chemo arm - not cancer arm

Hi Wendy,

could it be cording, I had a similar thing after my second chemo it was a dent running along my elbow crease, it was sore and looked bruised.  Spoke to my chemo nurse and said was cording due to vein trauma!

Hope that helps.

Alex

sounds like its the same and does feel like cording, i have been massaging it and it does feel better, but i do have a dent in my elbow and 1 near my wrist. my fingers are sore as well....i only ever had 2 chemos so it should get better soon...thanks alex

I have a strange phenomenon in my chemo arm in that I have developed lymphoedema on that side. The nurse at the lymphoedema clinic has never heard of lymphoedema on the opposite side of surgery.  I'm not surprised as my fingers and arm seemed to swell after chemo on that side.

I have to wear a sleeve on that side to reduce the swelling and get a bit of pain.  It's all very strange!

Christine xx

Dear Wendy, sounds like  you have lymphodaema - I have it my left arm which is now permanent and I have to wear a sleeve (I can't always be bothered though as it bothers me when I get hot flushes).  When my swelling gets really bad my bc. nurse tells me just to rest - which for you means put your legs up and elevate your arm on a pillow.  Also, when you feel a little rested do the breast care exercises for your arm as they really do work and stick with it.  The very best advice though is always professional advice and the brease care nurses are trained to give you the right info. so good luck and REST, Ann.

Hi Wendy I suffered from this quite badly in my chemo arm and was told it ws vein trauma.  I found massaging my arm with bio oil and stretching my arm daily helped.  Although I then developed really bad pins and needles in the same arm and hand, that was so painful it used to wake me and when I asked about it was told it would pass with time.  I ended up having acupuncture for the pins and needles which seemed to help with the veins.

I finished chemo last October but still have pitting in my arm where my veins collapsed, this is improving though - so keep stretching, massaging and smiling!

Love Fiona x