Hi, did anyone have issues with collapsed/hardened veins many months following FEC-T?
I finished FEC in Jan, then did 3x Docetaxal (which didn’t affect the veins), lumpectomy & axillary clearance then radio in Southampton. Hadn’t had pains from veins for 3 months and suddenly it’s returned in my right arm from wrist to elbow and if my elbow touches anything it’s agony. I have 2 young children so perhaps lifting them is putting strain on the arm, and I’m working again so typing a lot.
Any comments would be very welcome…
I have my first check up in 2 days and getting very nervous, partly as it’s with a different doctor (in Nairobi where I live). Thanks
Hi
I finished chemo in August this year and had 6x FEC in the arm ( no picc lines etc as after Fec 2 they were too badly damaged).
They were all through chemo extremely painful and they look awful so bad i have to keep my arm covered all the time. Anyway i thought they were begining to heal as they weren’t quite so painful but in the last week or so they have become even more painful than ever, i can’t lift anything with that arm or carry anything, i can do very little with that arm. I went to the gp as i was worried that i might have developed a clot but he said that i may have an infection in the veins so i am now on antibiotics and the pain has eased slightly, they still look awful though - hope that helps in some way.
Melx
I found Tax affected the veins too. Mine are still going brown and collapsing 3 months after chemo ended…(finished July) not as painful as yours though. I was given Hirudoid cream to rub in, and now I’ve been advised to make sure I exercise it and to make sure I moisturise it/rub it regularly. Hope yours gets better soon… Jane
Hi,
I had a simmilar problem with collapsed veins post chemo. It was very painfull and very upsetting because I felt dissabled. I cried about it whereas i felt ok about my mastectomy. (How weired was that?) However with a little very gentle excercise it slowly got better. It did take a few months, but eventually I got complete movement, though 6 years on there are still feighnt lines where the affected blood vessels were so tight. No lasting pain or impairment. So take heart, it won’t last for ever. Look forward to being well again.
Lots of love, Gentle
Most of my veins were left thromboid by Taxotere and I hate having any bloods taken. However, as long as I get a good phlebotomist it’s usually OK, I just look away. When I was having Herceptin I used to get a prescription for EMLA cream, you put it on 15 mins before having any needles and it works like an anaesthetic to dull the sensation.