Anti-Cancer Therapy Supportive Care Medications
Lidocaine Prilocaine (EMLA) Cream
Please review the following education for using EMLA cream before your first treatment visit.
What is EMLA Cream?
You will be getting a prescription for Lidocaine Prilocaine (EMLA) Cream before your first treatment. If you do not receive this prescription, please call your providers office to request. Lidocaine Prilocaine Cream (EMLA) is a topical numbing cream that will numb the skin covering your port-a-cath so you will not feel the needle pinch when the needle is inserted into your port-a-cath.
When Do I apply EMLA Cream?
You should apply the cream 30 minutes to 1 hour before your blood work appointment on days of anti-cancer treatment. If you still have steri-strips in place, you can remove them before applying the cream. DO NOT apply cream to healing surgical incision or open wounds.
How Do I Apply EMLA Cream?
1. Wash your hands.
2. Open the tube (You may need to use the backside of the cap to break the seal on a new tube).
3. Squeeze a quarter-sized amount directly onto the port-a-cath “bump” on your chest. There should be a circular, visible layer of cream over your port-a-cath. Do not rub in the cream. See picture A & B below.
4. Cover the cream using a non-stick dressing or plastic wrap and tape, if needed. DO NOT use gauze or band-aids. They will absorb the cream. See picture C below.
5. Wash your hands to remove any cream. If it accidentally gets in your eyes, ears, nose, or mouth, rinse the area thoroughly with water right away.
