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after chemo pain

Hi I'm new to this. I have had 5 Chemos and then the shot to keep blood up, have had no problem just a little sickness and low blood pressure. But the last two times once on my left arm a knot red, a lot pain now on my right arm same thing. At first we thought it was a spider but this time I know it was not. When it happen in the left arm I had chemo in that one. Then the right arm the same thing. The drs can not figure it out they just give me meds. Has anyone had anything like this?

Tags: arms, in, pain, red, swelling

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Permalink Reply by DavidatpMOD on August 15, 2011 at 11:26pm

Hi and welcome to Lunglovelink. You are in good company here. Can you share a little more info about your chemo with us?

I didn't have anything exactly like what you are describing but I did have some burning in the area of my IV when I received infusions of Paclitaxol. Sometimes there are some meds they can give you to reduce the problems. Again, welcome, good luck, God bless and keep the faith...

David

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Permalink Reply by clfsdy1 on August 16, 2011 at 10:44am

I'm on Topasar and Cisplatin. This knot and pain started a few days after this infusion. But I had 3 other infusions before this happen. It is in the inter part of my arm like on the bone but not where I had the needle. The first time this happen the dr thought I had been bit by a spider but no mark. Now after the 5th infusion it happen on the other arm (arm the infusion went it). They give me Laviquin in case of infection. no fever or anything like that.Just red, swelling and a lot of pain. The first time it took 3 weeks before it went away hope it does not take tht long again.

I have my last Chemo next week. They tell me the body needs a break get a scan body and bone. Is this where they just give up on you if things a not better after chemo?

Thanks for the reply and God bless.

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Permalink Reply by AmyLCA on August 16, 2011 at 12:50pm

Hi!

I see that you posted in the small cell lung cancer discussion area. Is the drug you are taking etoposide? I'm not familiar with Topasar, but etoposide is common in combo with cisplatin for SCLC.

Unfortunately I don't know anything about the pain you describe, but I thought I'd try to respond to your question about "what happens next?" In the case of SCLC, there is another drug called Topotecan that has been approved for second-line chemo, meaning, if the first one doesn't work, this is the next thing to do. There are also clinical trials going on in SCLC that might be worth looking into.

Amy

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Permalink Reply by talley101 on August 26, 2011 at 6:17pm

Do you possibly mean Camptosar (also known as Irinotecan)? I am not familiar with Topasar. But I do see Camptosar used in combination with Cisplatin. You didn't mention if this is the first time you've had chemo or not. There are many lines of chemo available for SCLC. If the cancer cells get smart and the first drugs stop working, they change the drugs to something else. I know one patient that is on his 6th line of chemo. So in answer to your question, after scans if there is not improvement, they will most likely change you to a different combination of drugs or a different single agent drug. There are also clinical trials that offer standard lines of treatment with new drugs in combination with them.

I haven't hear of the redness and swelling in the arm as your described. Sorry I can't help with that.