hi all ,was wondering if anyone has experienced vein pain when being given fec .just had second fec ( on 3 fec 3 tax )first fec left bruised arm for 2 weeks but no pain going in just uncomfortable going in ,this time hurt like hell !!! do suffer raynauds ,any tips any feedback all welcome x
yes, I suffered alot with vein pain all the way up my arm to my shoulder too with FEC - not nice… the worst time was when I woke up in the morning. I talked to my Onc and she suggested avoiding getting dehydrated - so drink lots and lots of water and it did help. I even had a glass of water in the middle of the night if I’d had to get up then too.
I’m not sure about any advice with Raynauds but I’d had a op on my shoulder and the FEC really made the muscles seize up - so that along with the veins was not easy to cope with
Hope this helps.
thank you will try that ,thought more fluid to plump up vein may help anything to try easing the pain x
Try a heat pad givli - I’ve had 5 FEC so far and my veins are v sore and hard. I bought a heat pad after FEC5 as it was getting so sore and this relieves it a bit, as does hirudoid cream which you can get from your GP or behind the counter at boots. My arm also hurts a lot when they are adminstering the chemo even when they have a heat pad on it. One of those annoying things we have to put up with I think!
Reckon the fluid thing is also probably a wise thing, thanks francesw.
same thing happened to me on 2nd FEC, still sore after two weeks.
I had no problems with FEC1, but 2nd round, from the time the nurse put in the IV, it was hurting even before the FEC was started. I told the nurse it did feel right this time, but she thought I was just nervous. Went back to the hospital and they think it might be phlebitis, I think the needle was to close to the vein wall, but seeing the onc middle of the week and will have him check it out.
I hear sometimes this might be caused by pushing the FEC into the vein to fast.
Hope the next round is better for us.
Hi ladies i am really sorry to disappoint and be the bearer of bad news but i had my last chemo 6 weeks ago and my veins and arm are still very sore. I cant even straighten my arm out!!! I am having my radiotherapy at the moment and i saw my ong today as i was really concerned that it was still so painful. She said it is the E part of the FEC that ruins the veins and although it will eventually go it will take a long time. Unfortunately she had no magic cure just a case of grinning and bearing i guess 
Just thought i would share this info with you, good luck with the chemo to you all
Take care kaz
Hi everyoned
I had my last chemo in Feb this year which was taxotere. Prior to the 3 Tax I had 3 FEC with last one just before xmas. I too had the horrible cording of the veins caused by the Epirubicin of the FEC. This meant my arm was very sore and could not straighten or raise it above my head.
However, I can report that the pain has all gone now! I have much better movement in my arm and can ‘almost’ straighten it. It still looks ‘odd’ with my veins dipping rather than protruding, but it is much better. So when they told me it would gradually repair it was correct. I do hope that you all get relief from this soon.
Take care, J.
Girls,.
This is standard and most suffer with veins from the drug administration. If it gets too bad ask for a PICC line or Hickman or something similar. I have insisted on one from the beginning and even if you have started treatment it can make a difference. the PICC is put in with just local anaesthetic and stays for the remainder of your treatment and SAVES your VEINS!
I am delighted with mine, it only takes a short time to have it put in and will save you pain and problems later or relieve the ones you have now.
Wandyx
I’ve had 4 fec and my arm is very sore. It get worse as the time goes on. I told my nurse and was told fec damages veins and to drink plenty, exercise arm and keep it warm, just hope that they will last for last 2 fec.
Hi girls, it seems that vein pain is a common problem when having fec. the nurse did say that tax is a lot more gentle as its given by drip and not injected in , also some of the fec drugs cause the veins to contract. Only one more fec to go, will be drinking more fuids and go armed with hot water bottle. good luck all x
I’m using Hirudoid cream (which helps) and in conversation by email with a friend who’s an oncology nurse in America, she said they recommend alternate hot/cold on the sore arm, and to elevate it… Not tried it yet…