Swollen hand

Hi Reberto, it sort of depends what’s causing the swelling? Also whether you have had surgery yet? Is the swelling on your Cancer side or none Cancer side? Do you have a PICC line? 
A lot of questions I know, but without this information it would be difficult for anyone to offer you a solution!

The obvious is to raise your arm and you could try ice or a heat pad, depending on what the issue is! 

However before any of that! IF your hand is redundant feels hot to the touch, then it needs looking at urgently as it could be an infection! In fact I would also be worried about the stiffening of your arm as this could be a blood clot, if that’s the arm they have put a line in!? I think the best thing you can do is to call the Chemo unit and ask their advice, they might say see how you are in the morning, or they may ask to see you! 

Sorry if this hasn’t helped much! But with limited information I wouldn’t want to steer you in the wrong direction! Sal xx

Sorry am new to this ,I had a mastectomy and node clearance On my left side in July ,it’s my right hand and arm that’s the problem, the chemo nurse has suggested having a PICC line in and knows about the swelling av tried raising my arm but this hasn’t helped, it’s can be painful at times but not hot , thanks Annie 

Hi Annie (Reberto), I would definitely get some sort of line put in as it sounds as if the Chemo is damaging your veins! Hopefully someone will be along later, who has experienced this and will be able to offer more advice! 
Would gentle massage help? Maybe start with a heat pad to relax the arm, then massage! I had cording following surgery and did lots of the stretching exercises and massaged the area until they snapped, sounds worse than it is. 
However yours might actually be the veins, so I would speak to the Oncologist or your BCN and see what they suggest! Surely they have to give you some advice!!

I hope you find a solution soon. Good Luck with your remaining Chemo! Half way there!! Well Done. Sal xx

Thank you, I have an appointment with my oncologist next week and will bring it up, I think it’s the chemo that is damaging the vain as it’s swollen  around that area Annie

Hi everyone 

I’ve just had my 2nd EC and have had awful problems in my left hand with 3 veins following the E infusion. I went to see the oncologist and got steroid cream and ibuprofen gel with a diagnosis of thmbo phlebitis. It has made it much better. I would suggest making contact ASAP with them as if it’s the same thing (it may not be!) it has really helped!! 

Hi                                                                                    I had an appointment with my oncologist yesterday  who got me in for an ultra sound straight away and found a blood clot in my upper arm,Today I had a Hickman line fitted so I can continue with my chemotherapy tomorrow ( which am so pleased about , just want to get it over with ) i will be starting  Enoxapanparin  injections  tomorrow twice  a day , I have been told this could go on for up to 3 months which am not looking forward to ,Just thought I would let everyone know how I got on 

I had the same. My arm is a bit of a mess now, with cording all across my lower arm - I had a cannula for the first 3 chemo cycles and PICC line for the last 3. I wish I had a PICC from the start. The chemo nurses prefer them in my hospital and increasingly they’re doing them as a matter of course for patients. It took a bit of stretching to get my wrist able to flex back with my elbow straight, but I got there (yoga!).

I had reservations about a PICC at first because I didn’t want an alien line hanging out of me, but it was way better. My clots did take a while to disperse despite me injecting anticoagulants in my belly fat. I can get my watch on again now, so I think it’s about back to normal now (though it has taken several months).

Good luck with the rest of your treatment x

Thank you, can I ask how long you had the injections for ,I have been told it could be till the end of my treatment or up to 3 months , not looking forward to starting them on top of everything else , don’t know if l will manage doing them myself 

Mine was only a ten day course. I can’t remember the drug, but it wasn’t the same as yours. My oncologist was surprised it was such a short course of treatment so hopefully yours will give better results. 
The injections were more daunting to think about than actually do. I did alternate sides and not too close to your tummy button (it hurts more there). And if the needle seems not to be going in, try a different pinch of belly fat and it’ll probably slide in easier. Expect a bit of bruising - the anticoagulant will do that. It’s not massive, but worth being aware of. 
And do you know, I’m struggling to remember them as in the grand scheme of things they were quite a small part, though more significant at the time.
Good luck with it all x

Thank you for your reply, it’s made me feel a lot better the thought of them was getting me down a bit , hopefully i won’t have to have them for 3 months ,