Emergency Contacts

Click on the treatment headings below to see specific emergency patient information related to each treatment area:

ALWAYS carry your ALERT CARD. Contact the Rutherford Cancer Centres (details below) if you have ANY concerns regarding your health and well-being, or if you have ANY of the following:

• Temperature above 37.5°C on TWO occasions 30 minutes apart, OR ONE reading of 38°C or above
• A temperature of below 35.5°C
• Shaking/shivering episodes
• Unusual bruising, bleeding or rashes
• Flu-like symptoms, chesty cough, or any other signs of infection
• Persistent feeling of sickness or vomiting
• Diarrhoea - more than FOUR episodes in 24 hours
• Mouth ulcers or a sore mouth that stops you eating or drinking

ADVICE FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS:
If presented with an ALERT CARD - A chemotherapy patient may be at risk of severe chemotherapy complications including sepsis. If neutropenic sepsis is suspected:

• Treat as an acute medical emergency
• Start empiric IV antibiotics within 1 hour
• DO NOT wait for FBC result - see local protocol
• FOR AN ACUTELY UNWELL CHEMOTHERAPY PATIENT:-
  • Contact the Acute Oncology Service if available, or contact the Rutherford Cancer Centres (details below) to speak to the specialist team
  • STOP any chemotherapy drugs until specialist advice is obtained

ALWAYS carry your ALERT CARD. Contact the Rutherford Cancer Centres (details below) if you have ANY concerns regarding your health and well-being, or if you have ANY of the following that are new or getting worse:

• Diarrhoea
• Persistent headaches
• Increased breathlessness
• Widespread rash
• Increased tiredness
• Increased weakness
• Abdominal pain
• Vision problems
• New cough
• Dark urine
• Numbness or pins & needles

ADVICE FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS:
If presented with an ALERT CARD - This patient is receiving immunotherapy. This is NOT cytotoxic chemotherapy. They are at risk of potentially life-threatening autoimmune organ damage for at least 12 months after treatment. It is essential you contact the Rutherford Cancer Centres (details below) or local Acute Oncology Service for specialist advice.

ALWAYS carry your ALERT CARD. Contact the Rutherford Cancer Centres (details below) if you have ANY concerns regarding your health and well-being, or if you have ANY of the following that are new or getting worse:

• Diarrhoea
• Persistent headaches
• Increased breathlessness
• Widespread rash
• Increased tiredness
• Increased weakness
• Pain or blood in urine
• Feeling cold or shivering
• Nose bleed
• Fluid retention - swollen feet or hands
• Fast heart beat
• Chest pain
• Vision problems
• New cough
• Numbness or pins & needles
• Accidentally take more tablets than you should

ADVICE FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS:
If presented with an ALERT CARD - This patient is receiving hormone therapy. This is NOT cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunotherapy. It is essential you contact the Rutherford Cancer Centres (details below) or local Acute Oncology Service for specialist advice.

ALWAYS carry your ALERT CARD. Contact the Rutherford Cancer Centres (details below) if you have ANY concerns regarding your health and well-being.

ADVICE FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS:
If presented with an ALERT CARD - This patient is receiving radiotherapy or proton beam therapy. It is essential you contact the Rutherford Cancer Centres (details below) or local Acute Oncology Service for specialist advice.