Varicose veins after chemo

stillhere2
stillhere2 Member Posts: 9
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi, I am a 5+ year survivor of stage 3c ovca and am wondering if anyone has had problems with enlarged veins in the feet, hands and legs as a result of their chemo. In the past year I have developed very large prominent veins in my feet, lower legs, and on the backs of my hands. It is as though they were fine one day and suddenly enlarged the next! As we tend to do, I am wondering if it is a result of all the chemo I had. My mother had a lot of neuropathy of the feet and legs as a result of the Taxol when she was treated for ovca. Unfortunately, we lost her in 2005 to recurrence, so I can't discuss this with her.

Comments

  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #2
    varicose veins
    Hi Stillhere, I had them before cancer so not sure if the new ones are just a normal happening. But, I have never heard of this linked to chemo before. What do your Drs think? Congrats on 5+ years ~ I am almost a 6 year survivor myself. Bonnie
  • stillhere2
    stillhere2 Member Posts: 9
    #3
    BonnieR said:

    varicose veins
    Hi Stillhere, I had them before cancer so not sure if the new ones are just a normal happening. But, I have never heard of this linked to chemo before. What do your Drs think? Congrats on 5+ years ~ I am almost a 6 year survivor myself. Bonnie

    varicose veins
    Thanks, BonnieR, for the response and congrats. It is great to hear that you are almost at 6 years. My primary care doc is new in the past year so she hasn't known me long, and thinks they are just a normal occurrence. The enlargement of the veins happened early this summer. Maybe they would have come anyway due to my age (62) and past jobs requiring lots of time on my feet. It was just a surprise when they suddenly appeared. I had never heard of any connection to chemo, either. Just wanted to check it out with others in case it is something that is happening and no one has ever put the two things together. Sondra
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #4
    Veins
    I have a lot more since I have been on chemo but maybe I would have because of age also (70). I think chemo played a part but not entirely because it is just hard on the whole body, period. Saundra
  • Lauracec
    Lauracec Member Posts: 101
    #5
    saundra said:

    Veins
    I have a lot more since I have been on chemo but maybe I would have because of age also (70). I think chemo played a part but not entirely because it is just hard on the whole body, period. Saundra

    lots
    I just finished 6 cycles of carbo/taxol and was just diagnosed this may and the back of my legs have lots more than they use to b-4 chemo and I am only 43. I also gained about 20 or better pounds during chemo maybe that has something to do with it. I don't know. Laura
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #6
    me too
    Stillhere,

    I am glad you are still here. I hope to be too. I am still in treatment and hysterectomy will be one year January 28, 2009.

    I too have enlarged veins and I know it is from the chemo (was never like that before) which my last was in August. Now that I am on Hexalen (pill form) it should not have anything to do with my veins. But veins on back of hands are big and inside of arms, plus feet and legs too.

    I will ask my doctor about it on Thursday to see what she says. Sometimes it seems like there are side effects that are not listed, like the lower back pain, etc.

    In His Grip,
    Libby
  • stillhere2
    stillhere2 Member Posts: 9
    #7
    LPack said:

    me too
    Stillhere,

    I am glad you are still here. I hope to be too. I am still in treatment and hysterectomy will be one year January 28, 2009.

    I too have enlarged veins and I know it is from the chemo (was never like that before) which my last was in August. Now that I am on Hexalen (pill form) it should not have anything to do with my veins. But veins on back of hands are big and inside of arms, plus feet and legs too.

    I will ask my doctor about it on Thursday to see what she says. Sometimes it seems like there are side effects that are not listed, like the lower back pain, etc.

    In His Grip,
    Libby

    Varicose veins
    Thanks for all the feed back to my question. It is so great to have people who really understand to explore these mysteries with! I'll be interested in what your doctor thinks Libby. I will be seeing my gyn/onc in a couple of months and will see what he thinks, too. I guess the chemo drugs are so strong that they can't tell you about all the possible side effects. I'll take enlarged veins over the cancer any day.

    Sondra
  • groundeffect
    groundeffect Member Posts: 639 Member
    #8
    Veins
    Hi stillhere,

    Congratulations on your five year survival!

    I suspect your vein problem is naturally occuring, but you should certainly talk to a doctor about it. We all look to our cancer and the treatments when some new problem comes along, but only a doctor will be able to tell you what's going on with your veins.

    I had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in my legs that cropped up before my diagnosis; I learned that it can be a symptom of lower-body cancer. Despite the DVT, and the stress it put on my legs, and chemo, I have no varicose veins, and only a few spider veins.
  • harrybrown44
    harrybrown44 Member Posts: 1
    #9
    groundeffect said:

    Veins
    Hi stillhere,

    Congratulations on your five year survival!

    I suspect your vein problem is naturally occuring, but you should certainly talk to a doctor about it. We all look to our cancer and the treatments when some new problem comes along, but only a doctor will be able to tell you what's going on with your veins.

    I had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in my legs that cropped up before my diagnosis; I learned that it can be a symptom of lower-body cancer. Despite the DVT, and the stress it put on my legs, and chemo, I have no varicose veins, and only a few spider veins.

    varicose veins in arms
    I have experienced varicose veins where the chemo needles were inserted; the nurses tell me this is not so uncommon and at times the hardening runs up the arm. No remedy mentionned.

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