Hi, I have finished all my treatment Oct 2010 (WLE) followed by chemo (intravenous)and radiotherapy. Now on hormone tablets. However I have had a couple of blood tests recently just for general health checks and both times they struggled to find a vein (the chemo damaged them I think!)and then apparently when they find a vein my blood flow makes it difficult to actually get any blood out? Is there anything I can do to improve this? Never been bothered giving blood before but now get faint and feel sick when they try. Thoughts please
the chemo may have affected your veins and if so not much you can do but give them time to recover.
As a general rule though there are a couple of things you can do to help with having blood taken. Firstly, make sure that you’re hydrated so take some water with you which you can have while you wait and secondly make sure that you’re nice and warm. The phlebotomist told me both of those make their life easier.
Elinda x
Thank you Elinda - and yes the Blood test nurse did say the chemo would have damaged them but didn’t seem to think they would recover? I had fasted re chlorestoral check but did try to stay hydrated as I knew that helped but I had got cold waiting…so yes will make sure am warm next time. When I was having chemo the nurse used to put my arm in a bowl of warm water in order to find a vein to deliver the drugs!!! M M x
I don’t know if the damage is permanent. I only know that my veins collapsed during chemo and I ended up having to have a portacath for the chemo. I’ve had a lot of bloods taken from my arm since without any problem. Hopefully it will improve for you.
Elinda x
Hi - I have had a few blood tests since ending treatment in May 2010 and after difficulty the first time have been told they will always need to use a very fine needle. This worked again last week although the nurse said I didn’t have very “good” veins.