I’m starting my chemo on thursday but will be having a hickman line put in as my viens are too thin. Received the leaflet in the post today about the procedure and have been really put off. Really dont want the line, has anyone had a hickman line put in for chemo?
Also, i’m having two different types of chemo 3xFEC and 3xDOCETAXEL, followed by herceptin for 12mths because i was HER2 positive. Do you experience different side effects for both, are they similar or is one more worse than the other.
Really anxious about it all, would really appreciate feedback.
I have apicc line so can’t help with info on the hickman line, but I’m sure someone will pop on later and answer some questions, I’m having 4 EPI and 4 CMF, I had my 4th Epi yesterday (fri) and start the CMF on christmas eve, I was so nervous to begin, so much going on in my head, but I will say it’s not the greatest but it is doable, you will have good days and bad, veryone seems to have different feelings, there is a fantastic post on here about starting out and how to be as prepared as possible, if I can find it I will post it for you to see, it puts your mind at rest to alot of questions good luck,
Thank u for your feedback. I woke up this morning and thought no i can’t go through this. Then after reading experiences of other women on this forum, does make it doable and of course the long term benefits of chemo. I suppose after the first one my anxiety will ease.
Once you have your first one under your belt, you will be fine, it’s the fear of the unknown, I’m sure we have all felt like it in the beginning, there are so many things you can have for sickness etc you only have to ask your onc or oncology nurse and they will sort it, there is no need to have many se’s at all really, good luck and you will find lots of support here, the ladies are very friendly and have fountains of knowledge and experience, take care,
Hiya - I’m due to have a PICC line put in before starting chemo (if I can get the appointment right…grrrr. they sent me an appt. for having the line put in that is exactly the same time as my first chemo is due to start…aaaagghh) - but the principle of PICC and Hickman is pretty much the same, just the Hickman comes out on your chest and the PICC out of your arm.
I asked for a line because my veins are fairly pathetic, and I know that the E in FEC is good at knackering veins. As we only have the one arm suitable for use, I’d rather take care of the veins in it… even if having the line will be a bit of a pain.
Yes, the procedure sounds scary, but I have been reassured by others on here that it really isn’t that bad, and is well worth going through. There is another thread To PICC or not to PICC, and that will give you a load of info and good reasons for having the line.
Like you, I’ll be having 3FEC followed by 3TAX, and yes, the side effects are different. From what I understand, TAX is the harder, and problems with nails, palms etc can happen. Macmillan do a fact sheet on this regime, if your onc. hasn’t given you a copy, then do ask for one - it will tell you what to expect.
However, the more I read on here, the more I realise that chemo is NOT fun, but it is perfectly do-able - and prob. nowhere near as bad as we have imagined from old horror stories. Do check out that other thread, and keep posting on here. Good luck for Thursday xxx
The picc line wasn’t too bad at all, the lady I had was fab, very chatty and put me at ease, we actually had quite a good laugh, they numbed the area which was a bit like a bee sting, certainly no worse and then didi what they had to do, I can honestly say hand on heart I didn’t feel anything, I was petrified before hand, if I have to have another I won’t worry again, it is so much easier, I have had 4 treatments so far and it has been so easy, it’s welll worth having it done, hope you get an appointment soon, good luck ,
good luck,