Has anybody faced infection on the site from where chemo is given

[kontak]

My sister was given chemo on the arm - but now almost 3 months have passed there is still wound which is not healing. Doctors have advised antibiotics but it is not completely healed. Still yellow colour with moist is seen - arm still paining now and then.

[laya]

first cycle of chemo was given in my left arm, where they removed lymph nodes during the surgery... though surgeon asked not to give iv line in that hand..my medical oncologist told nothing will happen..but within a week a it started to itch,then redness and then swelling ..i sufferred for nearly 10 days and then it subsided leaving a scar....after which i went for port insertion....i think the effect might persist for sometime....but do get your drs consultation done quickly...

[kontak TeamBCI]

Hi Laya - she was given total 6 cycles of FEC90 - out of which 5 on the arm and the last one on leg. Its very disturbing to note that after each and every chemo where ever the insertions was done it was taking time to heal. We tried to show every time to the medical oncologist - but informed it will heal. A time had come when the last cycle was pending and no veins were found suitable to give chemo. But the suggestion of PORT never came nor from the surgeon nor medical oncologist. (We had seek guidance from Dr Shah - but we were too late - meantime 4 cycles were completed.)

Hence the last was given on leg. After the completion of 6 cycles - and when the radiation was started - suddenly she started severe pains, redness itching on the arm. Now more than 3 months -

Inspite of taking antiboitics - the wound is not completely healing on the arm. Doing dressing from the local surgeons also

Plus the feet and leg is severely paining every day. She is very much disturbed - unable to concentrate in any activity

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

Honestly, I am surprised why you were not told off the PORT. Because, as a rule, I tell each and every patient about PORT insertion, even if they have good veins, simply because having a PORT makes life very easy for the patient.

Anyways, I guess, let's put it behind us.

I want to know exactly, where is the leg and hand paining. Is it at the site of injections? or it is the fingers and toes? And since the wound has not healed completely, how much of it is remaining (in centimetres, you can tell me). Because two or three months after chemo is a reasonable time for any wound to heal. If it's not healing, we need to see, if we need to do anything actively.

Let me know.

Also, you can give pain killers for the pain.