Emergency & After Hours
When to Call Texas Oncology – 24/7 care
When it comes to cancer care, our team has seen it all, but we know you haven’t. That’s why we urge you to call us first any time you experience new symptoms and side effects. You’ll receive personalized care from a team that’s familiar with your medical history and treatment plan.
If you call during business hours, Texas Oncology’s team of virtual triage nurses and care staff can help you on the phone or get you seen in office the same day. We can provide new medication, update your treatment plan, send out referrals, or tell you when you do need to go to the emergency room (ER).
If you call during business hours, Texas Oncology’s team of virtual triage nurses and care staff can help you on the phone or get you seen in office the same day. We can provide new medication, update your treatment plan, send out referrals, or tell you when you do need to go to the emergency room (ER).
If you call after business hours, the on-call physician will be paged and will respond quickly. Since your call may not be returned by your personal physician, be prepared to provide the following information:
Your diagnosis
Your chemotherapy drugs
Your temperature
Your pharmacy phone number
With 24/7 access, you can get the help you need, save time, and possibly avoid a costly ER or urgent care visit. If you can be treated early, we may be able to prevent future complications.
What to Do in an Emergency
Ask your care team for a wallet card that includes your medications and oncologist’s name so you can provide it to the care team at the ER.
If you experience a life-threatening medical emergency, have chest pain, or have trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the emergency room (ER) immediately. Notify Texas Oncology as soon as possible.
When you arrive at the emergency room, provide your wallet card and ask the staff to call your cancer physician. If you don’t have your wallet card, you can use the cancer center search on this site to find your center's after-hours phone number.
When to Call Us
Common signs and symptoms we can help with:
Chills
Fever higher than 100.4˚F
Symptoms when you urinate (pee):
Burning
Needing to pee more often
Needing to pee very quickly
Lower back pain
Dark urine/pee
Less urine/pee than normal
Cough that brings up mucus from the lungs that is green, yellow, red, or brown in color
Diarrhea (needing to poop more than 3x a day) or constipation (unable to poop regularly) that does not respond to medication
Pain that does not respond to medication
Swelling, redness, or pain in the arms, hands, legs, feet, or other body parts
Dizziness or being light-headed when changing positions
Thirst or dry mouth that does not respond to water intake
Sores in the mouth or trouble swallowing
Frequent or severe heartburn
Severe fatigue, such as being so tired that you cannot get out of bed, perform daily tasks, or think like normal