Chemo Vein

Hello,

My mother has just finished her 4th chemo cycle with cisplatin and gemcitabine. She is due for at least 1 or 2 more cycles before the end of the year. She has stage 4 nonsmall cell lung cancer. She was on Tarceva for about a year before the cancer spread to her bones and her brain and she was switched from Tarceva to chemo.

She's bit quite sick on the chemo, it's been tough for her with the fatigue and nausea.

We noticed a new issue a few days ago though. She usually gets her chemo IV in her right hand. She's noticed that one of the veins in that hand is sticking up and it's very hard, like a rock. The nurse mentioned it could be phlebitis. Mum says it's quite sore to the touch.

Has anyone else had the same problem? Is this serious or nothing to worry about?

Many thanks,

Helen

On 10/21/2009 hjk78 wrote:

Hello,

My mother has just finished her 4th chemo cycle with cisplatin and gemcitabine. She is due for at least 1 or 2 more cycles before the end of the year. She has stage 4 nonsmall cell lung cancer. She was on Tarceva for about a year before the cancer spread to her bones and her brain and she was switched from Tarceva to chemo.

She's bit quite sick on the chemo, it's been tough for her with the fatigue and nausea.

We noticed a new issue a few days ago though. She usually gets her chemo IV in her right hand. She's noticed that one of the veins in that hand is sticking up and it's very hard, like a rock. The nurse mentioned it could be phlebitis. Mum says it's quite sore to the touch.

Has anyone else had the same problem? Is this serious or nothing to worry about?

Many thanks,

Helen

Hi Helen,

I wouldn't be taking an "it could be" from a nurse.  Insist on having the doctor look at it....  If it is phlebitis, if memory serves, that is a blood clot. And not to scare you, but blood clots can break loose and travel which can be quite dangerous.

Also, they should have her on a prescription to ease the nausea problem.  If they don't, ask for one.  There are several for cancer patients.  One is Kytril (which is quite expensive and didn't work for me) and another one is Promethazine 25 mg every 6 hours (it's cheaper and for me it worked much, much better).  There is no reason for her to be suffering from nausea. 

Good luck and God Bless