For a cancer patient, fever, along with weakness and pain, could signal an infection – and may prompt a visit to the emergency room, reports.

When a person’s immune system is compromised because of cancer and its treatments, it’s harder to rebound, even from common illnesses. Some can even become life-threatening.

That’s why you need to take special care if you are undergoing cancer treatment and develop signs of infection, including fever, chills, abdominal pain, and a productive cough.

If this happens, make sure you:

Call your oncologist immediately — especially if you have a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

Cancer patients may want to see their doctor because of pain, weakness, shortness of breath, vomiting and diarrhea.

The oncologist will determine if the patient should go directly to an emergency room or to the doctor’s office.

Patients who go to an emergency room should clearly indicate that they are undergoing cancer treatment.