Hi, I had my 3rd FEC 10 days ago. I’ve been getting a sore lower arm along the run of the infusion which starts late - about 3/4 weeks after the infusion, & lasts for a month or so. It feels tender to touch or when I stretch, but there’s nothing visible. Is this phlebitis? Have other’s experienced this too? I’m surprised it seems to happen so long after the infusion.
Hi Caroline
Best to check with your chemo unit or BCN, but this sounds more like the damage that epirubicin causes the veins rather than phlebitis. Phlebitis is an inflamation and so it will often feel hot and there will be swelling associated with it.
Do get it checked out though.
Dx
Yup, had exactly the same thing. Still have pain on extending my arm, months after chemo, and you can see a ‘dent’ in the skin all the way along each vein they tried before giving me a portacath. Worth getting it checked out, as has been wisely said, but pain on using the arm or poking it etc seems common.
Ann x
Yes, I had that, it pulled at the wrist, like someone was grabbing my veins and yanking upwards.
You can get a cream for it caled Hirudoid (sp?) cream and that helps a LOT, I got mine from the chemo ward.
It’s a very weird sensation and feels wrong. I had this on EC, it went after Tax although my veins got more and more b*ggered 
It’s all very random.
xxx
Hi
Forgot to say that I have the contraction and ‘dents’ along the veins too. As soon as they started I made a determined effort to keep stretching my arm and holding the stretch, even when it hurt.
Although you can still see the dents, I have full movement and no pain any more.
Dx
Another one here! First FEC was fine, second and third did this to each arm in turn (I was neoadjuvant chemo so could switch arms). Onc said it was the Epirubicin and advised to keep stretching my arm every couple of hours and to take low grade pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen). I was lucky, both arms recovered fully in about a month and now my veins have also returned to their “lovely” status. Taxotere is kinder to veins, so my second three cycles were pain free.
Hope your arm soon feels better - but do get it checked out.
Thank you for these comments everyone. Same thing here and still here 8 months after starting chemo. It isn’t mentioned in any of the literature and I’d wondered what was happening - obviously damage from the chemotherapy but I didn’t know if it was serious. Been on holiday (that was good!) and am seeing the oncologist this week so I shall check on what one can do about it and where I could get that cream. (Ta El K.) If I get any further information, I’ll post it here. HP