Changes in provision of chemotherapy have made it impossible to recruit patients according to the protocol

Female patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer often experience pain and discomfort when a peripheral venous catheter is inserted.

This randomized, controlled trial investigates whether there is a difference in the degree of pain during PVC insertion in patients who exercise their arms, and whether exercise improves vein status.

Participation involves:

• Everyone must have had their peripheral venous catheter (PVC) inserted at least five times in the DROP-IN, which is an outpatient clinic staffed by anesthesia nurses who are specialists in applying PVCs.
• Everyone will three times be asked to answer some questions in the DROP-IN, have their grip strength measured in both hands, and have the course of the veins in their arms clarified.
• The training group must do arm training exercises daily for at least eight weeks (training equipment is provided)
• Ten participants will at the end of the project period be invited to participate in a telephone interview about experiences of vein status during a cancer treatment course.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Planned neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy via intravenous peripheral venous cannula placed under ultrasound guidance
• PVC insertion is performed in the DROP-IN outpatient clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, Vejle Hospital, at least four times
• The patient has provided written and orally informed consent
• The patient must be cognitively well preserved and able to understand information

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who cannot read and understand Danish
• Patients <18 years

The anaesthesia nurses inserting PVCs and registering data are blinded to the participants' study allocation.