Blood 🩸 draw difficulties

Ask our Nurses your questions
1

Can chemotherapy (EC & Taxol) affect veins and arteries even when it was given through a port-a-catheter?

I had a mastectomy of my right breast and sentinel node, no lymph nodes affected. My chemos were 3 years ago but I kept the PAC until last summer, even though I still had 2 more Zometa treatments, because the PAC kept bothering me.

When I had my Zometa treatment in Oct it wasn’t easy to get a vein for the blood draw :drop_of_blood:but the nurse was possible on the 2nd or 3rd try.

Yesterday my GP tried 6 times. The blood she was able to take wasn’t enough for a full CBC, not even 1 full tube. Blood take and blood pressure are only done on left arm as my mastectomy was on the ride side.

I am also with Letrozole until Sept 2026.

I used to have a bit of issues before cancer but never like this. What can be the cause and what could help to make it easier? Thanks in advance for your kind feedback. :pray:t3:

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Five years after chemo I just had the most awful time with routine blood work . First test skewed because of bad blood draw then a second to check potassium levels took about four goes my hand was black and blue . My veins were shot after 12 chemos and 12 blood tests plus cannula the other arm has Lymphodoema so I fear damage may be permanent . V reluctant to have any more blood tests

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Sorry to read about your experience.:cry:

Did you have chemo directly via a line or via a port-a-catheter?

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:heart: they used to put my arm in a sharps bin filled with warm water it helped to get the veins up m so might be worth them trying that, it helped after mine collapsed and they were struggling to find a vein. Worth a try :heart::crossed_fingers::two_hearts::two_hearts::sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

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Thanks for the tip! :pray:t3:

I don’t know how that bin looks like. I searched Google and the only thing I found was a bin where jabs are safely disposed of. :woman_shrugging:

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That’s it a sharps bin they have different sizes at your trust :heart: it was a well tried and tested thing they did at my trust to help with veins so might be worth you asking at your trust, you stick your arm in the warm water in the sharps bin for a while and it gets the veins up :crossed_fingers:wishing you luck :two_hearts::two_hearts::sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

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I will ask next week. I don’t live in the UK but I will ask it here where I live. Thanks!

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I always found the heat pads they use helpful …had it on my arm for a few minutes before the drew blood

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Thank you :pray:t3:!

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I had problems too but was told to drink a pint of water during the hour leading up to the blood being taken. It does work and I’ve been fine since.

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I had drunk 1.2 litres before the test that morning and kept hydrated in those days. I must say that the GP was using a normal needle and, for many years it was recommended to use a baby needle as my veins were difficult.

I will follow all of your recommendations and also say about the needle, everything the avoid this again.:cry:

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Hi
If you dont have lymphodemia on your right arm, its ok to take blood from that arm, Your Chrisites team should have the report which confirms this, i have a copy but not sure if it will fit into this box, feel free to ask me again, or go via the BCN and supply email address where i can send. I too had BC and Doxetaxel in my left arm, which left indentation on the inside - BC and an red line on the outside where Dox entered. Virtually no chance of finding veins, except when attending hospital and the Fleabotanists… soz not sure of spelling.
Love and hugs Moonsox xxx No this isn’t an April fools entry.

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PS The Report is known as the SAMBA Statement IV. And I have my bloods taken from the arm on the same side where i had surgery, thanks to it. xxx

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Thanks :pray:t3:. I don’t live in the UK but I come to here because were I live I don’t have one in English.

I have heard that if no lymph nodes were taken away it would be fine to take the blood pressure and blood sample from my right arm but I fear the risk. I already have a swollen middle finger because of a trigger finger caused by the Letrozole (last point written in the pamphlet regarding the secondary effects). Both my hands feel with arthritis.

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Hello Smiley

Thanks for your post asking about the possible cause of problems having blood taken and ways to make it easier.

Some people naturally have veins that make it difficult to have blood taken and it’s unlikely that the portacath caused the problems you’re having with blood tests.

It may helpful to inform whoever is taking the blood know the difficulties you have, a few days beforehand, so that they have time to plan ways to help make it easier for you.

As @Shi says, immersing your arm in warm water before having blood taken could help veins to ‘stand out.’ There’s no evidence to suggest that having blood taken from your affected arm will cause lymphoedema, as @moonsox says. However, do ask your breast care nurse or treatment team, as they are best placed to advise in your individual situation.

We offer a range of free supportive services for anyone who has had a diagnosis of breast cancer which you may be interested in. They include face to face and online courses and events.

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Best wishes

Addie

Breast Care Nurse

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