Ring finger swollen

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4thefather
4thefather Member Posts: 187
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
Ring finger swollen
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  • 4thefather
    4thefather Member Posts: 187
    edited September 2008

    Hi all,

    My left ring finger is swollen since treatment yesterday. I had to slick up my finger to remove my wedding rings. Now I can't put them back on because the swelling is still there 24 hours after removing my rings. It is the only finger I wear rings on, so I don't know if my other fingers are swollen or not. Also, my thumb and index finger nails really are sore and they are hard to use for much where I have to use the nail.

    Anyway, I don't want to walk around for the next 7 weeks without my wedding rings on. Is there anything I can do about this?

    Cathie

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  • 4thefather
    4thefather Member Posts: 187
    edited September 2008

    I am guessing that no one else is dealing with this? I just put my ring on again and it was uncomfortable to wear because of the swelling. I want to wear my rings and feel naked without them.

    Cathie

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited September 2008

    Cathie, I don't know if my fingers have swollen or not. My rings were always tight and because of the risk of lympehdema after my bilat surgery, I took them off and had them enlarged slightly so they are not constricting but fit comfortably. If you wear constricting jewlery on the arm where you had lymph nodes removed, you are at risk for lymphedema. I have gone from a tight leather watch band to a bangle style watch that will slide around my arm.

    Sheila

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  • priz47
    priz47 Member Posts: 470
    edited September 2008

    What treatment did you get? I have not put my rings back on yet, as i am afraid to. My gingers do not fele swollen. Is it just your fingers or your hand/arm too?

    D

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  • 4thefather
    4thefather Member Posts: 187
    edited September 2008

    I am currently on Taxol and Herceptin. I had my 5th dose on Tuesday. I had a right mastectomy and lymph node removal. These are my wedding rings on my left hand that I have had on all through my surgery, AC and now Taxol. I noticed a little bit of swelling last treatment, but nothing like this. I am also having slight burning of the palms of both hands and my thumb and index finger nails are really sore on both hands.

    Cathie

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited September 2008

    Cathie, the taxanes (Taxol and Taxotere) are known to cause fluid retention.  Sometimes it can become a serious health risk, if the fluid accumulates in the lungs.  For most of us, the worst problem we get is puffiness in our fingers and hands, and in our ankles and feet.   One reason why dexamethasone (Decadron) is prescribed along with the taxanes is to help reduce the fluid retention.

    As for your rings, I doubt there is much you can do except to wear them on a gold chain around your neck or leave them in your jewelry box until you're finished with chemo.  I am currently wearing my wedding ring on my "pinkie" finger, because I have a problem with transient (and fortunately, mild) lymphedema in that hand and arm.  I had swelling of my hands for about 18 hours after each infusion of Taxotere & Cytoxan, and also around 18-21 days after my last infusion.  Not wearing your rings for the time being is better than having to get them cut off by a jeweler.

    You should call your onco about the swelling, the burning feeling in the palms of your hands, and the soreness of your fingernails.  Those are all SE's of Taxol and Taxotere, and they can get worse with each subsequent treatment.

    otter 

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  • 4thefather
    4thefather Member Posts: 187
    edited September 2008

    Thanks otter. The side effects, which I know are accumulative, were much worse this time. I have been dealing with pain in my knees the last few days. I have osteoarthritis in my knees, left worse than right, and it has been quite painful and swollen the last 2 days. I have a doc appt on Tuesday and I will mention all of this at the appointment. They may have to lower my dose or something.

    Cathie

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited September 2008

    Cathie,


    I have to wear my wedding rings on my RIGHT hand, because I had an idiot chemo nurse put a Neulasta shot in my LEFT arm, which had lymph nodes removed, so... about two weeks later, I woke up with an extremely swollen left hand!  MOST of the swelling has gone down, after I had an LE therapist massage the hand and arm, but even so, my fingers are still kinda fat, not that others would notice, but my rings won't fit anymore...

    Hugs,

    Harley

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