My mother has NSCLC/ Stage IV and was until very recently doing ALIMTA maintenance. Four months ago the nurse injected ALIMTA between her middle finger and since then the first segment of her middle finger is very sensitive and swollen. One side of the nail became dark with blood. At times it gets worse : swollen, very red, extremely painful. The doctor already prescribed 4 curses of antibiotics but it never resolves completely, the tenterness and redness subside but never disappears. I was wondering if the drug could've leaked into the tissue of her finger. Is it common to inject a chemo drug between the fingers? What could be done if leakage occurred?
It is very debilitating and she is miserable with pain. I would greatly appreciate any suggestion.
Lucia
Is Alimta a vesicant? - 1255999
lucia
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Reply # - April 28, 2013, 04:52 PM
Reply To: Is Alimta a vesicant?
It is very uncommon to give chemo between the fingers -- I've never seen or heard of it being given through a very small vein like that. Alimta (pemetrexed) isn't a particularly severe vesicant, but I can't say what would happen if it were given through a tiny vein.
It might be helpful to have her see a wound specialist for recommendations on options at this point.
Good luck.
-Dr. West
Reply # - April 28, 2013, 05:26 PM
Reply To: Is Alimta a vesicant?
Thank you very much for your response. We thought the site of injection was very strange to say the least. They were treating it as a bacterial infection and now are giving her anti-fungal medication. Nothing seems to help. She never had any fever.
Thank you again.
Lucia