Hi everyone, I am about to have my third of 6 lots of FEC and my veins in my chemo arm are quite uncomfortable now. I just wondered if anyone had any advice on anything to do to ease it or make it less painful when I go in for my next one.
Thanks
Kells
You can try Hirudoid cream, or use a heat pad/hot water bottle to soften the veins, but I had a Hickman line for numbers 4,5 and 6 and wish I’d had it in from day One.
i use brufen gel 2% and massage into my veins… mine were totally knackered after the first one… some people seem more prone to it than others.
i wanted a hickman line too as i had bilateral BC but they refused to do it till my veins all collapsed so just persevered even though it was really sore… i always put my hand in hot water before getting cannulated and used a heat pad during the infusion.
my veins are still a knackered now even though my last chemo was 4 months ago so having blood tests is a bit of a bugger.
sorry i dont have better news.
Lxx
My veins started to hurt after 2nd chemo (of 6),& onc told me to ask nurse to give it a bit slower. Don’t think it made any difference though, & by the end it was becoming more & more difficult to get blood etc. Finished chemo 18th December, & veins still quite hard, not quite so tender happily.
Ohh glad I came accross this thread, will try the gel as my arm is still sore. Got my 3rd round in just over a week so hopefully it will have calmed by then.
Paula xx
Hi,
thanks everyone for your info. I’d rather hear the truth about it rather than the, it’ll all be wonderful stuff! I’ll try the gel and keep my fingers crossed.
Best wishes to you all.
Kells
Hi Kells,
I had trouble too and (all too late)was told about the cream they can give you to put on an hour of two before chemo. i was also told that they didn’t like to give it, as if you had extreme pain, it would be a sign that (epi)chemo wasn’t going where it should. Then by the time I was on CMF they said it wasn’t worth giving me a line. In retrospect, and if I ever have to do it again, I will insist on a line.
If you find it too traumatic or painfull, speak to your BCC nurse and request that you have a line put in.
Best of luck with it all…Gill
Hi all-can I join the bad veins club.It really hurts. I get the stuff on my hand but that didn’t work the first time because it hadn’t been on long enough, but the second time it did. I seem to be the only person that screams ‘F**K’ at each botched attempt,everyone else just quietly gets on with it lol! Have been booked for a line but I’m really paranoid about it,because of infection and reducing my level of activity. I’ve definitely got pain like the ‘cording’ after my op running up the inside of my arm after a particularly bad botched attempt. I’d take valium before I go to stop me stressing but unfortunately I have to drive back. Only three more to go Thank God!
Can I join? I’ve had 4 epirubicins and I’m unable to straighten my arm out as when I attempt to do so, I get pain from veins all the way to my shoulder. The registrar mentioned something about having a line put in when I last saw her. I’ve got cmf to get through which means 8 more chemos and 8 more blood tests = 16 at least more attempts to get a cannula in and it’s stressing me out. I can’t see how a picc line can be put in into damaged veins in my elbow area. I think I’ll contact the breast care nurse and get more info. I’d be happy for a hickman line put in under general anaesthetic. It would certainly lower my current stress levels. My mind is running away with me here. As a nurse I’m thinking how can I return to my job with a painful stiff arm? They’ll have to find me a desk job.
Are most hickmans put in with local or general?
Had my first fec on 8th April, took 7 attempts to get cannula in and the epirubicin started blistering and burning the vein as it went in, they managed to put it through with two bags of saline, it took over an hour. The blisters/redness are still there and I have been told that I need a central line, and will have a portacath fitted before the next session. This is done under a general once the blood count is ok.
They would not attempt with a cannula again as the damage could burn the arm and could be permanent. Hickmanns can be done with sedation/local or general, depends apparently on the unit, they need flushing once a week to stay open. xxTina