The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Community: Message List - red dots on back of hand?

Re: red dots on back of hand?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:03:24 GMT

It is probably the spleen as it returns to normal size. It does not need to be swollen to the point of being able to feel it by hand to be stretched out of shape. The pain does not necessarily mean it is swelling, so the pain can occur as it recedes as well, although more of a dull ache than sharp pain. That was my experience as my spleen shrank back.

The small platelets do not clot as well, so capillary bleeding can occur even if the quantity is adequate. So the absolute platelet count does not always mean properly functioning platelets. The platelets can be more "slippery" (actually less jagged) due to a combination of the CML and TKI drug.

These issues should decrease or go away over time as the blood quality improves (cell sizes, shapes, quantities, etc). It can take some time (maybe well over a year) for overall blood quality to return to normal.

Re: red dots on back of hand?

communityreply@lls.org — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:45:21 GMT

Sometimes I get bruises on my fingers from what I think is a blood vessel "popping". I'll be doing something fairly innocuous with my hands, and then I'll notice it swell up later (it doesn't really hurt at all). Then it turns into an impressive purple-ly finger bruise. Not sure why it happens, but it doesn't seem to be a problem...

Re: red dots on back of hand?

communityreply@lls.org — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:09:09 GMT

The bruise does look a little bit different , I guess it is more reddish. I also get blotchy skin to on my chest but it goes away fast. I guess these things are common .

Re: red dots on back of hand?

communityreply@lls.org — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:48:51 GMT

I had dots for months after starting Tasigna, on my hands, arms, chest, legs. Lately, my skin seems to be better except that sometimes my chest is bright red as if someone slapped me.

Re: red dots on back of hand?

tex_silver@yahoo.com — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:53:29 GMT

Great, sounds like your doc knew best, which is normally the case.

Is the bruise on your finger dark purple or more like a bright purple kinda leaning to red? Petichiae seems to tend to the latter.

Blessings

Re: red dots on back of hand?

communityreply@lls.org — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:45:10 GMT

well I woke up today and its almost gone. I do have a bruise on my finger on that hand. I was putting logs on a bonfire the night before they showed up so I guess that makes sense. But I don't rememmber hurting myself or anything. I haven't had any problems with bruising easily like Iv'e read others have had, not that easily anyways. I am learning and getting use to this, thanks for sharing.

Re: red dots on back of hand?

communityreply@lls.org — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:46:23 GMT

I am on G for 2 yrs now and I have been getting the petichiea on my palms lately. Softball season just started and I spent the weekend building and painting a shed in my yard. I just figured the abuse my hands have been taking is causing the little capilaries to break. I know it can be scary when a new symptom appears but luckily this is a pretty minor one with no real consequence.

Heather

Re: red dots on back of hand?

communityreply@lls.org — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:37:01 GMT

Thanks everyone for the info. I appreciate it. It can make you worried sometimes wondering what could be causing these things. It pretty scary to actually see things like this. It's reassuring to hear others have had this and r ok. Iv'e never had this happen before and don't know when to be concerned or not. I know the sprycel and cml have side effects and symptoms but the dots look so serious and scary.This is a great site, I don't usually like doing alot on the computer but this is a helpful site and am happy to have found it.

Re: red dots on back of hand?

communityreply@lls.org — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:18:20 GMT

I had the red dots at first when I was on Hydrea to get my WBC down. They were on my hands and arms, but mainly just on the elbows. I talked to the Onc and he recommended some Benadryl and hydrocortisone cream. The dots were gone in a few days. I think it may have been an isolated allergic reaction due to the change of season, possibly helped along by a weakened immune system from the meds. Thats just my guess, though. I had never had an issue with them before.

Re: red dots on back of hand?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:15:12 GMT

Good, it sounds like it's not spleen so it could be anything! (Even something unrelated to CML or our TKIs and you know how rarily we think something like that happens!)

Good luck, it's probably nothing to worry about.

Pat