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Free printable side effect tracker

By CSE Team · Last updated: October 26, 2026

When you're in the middle of treatment, the days can blur together. Then the nurse asks, "How has your nausea been since the last cycle?" and your mind goes blank. This free tracker gives you, or the person caring for you, one simple place to jot down how each day went, so you can walk into every appointment with real answers and your questions ready.

⬇️ Download the tracker (PDF, 2 pages)   Open it to print

What's on the tracker

How to use it

  1. Print one copy for each week of treatment. Keep it with a pen and thermometer somewhere you'll see it, like the kitchen counter or your nightstand.
  2. Fill in one column a day. It takes about a minute. For example, a day with mild nausea and bad tiredness might read "Nausea 1, Fatigue 3."
  3. Take your temperature any time you feel warm, flushed, chilled, or not well, as the CDC advises, and write it down.
  4. Jot questions as they come up, so you don't lose them before your next visit.
  5. Bring the sheet to every appointment, or snap a photo and send it through your patient portal.

Caregivers, this is a good job to share. If your loved one is too tired to write, you can ask each evening and fill it in together. See our caregiver guide for more ways to help.

📞 Call your care team now if you have:

  • A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher (CDC)
  • Chills or shaking
  • A new cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath
  • Diarrhea that's new or getting worse
  • Ear pain, headache or sinus pain, or a stiff or sore neck
  • A new skin rash
  • Sores or a white coating in your mouth or on your tongue
  • Swelling or redness, especially where a catheter or port enters your body
  • Urine that's bloody or cloudy, or pain when you pee

Check with your care team before taking anything for a fever, even acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), because it can hide signs of an infection. If it feels like an emergency, call 911.

Care team phone: ______________________   After hours: ______________________

The fever number above comes from the CDC. The National Cancer Institute lists 100.5°F (38°C), so if your care team gives you a different number, follow theirs.

Print it from this page

Prefer to print straight from your browser? This is the same tracker, formatted for paper.

My side effect tracker

Name: ____________________   Treatment: ____________________   Cycle #: ____

Week of ________Day 1
Date ____		Day 2
Date ____		Day 3
Date ____		Day 4
Date ____		Day 5
Date ____		Day 6
Date ____		Day 7
Date ____
Treatment / day of cycle
Temperature (°F) AM
Temperature (°F) PM
Symptoms: 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe
Nausea
Diarrhea
Fatigue (tiredness)
Rash
Mouth sores
Numbness or tingling
Appetite
Mood
Other: __________
Medicines and notes
Meds taken (✓)
Anti-nausea / extra meds
Fluids (cups)
Notes

📞 Call your care team now if you have:

  • A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher (CDC)
  • Chills or shaking
  • A new cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath
  • Diarrhea that's new or getting worse
  • Ear pain, headache or sinus pain, or a stiff or sore neck
  • A new skin rash
  • Sores or a white coating in your mouth or on your tongue
  • Swelling or redness, especially where a catheter or port enters your body
  • Urine that's bloody or cloudy, or pain when you pee

Check with your care team before taking anything for a fever, even acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), because it can hide signs of an infection. If it feels like an emergency, call 911.

Care team phone: ______________________   After hours: ______________________

Medicines I take

Questions for my care team

CancerSideEffectsGuide.com · CSE Team · Last updated: October 26, 2026 · Not medical advice. Follow your own care team's instructions.

Why tracking helps

Many side effects are easier to treat when they're caught early. A written record helps your care team spot patterns, like nausea that peaks on day 3 or numbness that's slowly getting worse, and adjust your medicines or doses before things get harder. It also helps you feel a bit more in control on days when treatment feels like it's running the show.

Learn more about common side effects

Nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores, neuropathy (numbness and tingling), and fever during chemo. You can also browse side effects.

Questions people ask

Is the tracker really free?

Yes. Download it, print as many copies as you like, and share it with anyone who could use it. You don't need to sign up for anything.

How often should I fill it in?

Once a day works for most people, ideally around the same time. Add a second temperature reading whenever you feel warm, chilled, or unwell.

What do the numbers 0 to 3 mean?

They're a quick way to rate how much a symptom bothers you: 0 is none, 1 is mild, 2 is moderate, and 3 is severe. Your care team may use its own grading, but your ratings help them see patterns.

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Written by the CSE Team from FDA labels and leading cancer centers. Not medical advice. · Last updated: October 26, 2026 · How we write

Not medical advice. This page is general information to help you talk with your care team. It can't replace advice from your doctor or nurse. If you have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during treatment, or any symptom that worries you, call your care team now. In an emergency, call 911.

Sources

Last updated: October 26, 2026. We summarize these sources in our own words.