When To Call the Doctor: Oncology

When To Call the Doctor: Oncology

Jump to:
Print:

Call the Oncology Clinic at 414-266-2420, option #1.

After hours, urgent calls will be transferred to the Children’s Wisconsin Operator and you will ask for the Oncologist on-call to be paged.

Call 911 immediately if your child:

  • Is not breathing or is having very hard time breathing. 
  • Has no heartbeat.
  • Has skin or lips that look blue.
  • Is having a seizure and you have not been told that these can be managed at home.
  • Does not wake up after you have tried to wake them. This is called loss of consciousness.

Call your health care team immediately if your child has:

  • Any temperature of 101°F/38.3°C or higher (all patients)
  • A temperature of 100.5°F/38°C or higher
    • twice in less than 24 hours
    • once in a patient with Down syndrome
    • once in an infant less than 3 months old
    • once if your child received cytarabine (Ara-C) in the past month

Or if your child has any of these symptoms:

  • Shaking chills.
  • Change in alertness.
  • Trouble breathing.
  • New weakness.
  • Severe headache.
  • Bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes of constant pressure.
  • Vision changes.
  • Uncontrolled pain or irritability.
  • Burning, pain, or blood with peeing.
  • Unable to drink fluids.
  • New onset or uncontrolled nausea or vomiting.
  • Diarrhea 3 times in 24 hours.
  • Break in your child’s central line tubing.
  • New or changing rash.
  • Exposure to chicken pox or shingles.

Call your health care team if you have any concerns that your child is ill or might have an infection.

Reasons to Leave a Message for your child’s Nurse Coordinator:

  • Medicine refills
  • Missed doses of medicine (including chemo)
  • Home Care Company concerns
  • Appointment questions or concerns
  • PICC line not flushing
  • NG tube not flushing or came out

Special reminders

Do not give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol®), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®). You should also not give any over-the -counter medicines (cold or cough medicines), herbal products or any kind of supplements. You should talk to your oncology provider before giving any new medicines.

ALERT

This teaching sheet is meant to help you care for your child. It does not take the place of medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up