It even took anaesthetists 3 goes preop to get into a vein - very unusual - so I went under via the mask! Then the nurses had 3 goes for the 1st chemo and 4 goes for the 2nd and said I might have to have a port and asked - ‘has anyone mentioned it?’
I wasn’t keen because of the risks of infection so let the matter drop. But after it took 2 goes to get blood for routine testing last week I’m now wondering whether I should request either a line or port as there are still 4 FEC cycles to go. Any suggestions - pros or cons please?
Hi Feistysister
I have been having the same trouble with my veins as you and even ended up with phlebitis (vein infection) after the last chemo.
I am having a portacathe inserted next Wed into my chest. My chemo nurse said this was a better option rather than picc or hickman. Piccs and hickmans are prone to infections as the tubes are outside. Portacathe or central line are under the skin and can be left there for a number of months.
Look at www.cancerbackup.org and search under central line for info.
Hope this helps
Anita
Hello Anita You obviously had to have something done because of the phlebitis - so I hope it all goes well on Wednesday.
I suppose I’m really looking to prevent trouble. Being a retired nurse I’ve been very patient viz a viz the unsuccessful attempts to cannulate but after last week I just suddenly got fed up at being a pin cushion for routine tests - and it’s not going to get any easier. I think I will ask on Monday - but whether anything can be done before the next cycle on Wednesday - I’m not sure.
I was referred after the first chemo session and it has taken a few weeks to set up. I was just unlucky that I got phlebitis after 2nd dose. Ask on monday but you may have to go through another chemo session before you get a central line as they have to be done in theatre and in some cases (dependance on Health Authority) under general anaesthetic. I am lucky - I will have mine inserted under local and semi sedation.
Anita
Im on my second round of chemo after my first in 2005 which completely knackered my veins and made going for any scans etc a nightmare!
I had a portacath fitted 6wks ago now and its brilliant!! My grandad is due to start chemo soon and i recommended it to him and he’s going with it!
Its under the skin so less chance of an infection which people are more prone to with hickman etc its a small op under local and really it was so easy the op and fast.
They plug me in off goes the chemo unplug me and i go home.
So quick, no more vein abuse, hardly noticeable (looks like a button under the skin) and less chance of infection! lots of ladies on here have had it done and rave about it.
Good luck lynnc
Oh they even take your bloods from it too! no more rubber burns off the gloves tied round me arm woohoo!
Hi
I had 3 epi throu my arm and my veins were sha**ed. Anyhow I now have a hickman line and think its great. No more needles. I a nurse comes over and flushes it every week and puts a new bandage. I just have to be careful the kids don’t get too close to my right side but I would defo recommend it.
Sukes
Hi
I’m on my way to my 6th and final fec and had a hickman line from the first. I am so pleased that I opted for it. For the chemo and also for taking blood. I too have a nurse come twice a week to flush and bandage.
It was put in under a local, I was terrified, but this was a waste of energy because it was ok.
Sometimes I feel that if a medic should touch me again I will run round the clinic screaming…fortunately for me or them the Hickman makes it bearable.
I had to wait a while to have it done, three weeks I think, my chemo was delayed for this.
I would absolutely recommend.
Margaret
Thanks everybody for your helpful comments. Obviously because of my background I can understand the technicalities of PICCs etc, but it’s the nitty gritty details from individuals like you that can help me. So I shall ask on Monday but it looks as though nothing can be done before the Wed FEC.
HI,
I just had a Hickman line inserted yesterday morning, and yesterday afternoon had my 3rd (of 8) chemo through it. I had phlebitis and ended up in hospital with temp etc and on iv antibiotics, so there’s not a lot of choice now. Good veins are on the arm they aren’t allowed to use coz of WLE! I was sick and tired of having bloods taken from my wrist, beneath my index finger etc, and this Hickman should be a blessing in that regard.
Another plus is I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS CHEMO - no nausea, no nothing! I feel great (ok, that’s the steroids!). If the next 5 chemos are this good I’ll wonder why my OH has taken time off work to look after the family!
The Hickman was put in under local, but I got sedation first, via the vein on the inside of my wrist…they obliged when I insisted on gas & air first! They tried twice to get it into my hand, but the blood supply there is knackered by the chemo.
Give a line serious thought Fiesty sister. I am very hopeful this is the way forward! Check out who will be expected to flush line though. I had to fight to get district nurse to do it…I’m not a medical expert!
All the best
Sue
Hi everyone
Feistysister snap, I had exactly the same experience for my op and had to be gassed after 2 veins went. When I went for my chemo chat and routine blood test, they couldn’t get any veins except in my inner elbow (which was used multiple times for pregnancies and glandular fever with no problems), which they cannot use for chemo, so they have delayed my chemo until I have an op to have a port put in. He said the epirubicin hardens the inner layers of your veins and so they might get in first go but after that I would be in real bother. I took their word for it as they tried everything without luck. Had the op this week and got the usual post op symptoms. My vascular surgeon only does them under a general, which suited me as it is right in your face. Other ladies here had a local for it and seem fine with that too. It was very quick and no morphine this time so went home after 4 hours back in the bed. I asked to be first on the list to have longer to recover as I get dizzy. They put slow release pain killers in and felt good, but uncomfortable from 2 days later, mainly due to the bandaging of me with my head stuck to one side. I am 5 days later now and just have to remember to protect the wounds as they are quite exposed. I have 2 cuts of 2- 3 inches. I was glad to have the port as the tubes go right into my heart and I can feel them along my collar bone too, they are completely covered by skin which in my amateur opinion means bugs cannot get in. I thought that anything with a tube hanging out was treated with more care and had to be flushed through, perhaps mine will have to be too. Incidentally they are not willing to use my port to take blood out, so check what they say, a lot is local policy for you hospital. I can only have blood out of it in the chemo unit of the main hospital,. I can have it from the Dr. surgery or a local hospital if it is not out the port, so a lot depends on your area. After being really anxious about this being done I am now feeling lucky that I have not got that fight with my veins again to worry about.
Good luck. If I can help, just ask or I will feedback after my first go on Tuesday. They also gave me numbing cream to put on at home so that I feel nothing.
Lily x
I have had my portacath since 2004 and have no problems with it at all. It was done under general anesthetic but I know the surgeon here is now doing them under local and also putting them on the chest wall rather than just under the arm (where mine is).
My oncologist was telling me today that they are looking at a portacath that can also take the contrasting dye you have when having a CT scan (which currently can’t be done through the portacath because it would blow the tube).
I used to have mega problems with canulation from my first lot of chemo and because I have ongoing treatment a portacath is more preferable than a PICC or hickman line.
Thank you all for your helpful comments. The doctor has agreed that I should have a Hickman line but there is a waiting list so it won’t be done before my 3rd chemo on Wednesday. It’s done in the radiology dept apparently. I’m sure now that it’s the right way to go - I just wish I’d followed up the nurse’s suggestion a little sooner so that the line would be in for this next one. But once it’s in both chemo and ‘bloods’ can be done through it so I’m pleased about that.
feistysister
Glad you have managed to make that decision and hope it works out well. I try my port out in the morning for the first time. I have taken all the sticky dresing off tonight, which was like being peeled but it has quickly calmed down since this evening. At least an hour before I go in I have to put Emla cream over the port, stick another dresing over it and bingo it does not hurt at all. That 's the theory!!!
Hope I can sleep tonight, it is ,my first chemo out of 12 visits.
lily x
Feistysister - well done. I hope you find the Hickman line much easier and that it eases the trauma of chemo for you. Let us know how you get on - would love to find out if it minimises side effects for you too.
Lily - best of luck with your first chemo. If you haven’t managed to sleep tonight, you’ll soon catch up again!
Sue xx
Hi everyone
I had a pick line for the last part of my chemo due to my veins breaking down.It was fantastic.Best thing i ever did no looking back.They trained my sis to change the dressing no more needles yippeeee.
lopez
Thanks again everyone for continuing advice.
Lily I’m sorry to read under another heading that you had trouble when the time came to give you chemo via the new line. Staff at my oncology centre do seem to be very clued up here but I shall check exactly what will be done afterwards. The district nurse will flush the Hickman line and also take blood when she comes - and I know there is one very experienced sister who did a long spell on an oncology unit prior to joining our GP practice - so I’m hopeful all will be well. At least it will save yet another visit for ‘bloods’.
Also the doctor has reduced my chemo dose because of toxicity so I’m hoping side effects will be reduced also. I know some of you might not be so fortunate re the possibility of reducing dosage but given my ancient status[!] and the fact that I was borderline for chemo and had a choice whether to have it or not, I guess they have more leeway.
Anyway I’m off for a walk soon with NOC [wonderful husband - my Number One Carer]. I’m hoping it will blow away the post chemo headache etc.
Best wishes to you all xx
Feistysister,
So sorry you picked up my negative bit and hope it did not make you feel worse about it. I have an imported port, which is buried in my chest with no bits open to the outside at all, so it is different from yours. I am at a centre of excellence but communication broke down somewhere. A new batch of ports came in apparently with no rubber guide for them to feel for to put the needle in. As I was only the second they were just not expecting it. They told me today they are planning for my return so hopefully it will be ok then. If not I will insist on a vein again.
Hope you enjoyed the walk. You sound really well so soon after treatment, good for you and hope you stay that way.
Lily x
Hi All
I have just had my central line fitted this morning under local anaesthetic. The whole experience wasn’t that bad with just a few nervous seconds when the wire touched my heart valve and made it flutter! It took 40 minutes and I was told every step of the procedure by the staff who were great.
I am due chemo on Tues and after the last dose which gave me phlebitis in my arm I am looking forward to it being done through the portacathe. No more hurting veins in the arm!
Anita
Anita
Bravo, well done and hope this makes life much easier for you now. How did the heart bit feel, that is why I was glad I was asleep. Brave lady and good luck
Lily x