Hi All, I’ve just finished no. 5 chemo session with only one left to go. From my first session onwards I have experienced pain in my veins during administering of the drugs. Used heat pads & hot water, but didn’t make any difference. The problem now is that the veins up my arm have contacted to the point where I can’t straighten my arm without being in great pain. I’ve repeatedly told the hospital about this & had little practical help. They gave me a painkilling gel which is useless. Then they offered me a picc line for the last two sessions, which I refused. Anyone got any practical help they can give me? Thank you.
EC is known to cause vein problems which is why they often suggest you have have some sort of a line. I had my first two EC with a canula (should have just been the first but the port fitting was too swollen to use still on the second) and my vein is still sore from the first one. I think if the pain killing gel doesnt work you just need to go back to the hospital and ask them for something different. Heat might ease it temporaily but I don’t think it does more than that.
Hi…sounds similar to me 2 years ago. I had all FEC-T chemo through a cannula by choice…worked throughout and couldn’t be bothered with the faf of having a line flushed and not being able to swim!!! My veins got very hard, and during a MacMillan massage session, I was shown how to apply a small amount of olive oil and using gentle long strokes ‘massage’ hand and arm for 15 minutes x 3 times a day…can self-massage, but nicer if someone does it for you. Swimming was also helpful; if you’re not able to swim, then gently doing the breast stroke movement sitting/standing may help. Before going to bed I used a lavender/wheat bag that you heat in microwave, and when veins got really painful wore a gentle support bandage. Several times a day I used a ‘stress’ ball squeezing it for abut 5 minutes at a time. Veins/arm are fine now and it was amazing actually how quickly after last chemo they started to recover…hope some of this helps, all the best for the rest of your treatment x
Annoying me too, just been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen, hospital are not particularly worried I suppose it’s another side effect we have to put up with but please share any other ideas thanks