So I have just got back from having my injection. Ive had a few now and use numbing cream as recommended by people on here. It does work a treat, most of the time. Occasionally I still feel it but that is not what I’ve come to discuss. It appears that not all the nurses understand about numbing cream 
a couple of times now, I’ve had fairly new people do my injection and I have to explain about the cream. Today the nurse asked me if he was to do the injection through the cream! Then after wiping the cream away he asked if he still needed to use the alcohol wipe! All the while the exposed needle is sat on his little trolley. Surely that’s not right. Today is also one of the days that I could feel the injection, if done right - I don’t feel a thing. Anyone else had this sort of experience? Do I say something and if so to who? I’m not sure I want to say anything but just feel it’s not great. What if today was my first time using the cream? Anyway, just wanted a bit of a rant. I realise it might not be a priority during training but I would have thought it would be a basic thing learnt when learning about giving just standard jabs?
Hi @sprout78
It does not sound right i agree with you.
I have had numbing cream for phesgo injections in the thigh, so not zoldex but similar process. All my nurses put the cream at least 30 min before the injection, and would then wipe it clean.
If I were you I would raise concerns to my BCN. You must have one too? You could contact your PALS too so they can feedback.
Another option is to ask for a different nurse if you know that the one assigned is not great or is not experienced.
Good luck
Marion x
I use it for my phesgo jags and have been asked by nurses 3 out of 5 of the times I’ve had it so far (including the first time). It’s been all different nurses. Id read the full instructions when I was using it so just told them that it says on the Emla box that they are to wipe it off and still use the alcohol wipe. Tbh it’s not great but I figured by telling them they’ll now know for the future with other people. If anything and it’s your oncology unit you could just say to your BCN to try make sure it’s briefed out to the unit.
Thankyou, it’s always different nurses. I put the cream on at least an hour before I get there but let them know before they get everything ready. There’s only one nurse who is spot on with it but even she last time commented that most women have it at their gp surgery, so don’t feel like I can ask for her, besides if she’s off I’d have someone else. My BCN is another story - never met one. I have a telephone appointment for my abemaciclib, so I might mention it then. Thanks for your reply x
Thankyou, yes they will know for future I guess it was not a great experience as it hurt again and it really gets me down. I don’t have a BCN, well I haven’t met one - which again adds to my anxiety over everything. My surgery was over a year ago and I just kept expecting an appointment after to discuss my treatment etc and well I did have various appointments, chemo, radiotherapy and then an appointment with one of the doctors who told me about the injection (not that it hurt!) and the abemaciclib along with the tamoxifen. Not once did I meet a nurse or anything like that. I now feel like time has rolled on and I can’t bring it up now 
thanks for your reply, I may mention it at my next telephone appointment with the nurse for my abemaciclib. X