Pain in arm from EC chemo

[Hm50]

Hi I’m on EC chemo and wondering if they have to administer it in the same arm or can they use the other side. I’ve got pain in my arm from the last treatment and still in pain a week later.

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear about the pain

I think the arm they use depends on lymph nodes removal. So I had originally had a left breast mastectomy and sentinel lymph nodes removed on that side so the can’t use that arm to run any IV’s in it all has to go in my right

My veins aren’t great now and if I have to have more IV in the future I will ask for a port to be put in.

My husband also had cancer previously (he is now 8 years cancer free from stage 4 bowel cancer so keep the faith). He found it just too painful to have the IV so he got a port installed and it made a massive difference.

Hope that provides some insight to you ~ all the best

[Hm50 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply. I too had a right side for breast cancer and lymph nodes removed so they are using the left side at minute which is where the problem is. I’ll speak to them on Tuesday and see what they advise. Stay safe to you both xx

[Hidden in reply to Hm50]

A port is much better than a pic line which is the other option

[Hm50 in reply to Hidden]

They haven’t told me any other options. I haven’t got a clue what I should be asking them

[jersey-jazz in reply to Hidden]

This is news to me. I had twelve lymph nodes removed from my right arm pit and just two removed from the left. However, the lymphadema on the left arm is bad. So, the needles have been put into my right side all the time. I'll switch to the left next time, maybe. I get very little direction. Sorry for the pity party.

[Hm50 in reply to jersey-jazz]

Thanks for your reply. I’m enquiring on Tuesday when I attend for next chemo session and see what they say as the left arm is really not great since last infusion

[Hidden]

So we want for a port as Hubby was going to have 6 further cycles of chemo and was in agony by the end of the first 6

If you look up picc line and port they will give you the options ~ a picc is much more short term vs the port which is actually inserted just under skin. It needs flushing but is easier to care for

Do a bit of research ahead of the session so you feel better informed ~ do you have a breast care nurse to talk to ?

[Hm50 in reply to Hidden]

I’ll have a look into it all over the next couple of days and no I don’t have one. I’m basically just left to try and get on with it with no one to ask

[wendle3007]

I had my chemo before surgery so there was no lymphedema risk. I had FEC in my left arm and two of the doses hardened the veins so I switched to right arm for 3 doses of Docetaxl. If hardening of veins is what has happened to you then I'd recommend either having a Hickman line or struggling on with having the treatment in the same arm otherwise you will have pain in both arms. I had my third FEC in May and I'm only now feeling more comfortable with left arm.