Chemotherapy can impact your veins and bruise egos.
BY Ryan Hamner
PUBLISHED March 14, 2018
Ryan Hamner is a four-time survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma, a musician and a writer. In 2011, he wrote and recorded, "Where Hope Lives" for the American Cancer Society and the song for survivors, "Survivors Survive" used in 2015 for #WorldCancerDay. Currently, he operates his website for those affected by cancer, 2surviveonline.com and drinks a ridiculous amount of coffee per day.
"I'm a very hard stick," I told the nurse.
"I've been doing this for years," she replied confidently, with a smile of course.
"Yeah, I've been doing this for years, too," I thought to myself. Two nurses and five sticks later, I had an IV in my arm. But why? Why does it keep happening like this?
Well, the first reason the repetitive sticking keeps happening is because chemotherapy brutalizes veins, turns them funny colors and makes them curvy and just, well, plain weird looking. Mine veins are horrible. As are many survivors who have had chemotherapy. I've had little kids ask me about the "pickle-looking things" on my arm. I've never quite imagined anything on my arm looking like pickles, but kids, ya know?
The second reason I get needled and poked so much is because, well, folks don't always listen. Look, if you're confident in your ability to get an IV, that's awesome. I am sure that you do a good job with many other people who have bad veins. However, I'm not here for the beer story later. "So then this dude told me he was a hard stick because of chemo and that's when I... " Which reminds of a story.
"I've been doing this for years," she replied confidently, with a smile of course.
"Yeah, I've been doing this for years, too," I thought to myself. Two nurses and five sticks later, I had an IV in my arm. But why? Why does it keep happening like this?
Well, the first reason the repetitive sticking keeps happening is because chemotherapy brutalizes veins, turns them funny colors and makes them curvy and just, well, plain weird looking. Mine veins are horrible. As are many survivors who have had chemotherapy. I've had little kids ask me about the "pickle-looking things" on my arm. I've never quite imagined anything on my arm looking like pickles, but kids, ya know?
The second reason I get needled and poked so much is because, well, folks don't always listen. Look, if you're confident in your ability to get an IV, that's awesome. I am sure that you do a good job with many other people who have bad veins. However, I'm not here for the beer story later. "So then this dude told me he was a hard stick because of chemo and that's when I... " Which reminds of a story.
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