I had an extravasation injury (leak into my arm) on my last session of Taxotere. This was around 6 weeks ago and I am still suffering from horrible swelling and pain. My whole arm and hand blew up due to  the effect of the chemical burn and I was in such excruciating agony to begin with I had to be on a round the clock cocktail of powerful painkillers. I was sent for a washout operation (slitting the arm open and draining the fluid) immediately after the accident but although the hospital played it down I think a whole load must have gone in for the effects to be this bad. I can't find anything on the web that reflects my experience and at times it feels like I'm going mad. I have already been through so much - with a protracted diagnostic procedures (uncovering 5 cm invasive lobular primary tumour, and 4 other tumours in the same breast - one large area of DCIS, one small area and one other small (less than 1cm) invasive lobular, 11 out of 12 lymph nodes affected, mastectomy, 6 sessions chemo - 3 FEC-T and 3 Tax, and 5 weeks radiation - currently half way through, I can hardly cope. I have 3 kids and life is tough. Can anyone help me or has anyone been through similar experiences? If so I'd love to hear from you.

Hi Betty

Not quite as ghastly as yours sounds but I have had a leak and now have a very red / angry mark on ,y hand which I have been told may be permanent. This was 6 weeks ago and I have had no improvements to its look

During the session I told the nurse it was burning and stinging at least 3 times, and she discmissed me and told me that the pressure on the machine was okay therefore I must be wrong!!

A couple of days after the sesion it became red and like it was badly bruised. I showed the Oncoligist and last time I attended they were taking photos and all sorts - may they are felling like ' where theres blmae theres claim' LOL !!

I am just disappointed that they were so dismissie of me and yet when you have your first treatment they made such a big thing about tell us if it hurts.

I have at least three veines in my arms that have sunk / shrunk from the treatment and they now look like darker sunken lines on my arm. Not great - again liekly to be permanent

I am kind of past caring most days and tyr and have the attitude, just get this over with as life is more important, but then eveynow and again I have a bloody good cry !!

Keep in touch

Mandy X

 

 

 

 

 

Hi betty100, Oh my god you poor thing. Luckily I haven't been though the same thing as you but I just had to reply as I was shocked by your ordeal. No wonder you say your not coping well, you have been through so much it's hardly surprising. I bet you are actually coping a lot better than you think. Have you spoke to your breast care nurse and told her how you are feelin? Sometimes just telling someone how you are feeling really helps. I really hope you get your arm sorted and that things start easing up soon. You have got this far you are doing well, just remember that. Keep strong. Adele

You poor things both of you - have you compared notes as to where this happened?  It could be that you're at the same hospital and they've got an incompetent doing the chemo?  (Certainly looks that way).  

I really hope you both start to feel better soon.  Oh and sue their arses off ... :D  It's not good enough, especially when they've been told.

 

H 

Hi Betty

Poor you, what a dreadful experience!

I am just at the start of my chemo journey having had my first FEC 10 days ago. I have a redness/soreness  in my arm which my bcn tells me is a swelling to the vein, I have been prescribed some cream which I will collect tomorrow. She has told me not to be concerned as this is fairly common. However, I am concerned that if my veins are complaining after first FEC what will they be like after 3rd Tax?

My diagnosis is fairly similar to yours...5cm invasive lobular, grade 3 and 10 out of 11 lymph nodes. I had a mastectomy with LD flap reconstruction 7 weeks ago and still have problems with seroma (to be fair, this was improving until this week...probably down to the chemo!). I actually feel better than I have for a long time...surely due to the fact that I no longer have a cancerous tumour growing inside my breast? Also I have lost a stone in weight since my diagnosis 10 weeks ago, given up smoking and am taking daily exercise.

You have been through so much already, and are almost at the end of your treatment plan...stay positive and I hope your arm gets better soon

Take care

Pauline x

On my first round with chemo I had it administered in my arm. On my last walk to the restroom I noticed a pinching and thought it was the tape sticking to the hairs on my arm.  When I sat back down a nurse looked at my arm and said when did this happened and I looked down and my hand was starting to swell at the IV sight.  That was early Dec.  I've had nothing like what you're going through but it is still numb from where the needles went in down the vein.  They watched it for 5 days and asked a lot of questions.  They were concerned but didn't tell me what could have happened.  They still ask about it but I think I will be ok.  IT IS A BIG DEAL and they need to keep at it with you.  I have heard one story from a nurse at another clinic about what happened to a patient.  Her dr. paid all her medical expenses pertaining to that mistake.  (I am in the US) Good luck with your recovery. You're not alone.