating in your mouth

• Diarrhea

• Headache or pain in your neck or face

• Pain or burning when peeing

• Cloudy or bloody pee

• Ear pain

• Anal pain

Blood clots

Certain types of cancer and cancer treatment can put you at higher risk for blood clots. A blood clot in the veins (usually in the arm or leg) is called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A blood clot in the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). Both can be dangerous.

Reach out to your care team right away if you notice any of the following:

• Swelling in your arms or legs

• Pain or soreness in your arms, legs, or chest

• Increased warmth in your arms or legs

• Red or discolored skin on your arms or legs

• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing

• Chest pain, especially if it gets worse with a cough or deep breath

• Fast or irregular heart rate

• Coughing up blood

Depression or anxiety

Cancer and cancer treatment are difficult to navigate. It’s common for people with cancer to feel scared, sad, and angry. But some things may mean that a person would benefit from professional help for depression, anxiety, or distress.

Reach out to your care team or a mental health provider if you have:

• Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed

• Ongoing sadness or hopelessness every day for most of the day

• Sleep changes

• Extreme tiredness

• Frequent thoughts of death

• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

• Uncontrolled worry

• Panic attacks

Questions to ask your healthcare provider

It is better to overcommunicate with your healthcare team than it is to stay silent. Let them know if you have any concerns. Consider asking questions such as:

• What are the possible symptoms and side effects of my cancer and treatment?

• Which of these should be considered an emergency?

• Where should I go for emergency care?

• When should I call the healthcare team?

• What number should I call if I have a problem outside of normal business hours?

Remember to bring something to write with when you ask these questions. It can be useful to refer to what you’ve written later.