Adenocarcinoma - Stage 3B Hand Pain Question

JohnK · New User Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Scotland

Hi Everyone,

My name is John an just over 7 weeks ago i was diagnosed as having lung cancer which had spread to the central lymph nodes (2 or 3 were swollen on xray and ct scan), i will tell you more about that further on, for now ill ask my questions and then you can read my background.

I started chemo just over a week ago. 27/03/08

When i received chemo which they called Cycle 1A, insertion of the needle into my right hand was very painful and the use of a heat pack was used for the duration of the treatment on the day. I received Cisplatin (131mg) and Vinorelbine (41mg).

I have since had my 2nd treatment 1 week later, this time called Cycle 1B. This was Vinorelbine (45mg) and inserted into my left hand. There is no bruising on this hand an no pain at all.

After my 1st treatment i had a very large bruise appear on my right hand around the area of the needle insertion, since that day, i have had small amounts of pain in this area. It has now been 10 days an although the bruise is almost gone i still have pain in this area but it has now gone from very minor pain which when taking my painkillers was taking it away to being constant pain which the painkillers are not taking away at all now. The pain itself is constant rather that throbbing and it can almost be described as being in the bone althouth i dont think it is.

I spoke to the nurses regarding the bruising and small pain on my 2nd visit an they explained it could be related to the 1st treatments needle.

Can anyone tell me if this is common or not and whether or not this could be related to the needle being inserted or even the 2nd treatment which again i asked about an was told can cause swollen veins. Placing my hand in hot water for 15-20 minutes takes the pain away whilst in the water but 5-10 minutes after stopping this it comes back. I am told cold can also be good for this but reading other sites says cold is not a good idea. I have not tried this incase of complications.

I take 2 30mg Dihydrocodeine tablets for the pain every 4 hours which is mostly in the centre of the chest and lung area but with my hand pain, these are not doing anything for it anymore.

I would appreciate anyones thoughts\experiences with this kind of thing as it has now become my main worry due to the severity of the pain. Even typing has become a problem as it now hurts.

Now for my background.

Im 34 and have smoked Cigs for almost 20 years, around 20 a day was my norm. Since diagnosis, i have stopped smoking completely.

My family has a history of cancer which im told could be a genetic thing, My mother who was 60 died of lung cancer last February, her mother died of stomach cancer years ago and her father also died of cancer.

In November 2007, i had a cough that lasted almost 3 months, my GP was always saying it was smoking related and was not in my chest, this meant nothing was done about it until February this year when i asked for an xray, she was reluctant about it as she emphasised smoking coughs are common. The Xray showed a shadow which was then investigated further, i have had a CT Scan, Pet/CT Scan and also a brain Scan. I have also had a biopsy taken of the lymph nodes and the only area the cancer is located is the right upper lung and the lymph nodes in the centre of my chest. The tumour in my lung is about 1.5 - 2 inches.

My Consultant has told me i am going to receive Chemo and Radical Radiotherapy, the Chemo will be split into 4 Cycles, each Cycle having 2 Stages (A and B), just before i start Cycle 2 of the chemo, which is taking place in 2 weeks, i will be starting the Radiotherapy the same week, the radiotherapy will last for 30 days (Mon - Fri) and the chemo will continue during and after.

Treatment will be completed in June.

This may be a bit of a long winded message to post for a 1st timer but i felt to get any advice as much information added is better that getting more questions about it later on down the line.

I would appreciate anyones comments/suggestions on how to releive this pain in my hand, as i stated above, the pain is greater than any other pain i am getting an has gotten me worried. I do plan on visiting my GP next week about this but i felt this forum with all the experiences people have had may give me a better answer than my GP.

Thanks in advance for any replies to this.

One last thing to note, my consultant has stated that we are looking to eradicate the cancer completely and due to my age and health we are going at it strong for this reason.

Thanks Again,

John

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 743 Location: UK

Hi, John, sorry that you are having additional bother.

If the cannula needle is badly inserted, it can cause bruising and damage, but to have intense pain sounds somewhat unusual. You need to check again with the nurses that there is not some kind of deeper damage.

Have they suggested you have a port inserted so that you do not have the problem of veins collapsing?

JohnK · New User Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Scotland

Hi Vee,

Thanks for the quick response, its very much appreciated.

When i spoke to the nurse about this pain, they said it may be related to the previous needle or it was due to swelling of the veins, they gave it a technical name but i cant remember what it was called.

There was not however any mention of a port being inserted or even veins possibly collapsing, only that is may be related to the treatment that had taken place.

When i call on monday, i will ask about what you have said an hopefully get this resolved.

Thanks again for your response.

John

JohnK · New User Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Scotland

Hi Again,

I just thought i would let you know that after a visiting the Oncologist about the problem, it has been explained that the Vinorelbine was most likely the cause.

All future treatments will have this drug diluted via a drip as it can cause the problems with pain in the hand and arm that i was experiencing if not diluted enough, it iritates the veins.

I have also been given new painkillers to combat this and so far everything has gotten better and i no longer have the pain.

Thanks for your advice on this Vee and to anyone else who may experience thing kind of thing in the future, speaking to people about it is very beneficial and can get it resolved quite quickly.

As my oncologist has said, there is no need to feel any pain at all during the treatments and that is one thing i will be making sure off in the future.

John

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 743 Location: UK

So glad it has been resolved.

I did wonder about the vinolrebine, but did not like to introduce a scare element. It caused me problems, so my suspicions were aroused. But at the end of the day, pinning down the medical team usually gets the answers.

JohnK · New User Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Scotland

Hi Everyone, Hi Vee,

I just thought i would let you all know i had my post treatment scan results today, my tumour has shrunk by 1/2 in my lung and the lymph nodes are also starting to calm down.

There is now only a 4mm nodule that is visible which due to the radiotherapy still working should continue to shrink.

I just wanted to say a big thanks to everyone who helped me along with this and Vee for answering my questions at a time when i was unsure and looking for support.

I am now fingers crossed on my way to recovery and have also been asked to join a Trial which i am looking for opinions on.

That is why i am posting this evening as this new trial seems quite interesting but as im not that good at the understanding of this im hoping someone out there may have been on this or know off someone who is on this.

The Trial is named START which is Stimulating Targeted Antigenic Responses To NSCLS.

This is a placebo controlled study of the cancer vaccine Stimuvax (L-BP25 or BLP25 liposome vaccine) in non-small cell lung cancer.

If anyone wants to give me their thoughts or even any possible links to detailed information on it that would be great.

I really am just looking for information from anyone who may have heard of someone on it and how they feel or even if theres any other information kicking about that may help me to better understand what this so called Vaccine is.

Vaccine being such a strong word always makes me look deeper into things and to say Cancer Vaccine in my book is huge hence my follow up questions.

Again any advice would be greatly appreciated on this subject.

Thanks in advance

John

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