I am in my 4th cycle of paclitaxel carboplatin, in the last couple of weeks I have noticed an increase in shooting pains in my armpits and down into my breasts. Sometimes the pain goes into my shoulder blades. My breasts also feel swollen at times and very tender. Is this normal for chemotherapy?
Hello Sal_t,
Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to our online community.
My name is Carole and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.
I see from your profile that you’ve a couple of our online groups, and that yesterday, one of our community champions, @latchbrook recommended you contact your cancer treatment helpline. This is good advice, and hopefully by now you will have done this.
If you haven’t called your 24-hour helpline, we’d recommend that you do this straight away.
You mentioned in the group, that you have pain up from your PICC line too.
It is possible for a blood clot to form in the vein at the end of the line. It’s important to have any symptoms which could be caused by a blood clot assessed. These include:
You should mention this, as well as the pains you are having in your arm pits, breasts, and shoulder blades when you phone your cancer treatment helpline.
Paclitaxel and carboplatin can cause side effects, including pain in different parts of the body. However, it’s important to have any new, worsening, or persistent pain assessed by a member of your healthcare team. This is so they can check the cause and give medicine to help.
I hope this is helpful.
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,
Carole
Our ref: BS
