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FEC-T Chemotherapy: sore veins: advice please!!?? thank you

Springer50
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I've been reading threads old and new on this site for a few weeks now, some sad, some humourous, some heartwarming, ALL useful. I'm not usually one for talking to people I don't know, but I really see the benefit in sharing experiences and the support people give on here is inspiring and humbling.

I found a lump in my breast a week after a trip of a lifetime to India to celebrate my 50th later this year - SO strange because I had literally never felt as well as I felt then, for years! was whisked through the process at lightning speed, scan, biopsy, sentinel node followed by lymph node clearance. Now on my second cycle of six FEC-T (three FEC, three Taxotere) and although it has been mentally and physically challenging I have been able to console myself with the accounts of others and reassure myself that it is do-able - so THANK YOU all of you for talking about your side effects and how you are dealing with them, you are all incredibly strong people. I took extra anti sickness tablets the second time round as I ended up back in the unit on a drip on day 2 as I couldn't even keep the water down to take the tablets! :-( this time I felt rough but wasn't actually sick so they did the trick.

My question/current concern is this, my chemo arm is incredibly painful and i understand its damage caused by the drugs effectively scorching the veins? It's not until I try and straighten my arm that the pain is excruciating but I wondered if there was anything anyone could say to help me cope as I've got four sessions left and I'm worried I won't be able to straighten my arm when it comes to taking bloods. I think it's probably right to keep trying to stretch it out but it almost makes me cry so I avoid straightening it. Just another battle in this war against the side effects of the treatment - I am counting the days till it is over.

Thanks in advance for any comments :-)

Gina

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    Gina

    I believe the portacath is the way to go! I was offered it at the outset but had my first chemo session earlier this month in the usual way as it was not possible to book me in for fitting it beforehand.  So although I thought I had "good veins", my experience of having a canula fitted was not exactly straightforward.  Definitely a case of third time lucky and two nurses having a go at it after holding my hand in hot water and applying a wheat bag to my arm to raise my veins. I was quite bruised afterwards!  I had also been given a lot of warnings about the effects of leakage and vein damage, and didn't much like the sound of that so I was on edge while the drugs were going in.  I am having the implanted port (portacath) put in before my next chemo this coming Wed.  I gather some places do the procedure under local and others under a general anaesthetic, and once it is in it averts the need to stick needles in you for bloods etc as well. Hope this helps.

  • Offline in reply to Boatgirl

    Boatgirl

    God that sounds like a plan!! I'm going to call the combined day unit at the hospital on Monday and see what they say. I've got my oncology appt on Friday for round 3 on Monday March 3 so I need to move on this if I can.

    Thank you!! feel much better now :-) :-)

    Gina xx

  • Offline in reply to Springer50

    Gina, Just to add that if you have that many sessions to go, it would be really surprising if they don't offer this to you.  My sister had BC 4 years ago and the memory is still there - with each chemo session her veins were more and more of a problem, till on the final one they were dealing with collapsed veins.  There are other options but my understanding is that they require cleaning on a weekly basis whereas it is monthly for the portacath. Well worth pushing for.  Gill

  • Offline in reply to Boatgirl

    I really dont think the docs would think it feasible to have a portacath implanted for 4 more sessions honey - I was thinking of a temporary line if there is such a thing. As far as I am aware, the portacath is kind of permanent (I may be wrong) and will need care and flushing regularly even after treatment ends.

    Gina, try to drink plenty before you go for your next infusion and it is really helpful to put your arm in a sink of hotwater when you are at the hospital to bring the veins up. Then keep the warm cushion on your arm. If you can, I would also call the chemo nurses and tell them how painful your arm is at this present time just in case you have an infection. Good luck sweetheart  -  I hope you are ok x

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  • Offline in reply to Boatgirl

    I really dont think the docs would think it feasible to have a portacath implanted for 4 more sessions honey - I was thinking of a temporary line if there is such a thing. As far as I am aware, the portacath is kind of permanent (I may be wrong) and will need care and flushing regularly even after treatment ends.

    Gina, try to drink plenty before you go for your next infusion and it is really helpful to put your arm in a sink of hotwater when you are at the hospital to bring the veins up. Then keep the warm cushion on your arm. If you can, I would also call the chemo nurses and tell them how painful your arm is at this present time just in case you have an infection. Good luck sweetheart  -  I hope you are ok x

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