Chemo leaking during treatment

Hello Pickles1959

Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Helen, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

Welcome to the online community. You have mentioned benefiting from reading the posts on the forum – it is good to know you find the community helpful and supportive.

You said that you are having your carboplatin through a vein. You explained that the last two times the infusion didn’t go as smoothly, and you noticed the chemotherapy leaking out of the cannula.

I am not sure where your cannula is being sited, but I expect is in the back of your hand. This is quite a small vein, which can mean there is some back pressure as a result.  

Sometimes the plastic cannula rests against the wall of the vein creating a build-up of pressure back along the cannula and the intravenous drip. You mentioned that when the nurse re-positioned the cannula it worked fine, so this might be the issue.

Sometimes the vein can spasm because the cannula is a ‘foreign body’, or the chemotherapy is causing an irritation. This can create discomfort and also cause intermittent back pressure.

It sounds like the chemotherapy leaked outside the entry point of the cannula, rather than leaking into the tissues of your hand, which is called extravasation and can cause very sore skin. Do keep an eye on the area of your hand where the leak occurred and call the chemotherapy unit if your skin feels increasingly sore or blisters.

It’s helpful to drink plenty of fluids before attending for your treatment and also to ensure your hands are kept warm on your journey to the hospital and while you wait for your chemotherapy. This can help veins manage the treatment.   

Hoping the final chemotherapy cycles are event-free and that you recover well from your treatment.

I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.

The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

Best wishes, Helen

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

Ref HM/SMm 

Hello Helen - that is really helpful and it all does make sense.   Especially as I did have pain on the back of my hand.   Some good tips there as well and maybe I do not drink enough water before hand.

Thank you so much for coming back to me with this information