Taxol Leakage

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cindyn1210
cindyn1210 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Yesterday I received my last Taxol treatment. The nurse did not put the
needle in well nor did she stay for the 15 minutes to ensure there were no
side effects or check on me once during the 3 hours of treatment.It took a
couple of tries as she missed the vein and did not secure it well with tape
(I even questioned her on it). Ultimately, the taxol did leak and was not
discovered until the 3 hours were up (I had a sweater covering my arm as
the room was quite cold). My arm was quite swelled up and the head nurse
immediately applied heat, told me to later apply cold, keep the arm
elevated and that I would be experiencing pain and discoloration. I
started reading up on this and it looks like at best it will be black and
blue, good chance of blisters and that there would be tissue damage. Is
this permanent? What other measures should I take if any? I am very
disappointed with Sloan Kettering and the way this was dealt with.

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  • Cindy Bear
    Cindy Bear Member Posts: 569
    #2
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    Serious
    Hello. I am sorry to hear you had this experience. I don't know if this is permanent or not, and I think Taxol is less toxic than some of the other chemos, but this happened to a former coworker's mother. She was being treated for BC, not sure what meds she was on. Something leaked from her Port? I believe they didn't put it in right or something and that tissue was permanently discolored and damaged and caused her mother a lot of grief. I am not trying to scare you but have someone take pictures and make sure this "little mishap" is noted in your medical records. Get a copy of your medical records. If you do continue to have long term, permanent damage you want documentation .
  • Mariannemm
    Mariannemm Member Posts: 136
    #3
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    Cindy Bear said:

    Serious
    Hello. I am sorry to hear you had this experience. I don't know if this is permanent or not, and I think Taxol is less toxic than some of the other chemos, but this happened to a former coworker's mother. She was being treated for BC, not sure what meds she was on. Something leaked from her Port? I believe they didn't put it in right or something and that tissue was permanently discolored and damaged and caused her mother a lot of grief. I am not trying to scare you but have someone take pictures and make sure this "little mishap" is noted in your medical records. Get a copy of your medical records. If you do continue to have long term, permanent damage you want documentation .

    AC Leakage
    On my very 1st chemo treatment last Feb. 1st I had my AC leak onto my skin. The nurse saw it right away and began procedure to correct it. I had to be on a course of medication for 3 days thru an IV drip that took 3 hours. I believe it was called Tactoe, not spelled that way I am sure. They took pictures of the spot everytime I was in there. I didn't have a port or a PICC line at that point. After that I went in and got a PICC line! I was told that there could be tissue damage and that it would be there forever if I got that. I have not had any problems with that area at all. I am sure with the quick action and the extra medicine they gave me made a difference. I feel that the nurse made an innocence mistake when she put in the IV and she felt so bad for what she had done. What is interesting is I have never had her again. I don't know if they do that on purpose or not, but with all the chemo I have had she has been there but never been my nurse again. She comes over to me once in awhile and checks on my and always says Hi. It feaked me out to say the least but at least I didn't have any lasting problems with it! I have 2 more Taxol treatments to go. I get it weekly I haven't had any allergic reactions to it so far. I can't wait to get this PICC line out, hopefully as soon as I am done on June 21st they will let me have it removed! Good Luck Cindy!
  • zprider
    zprider Member Posts: 6
    #4
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    So sorry to hear about your
    So sorry to hear about your leak. When they did my first Taxol treatment, I had a nurse that had been my babysitter when I was little. It was very comforting to know her cause I was very scared. They suggested I put in a port. I was so glad I did. No poking in the arms every week. Much safer for my veins.
    I would suggest talking to the patient advocate all medical facilities have. Getting it on record with the Management that you were not happy with the treatment or with how the nurse handled it.
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #5
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    zprider said:

    So sorry to hear about your
    So sorry to hear about your leak. When they did my first Taxol treatment, I had a nurse that had been my babysitter when I was little. It was very comforting to know her cause I was very scared. They suggested I put in a port. I was so glad I did. No poking in the arms every week. Much safer for my veins.
    I would suggest talking to the patient advocate all medical facilities have. Getting it on record with the Management that you were not happy with the treatment or with how the nurse handled it.

    I am sorry
    for your situation. I think you should report this to your oncologist. If you have concerns, pain, or discomfort please call your oncologist.
    Wishing you the best.
    New Flower
  • Hubby
    Hubby Member Posts: 325
    #6
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    Which Sloan
    Is this Sloan in Manhattan? My wife is set to start chemo at Sloan in Commack in a week and a half. Just wondering. Sorry you had to go through this.
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #7
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    Hubby said:

    Which Sloan
    Is this Sloan in Manhattan? My wife is set to start chemo at Sloan in Commack in a week and a half. Just wondering. Sorry you had to go through this.

    I know I was told by one of
    I know I was told by one of my nurses, that they like the port, because there is less chance of this happening. However, I was still checked on every I don't know half hour or so. Always checking blood pressure and stuff. My first Taxol treatment which was also with herceptin, the nurse sat with me for about 20 min or so to make sure I was ok. Kept asking if I was feeling any different. I would call my doctor, better play it safe than be sorry. Gosh, so sorry you have to go through this to.
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #8
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    chemo leakage
    Hi Cindy, I had the Adriamycin blow a vein, and it pooled into a lump under my skin. The nurse tried pushing it back out before it spread, but after three years, I still have what looks like a bruise on the back of my hand. The tissue underneath is non existant, but there isnt a lot on the back of the hand anyways. There is no pain, or any other issues except what looks like a permanent bruise.
    Before this happened, they had already tried a picc (they couldn't find the vein), and the port (it never worked), so we had to go for a picc again before they would give me any more treatments.
    Good luck with the rest of yours.
    Cat
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #9
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    Cindy Bear said:

    Serious
    Hello. I am sorry to hear you had this experience. I don't know if this is permanent or not, and I think Taxol is less toxic than some of the other chemos, but this happened to a former coworker's mother. She was being treated for BC, not sure what meds she was on. Something leaked from her Port? I believe they didn't put it in right or something and that tissue was permanently discolored and damaged and caused her mother a lot of grief. I am not trying to scare you but have someone take pictures and make sure this "little mishap" is noted in your medical records. Get a copy of your medical records. If you do continue to have long term, permanent damage you want documentation .

    Cindy, I am so sorry this
    Cindy, I am so sorry this happened to you. I wish I could offer you more advice, but, wanted you to know that I am sending you prayers and hugs today!
  • Chrispea
    Chrispea Member Posts: 123 Member
    #10
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    I had a nurse put it in and
    I had a nurse put it in and it didn't work, so she had to take it out and do it again. Luckily it was discovered within 15 minutes.

    I had taxotere, and it burned me twice, once is each hand. My skin actually had scabs on it. It all healed up and the scar is fading. This was back in February. I can see a faint scar on my left had, but my right hand is OK.

    For my last infusion, I demanded that they mix that stuff with lots of saline and I didn't get a burn.

    Sometimes we need to be our own advocate. We know what's best. We need to speak up. If that ever happens again, God forbid, demand that someone take a look.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #11
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    So sorry this even happened
    So sorry this even happened to you Cindy. How are you doing now?


    Sue :)

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