Wrist pain after chemo, vein irritation?

Hi everyone

I have HL, with AVD chemo every two weeks as normal - I have it through a cannula in my hand as I have good veins so didn’t need a picc

However a week on from chemo 6/12 and I am in absolute agony around my wrist / hand ?? (The same hand I have chemo in) it is extremely achey and painful, I’m taking painkillers for it, also have tried hot water bottle but it still literally keeping me up at night :frowning:
Never had this before so not sure if it’s just because I always have this hand for chemo or ?

Thanks x

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So sorry to hear you are in pain. I had a picc line for my chemo and it was easy to put in and gave me no problems, have you considered having one put in ?
Alfie

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Sorry to hear about this agony with your wrist. Have you checked it out with your medical team, please let us know how you get on?

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Hi Hannah. I had a Hickman line when having chemo for HL. Are you able to speak to a CNS or someone at the hospital for advice?

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Hi
I did experience pain from my wrist up my forearm after having a chemo session. It’s a bit difficult to say whether it is the chemo or not, I suspect you will not get a definite answer from either your CNS or the chemo nurses but you must let then know.
I don’t know how often you are having your chemo, I was having it spread across 2 days so use to alternate hands. I would have done that even if it was for one day. My veins are rubbish though!
All the best to you.

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Hi everyone thanks for your replies.

I spoke to my specialist nurse and she said I could have a picc if I wanted but I would rather not, she said it’s most likely just my poor veins being irritated with the chemo as I always use the same hand!

Had session 7 of 12 today and used my other hand so should be better :slight_smile:

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Thanks, Hannah, keep ticking the chemo’s off. Also thanks for updating us, my body reacts to being attacked physically or emotionally. Please let us know how using the other hand works and take care.

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Dear Hannah, I see from your profile that you are a very young cancer patient and I was wondering if you were aware of trekstock young adult cancer support, they have a website you might find interesting.


Apologies if this is something you already know about but I thought I’d let you know just in case.

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Thank you for this :slight_smile: I have heard of them but not really looked into it ! I will be now

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I am glad you found this info useful, I have enormous empathy for you being in this position at a such a young age, it’s important you create a good support network around you for the long term, you are probably going to grow up a lot quicker than your friends and need to be in contact with other young people who can relate to your new outlook on life.

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Hi @Hannah97, how are you doing? How’s the treatment going and hows the pain in your wrist? Hope everything’s going well!

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Hello, it’s much better now thank you!! I change hands I offer them when they come to put the cannula in now :slight_smile: I have 1 more cycle of AVD to go… fingers crossed! Starting to notice myself having mini anxiety attacks at the thought of going up to the hospital and I think only now am I realising what I’ve been going through so going to hopefully seek out some counselling when it’s all over (what a celebration!) hope everyone else is doing well? X

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Hi Hannah, thanks for the update. I think the body has coping mechanisms in shock, fear and anxiety and then it says I have had enough and then you actually realise what you have been going through. Perhaps as you said counselling with the right trained counsellor can be beneficial at this time, yes, what a celebration. But you are worth I, you and your body have been through a lot emotionally and physically. Take care and please do let us know how you get on we are all here to support you.

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That’s really good to hear @Hannah97 it sounded painful! Sorry to hear you’re experiencing this anxiety - it’s totally understandable, I can only imagine how overwhelming it all must be! Do feel free to get in touch with the support line if there’s anything we can do to support you, or if you would like us to look into counselling services etc for you at any point. We’d be happy to help wherever we can! Wishing you all the very best with your last cycle of AVD. Take care, Alice

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