Medical Oncologist
Your first cycle
Will I feel anything during the infusion?
For most people, no. The needle into the vein or port is a short sharp moment, and after that the infusion itself is usually not felt at all. Some sensations are ordinary — coolness up the arm, a taste in the mouth, drowsiness from the pre-medication. The one exception is pain, burning or swelling at the drip site, which needs the nurse immediately.
NG
Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh GunduConsultant Medical Oncologist · MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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The short answer
Does the chemotherapy hurt going in?
For most people, no. The needle going into the vein or the port is a short sharp moment, and after that the infusion itself is usually not felt at all. People sit, read, sleep or talk through it. The dramatic version that most people arrive expecting does not happen.
Some sensations are ordinary and not a cause for concern — a coolness travelling up the arm, a taste in the mouth, a blocked nose, or feeling drowsy. Most of the drowsiness comes from the pre-medication rather than the chemotherapy.
The one thing to watch
Pain, burning or swelling at the site where the drip enters. That is the exception to everything else on this page, and it needs the nurse immediately rather than at the end of the bag. It can mean the drug is leaking into the tissue around the vein.
Press the call bell rather than waiting for someone to walk past. This is exactly what it is for.
!
Tell the nurse straight away, during the infusion
Pain, burning, stinging, swelling or redness at the drip site · breathlessness or a tight chest · a rash, flushing, itching or hives · a swollen face, lips or tongue · feeling suddenly hot, faint or very unwell · pain in the back, stomach or chest · shivering or feeling feverish · the drip site becoming cool or leaking. Press the call bell. Reactions are uncommon, they are dealt with quickly, and the nurses are watching for exactly this.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistSorting it out
Ordinary sensations, and ones to report
Usually nothing to worry about
Tell the nurse now
A cool feeling travelling up the arm
Pain, burning or stinging at the drip site
A metallic or odd taste in the mouth
A swollen face, lips or tongue
Feeling drowsy or falling asleep
Feeling faint, or suddenly very unwell
A blocked or runny nose
Breathlessness or a tight chest
Mild tiredness or heaviness
Shivering, or feeling feverish
Needing the toilet often, with extra fluids
A rash, flushing or itching anywhere
What people describe
The sensations that surprise people
All of these are common enough to be worth knowing about in advance, so they are not alarming when they happen.
Coolness in the arm
The fluid is at room temperature and your blood is warmer, so it can feel cold moving up the vein. Very common, harmless, and it settles. A blanket or a warm cloth on the arm helps.
Different from
- Burning or stinging, which needs the nurse
A taste in the mouth
Metallic, salty or simply odd, sometimes starting within moments. Sucking a mint or a boiled sweet, or sipping cool water, usually settles it.
Drowsiness
Mostly from the pre-medication given before the chemotherapy rather than from the chemotherapy itself. Many people sleep through a large part of the infusion, which is fine.
This is why driving yourself home is usually not a good idea.A blocked nose or watery eyes
Some drugs cause this as they go in. It is harmless and settles. Mention it anyway, so the nurse knows what you are experiencing.
Needing the toilet often
You are receiving fluid as well as medicine, and some schedules include extra fluids deliberately. The drip stand has wheels — ask, and the nurse will help you move.
Nothing at all
The commonest experience by some distance. Many people are surprised that a treatment they feared so much is, in the chair, an uneventful few hours of sitting still.
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Afterwards
When side effects actually start
Not usually in the chair. Most people leave the unit feeling much as they arrived, and the effects appear over the following days. This catches families out, because the first evening often goes well and the expectation is that the worst is over.
The usual pattern
Sickness, if it comes, tends to appear within the first day or two. Tiredness builds over the following days. Mouth soreness and low blood counts come later in the cycle, and hair loss later still. Ask your team what to expect and when for your own schedule.
Take the anti-sickness medicine anyway
Even if you feel fine that evening. These work preventively, on the schedule you were given, and stopping because nothing has happened yet is the commonest reason a plan fails. Set alarms before you leave the hospital.
Know who to call
Before you go home, make sure you have the number for out-of-hours advice and know which hospital you would go to at night. A fever after chemotherapy is an emergency, and that decision is far easier made in advance than at two in the morning.
Ask before leaving: when should I expect to feel worst, and what should make me call you?Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you how your infusion will feel. Drugs differ considerably — some are given quickly and some over several hours, some cause sensations as they run and some none at all. Your team can tell you what is expected with your particular schedule.
It also cannot tell you whether a sensation you are having is ordinary. That is what the nurse in the room is for, and there is no such thing as bothering them unnecessarily during an infusion. Saying something turns out to be nothing far more often than it turns out to matter, and that is the right ratio.
What to do next
Ask before your first cycle how long the infusion runs and what sensations are expected. Ask where the call bell is. Arrange a lift home rather than driving. And before you leave, get the out-of-hours number and ask what should make you call.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about the infusion itself
Will the drip hurt?
The needle going in is a short sharp moment, and after that most people feel nothing from the infusion itself. Pain, burning or stinging at the site during the infusion is different and should be reported immediately, because it can mean the drug is leaking outside the vein.
Why do I feel cold in that arm?
The fluid is at room temperature and your blood is warmer, so it feels cool travelling up the vein. It is common and harmless. A blanket, or a warm cloth over the arm, usually settles it — ask the nurse rather than sitting uncomfortably.
Why am I so sleepy during the infusion?
Mostly the pre-medication rather than the chemotherapy. Anti-sickness medicines and antihistamines given beforehand make many people drowsy, and sleeping through part of the session is entirely normal. It is also why driving yourself home is usually a bad idea.
Can I use the toilet while it is running?
Yes. The drip stand has wheels and the nurse will help you unplug and move. You may need to go more often than usual because you are receiving fluid as well as medicine. Do not sit uncomfortably rather than asking — this happens constantly.
How will I know if I am having a reaction?
Breathlessness, a tight chest, a rash, flushing, itching, a swollen face or lips, feeling suddenly hot or very unwell, or pain in the back or chest. Press the call bell immediately. Reactions are uncommon, and units are set up to deal with them quickly.
Will I feel ill before I leave?
Most people do not. The effects usually appear over the following days rather than in the chair, which catches families out because the first evening often goes well. Take the anti-sickness medicine on schedule anyway, starting before anything happens.
Can I eat or drink during the infusion?
Usually yes, and most people find it easier to keep something small going through the hours. Ask the nurse when you arrive, since units differ on food at the chair, and take your own snacks and water in case nothing is open.
Is it safe to be around my family afterwards?
Yes — normal contact, including hugging children, is fine. Your team may give specific advice about bathroom hygiene for a short period after treatment, since the drugs are cleared in urine and other fluids. Follow what they tell you, and ask if you were not given anything.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
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Sources
- Cancer Research UK — Having chemotherapy
- National Cancer Institute — Chemotherapy to Treat Cancer
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Having chemotherapy
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
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