Freaking out about the port! Help

rodripa9
rodripa9 Member Posts: 28
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hey guys! My sister had a port inserted today and she thinks she may have two one above her rt.nipple and the other in the standard clavicle area. She's waiting to feel a little less groggy to call her doctor and ask "what the hey" is going on, since she wasn't expecting two. I'm not there I can't see what she's talking about. Has anyone had two? Is this normal? I'm 5 seconds away from getting on a plane and going to FL. If it wasn't raining so bad in Chicago right now I think I would have already left. HELP! Freaking out over here!
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Comments

  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #2
    rodripa.......
    I'm by no means an expert on ports, but I have not heard of a port being placed on a breast. Only in the clavicle area.

    CR
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    #3
    I have not heard of having 2
    I have not heard of having 2 ports inserted, it might just be the kind of port she has.
    i have a power port which just gives me the one bump. Maybe you should call the dr for her, to find out what is going on, that way not only do you know what is going on at all times but then you can explain to her, and give comfort at the same time
    tjhay
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #4
    Hmmmmmmm
    Nope...above the clavicle is where mine was...when she is less groggy I know she call the Dr,to put her ( and your!) mind/heart at ease. And even if her Dr has gone home for the day, the on-call Dr will talk with her and he or she will certainly know~ especially if they have her chart! Don't worry! (I know, easy for me to say, huh??)

    You have me interested in this now~ please let us know what your sister finds out!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • rodripa9
    rodripa9 Member Posts: 28
    #5
    tjhay said:

    I have not heard of having 2
    I have not heard of having 2 ports inserted, it might just be the kind of port she has.
    i have a power port which just gives me the one bump. Maybe you should call the dr for her, to find out what is going on, that way not only do you know what is going on at all times but then you can explain to her, and give comfort at the same time
    tjhay

    Thanks Guys
    Hey tjhay! That is exactly what I'm going to do. It just doesn't make any sense and I don't know if she's just to groggy to really explain things or what! AHHHH
  • rodripa9
    rodripa9 Member Posts: 28
    #6
    chenheart said:

    Hmmmmmmm
    Nope...above the clavicle is where mine was...when she is less groggy I know she call the Dr,to put her ( and your!) mind/heart at ease. And even if her Dr has gone home for the day, the on-call Dr will talk with her and he or she will certainly know~ especially if they have her chart! Don't worry! (I know, easy for me to say, huh??)

    You have me interested in this now~ please let us know what your sister finds out!

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    Thanks
    I will keep everyone posted on her progress!
  • Terri5
    Terri5 Member Posts: 24
    #7
    Maybe the 'port' that is by
    Maybe the 'port' that is by the nipple is actually a drainage tube. With her still being groggy, she could just be confused.
  • rush361
    rush361 Member Posts: 14
    #8
    Port placement
    I just got my Power port put in yesterday and it is right by the clavicle. I do have another cut above it where they positioned the tube that goes into the juggler vein. It isn't near the breast though. She should have had a pre-op session that went over all the details about the port and the procedure. Sorry to hear she is so in the dark.
  • rodripa9
    rodripa9 Member Posts: 28
    #9
    rush361 said:

    Port placement
    I just got my Power port put in yesterday and it is right by the clavicle. I do have another cut above it where they positioned the tube that goes into the juggler vein. It isn't near the breast though. She should have had a pre-op session that went over all the details about the port and the procedure. Sorry to hear she is so in the dark.

    She's sending me a pic
    She's still freaking out. She's sending me a picture. She got a Smartport CT. She insists that the port is above her nipple not her clavicle. But she hasn't really looked at it. She's calling her doctor right now to ask about other stuff and she's sending me a pic so now that she actually looks at it she might be less confused.
  • 1surfermom
    1surfermom Member Posts: 396 Member
    #10
    rush361 said:

    Port placement
    I just got my Power port put in yesterday and it is right by the clavicle. I do have another cut above it where they positioned the tube that goes into the juggler vein. It isn't near the breast though. She should have had a pre-op session that went over all the details about the port and the procedure. Sorry to hear she is so in the dark.

    Port
    My port is in my right breast ( my bc is in my left breast.) My surgeon placed it for aesthetic and practical reasons. When I wear a V neck or open neck shirt you can not see my port, for the the practical reason it makes it much more comfortable to drive without the seatbelt pressing on the port. Tell your sister the positioning of the port in the breast is sort of like being upside down compared to the conventional placement. I don't know about having two ports the placement may be like mine. The placement of the port in my breast is kind of a pain, but I've gotten used to it. I hope this helps.Keep us informed if she is having any problems. Love Surf
  • rodripa9
    rodripa9 Member Posts: 28
    #11
    1surfermom said:

    Port
    My port is in my right breast ( my bc is in my left breast.) My surgeon placed it for aesthetic and practical reasons. When I wear a V neck or open neck shirt you can not see my port, for the the practical reason it makes it much more comfortable to drive without the seatbelt pressing on the port. Tell your sister the positioning of the port in the breast is sort of like being upside down compared to the conventional placement. I don't know about having two ports the placement may be like mine. The placement of the port in my breast is kind of a pain, but I've gotten used to it. I hope this helps.Keep us informed if she is having any problems. Love Surf

    This is why I love you gals
    This is exactly what she's feeling! She expected it to be by her clavicle which is standard. So I just talked to her and said "ok relax and tell me exactly what you feel." From what i think she's describing it sounds like the port is on her rt.breast and the other stuff she's feeling is the actual catheter under her skin. I'm still waiting for the pic. But with your post I'm feeling a little more relieved. Thank you so much.
  • 1surfermom
    1surfermom Member Posts: 396 Member
    #12
    rodripa9 said:

    This is why I love you gals
    This is exactly what she's feeling! She expected it to be by her clavicle which is standard. So I just talked to her and said "ok relax and tell me exactly what you feel." From what i think she's describing it sounds like the port is on her rt.breast and the other stuff she's feeling is the actual catheter under her skin. I'm still waiting for the pic. But with your post I'm feeling a little more relieved. Thank you so much.

    Port
    No problem, you are very welcome. Surf
  • 1surfermom
    1surfermom Member Posts: 396 Member
    #13
    rodripa9 said:

    This is why I love you gals
    This is exactly what she's feeling! She expected it to be by her clavicle which is standard. So I just talked to her and said "ok relax and tell me exactly what you feel." From what i think she's describing it sounds like the port is on her rt.breast and the other stuff she's feeling is the actual catheter under her skin. I'm still waiting for the pic. But with your post I'm feeling a little more relieved. Thank you so much.

    Port
    No problem, you are very welcome. Surf
  • rodripa9
    rodripa9 Member Posts: 28
    #14
    1surfermom said:

    Port
    No problem, you are very welcome. Surf

    The picture is making things worst
    Ok so I saw the pictures and I see no port just stitches. She has a little bump by the clavicle and a scar about an inch long right above the nipple? No port in sight! She says she feels something inside, but isn't something suppose to be sticking outside or do they attach that later? I'm really confused now. Shes in a lot of pain, when the meds wear off. Why would she have a scar so close to her nipple? Doesn't that sound weird? It seriously is bigger then her lumpectomy scar. No drains, no port nothing! She's going to go see her doc tomorrow.
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    #15
    rodripa9 said:

    The picture is making things worst
    Ok so I saw the pictures and I see no port just stitches. She has a little bump by the clavicle and a scar about an inch long right above the nipple? No port in sight! She says she feels something inside, but isn't something suppose to be sticking outside or do they attach that later? I'm really confused now. Shes in a lot of pain, when the meds wear off. Why would she have a scar so close to her nipple? Doesn't that sound weird? It seriously is bigger then her lumpectomy scar. No drains, no port nothing! She's going to go see her doc tomorrow.

    the port
    the port is under the skin, when they accsess it it is with a needle, and they remove that when chemo is dont.
    tjhay
  • rodripa9
    rodripa9 Member Posts: 28
    #16
    tjhay said:

    the port
    the port is under the skin, when they accsess it it is with a needle, and they remove that when chemo is dont.
    tjhay

    I'm sorry
    I really am sorry for all of this freaking out. I usually am pretty calm and collected. Every picture I saw up to now had something actually sticking out of the skin, like an IV. No wonder when I saw a girl on youtube about to get a treatment all I saw was a small scar on her clavicle, so I just assumed I was watching the wrong thing and closed it out. So the small bump must be the port and the scar over the nipple must be where they put it in through? She's fast asleep now, while I'm still worried. Tomorrow is a new day! Well today was enough for me to convince myself that one more week spent in FL w/my sister is not going to take away from prepping for school on Aug.11. I'm leaving Sunday to surprise her for her 1st chemo. Then she'll be on her own for #2-4. If she's feeling well enough I might take her to Orlando to help her shop for a wig. She's set on getting one, she deals with people on a daily basis for work and she doesn't want to have to explain herself every time. Sorry this got longer then I was expecting it too. Just venting! She's scared, I'm scared, my hubbies mom didn't survive this (even though it's been 11 years, it's still fresh for him)so talking to him is out. He's actually being great about it all. He's the one that told me he's driving me down Sunday to be with her.
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #17
    rodripa9 said:

    I'm sorry
    I really am sorry for all of this freaking out. I usually am pretty calm and collected. Every picture I saw up to now had something actually sticking out of the skin, like an IV. No wonder when I saw a girl on youtube about to get a treatment all I saw was a small scar on her clavicle, so I just assumed I was watching the wrong thing and closed it out. So the small bump must be the port and the scar over the nipple must be where they put it in through? She's fast asleep now, while I'm still worried. Tomorrow is a new day! Well today was enough for me to convince myself that one more week spent in FL w/my sister is not going to take away from prepping for school on Aug.11. I'm leaving Sunday to surprise her for her 1st chemo. Then she'll be on her own for #2-4. If she's feeling well enough I might take her to Orlando to help her shop for a wig. She's set on getting one, she deals with people on a daily basis for work and she doesn't want to have to explain herself every time. Sorry this got longer then I was expecting it too. Just venting! She's scared, I'm scared, my hubbies mom didn't survive this (even though it's been 11 years, it's still fresh for him)so talking to him is out. He's actually being great about it all. He's the one that told me he's driving me down Sunday to be with her.

    The port is about the size
    The port is about the size of a quarter, or a watchface...it is UNDER the skin, and is usually visible as "something" obvious, but not on the OUTSIDE. For chemo and blood draws, the skin is cleansed and then the chemo IV or needle is poked through the skin into the port, and voila~ it is administered throughout the body with no vein collapse! One can swim, shower, etc with a port. If your sister asks for the prescription for EMLA cream, she can rub it on her skin an hour before chemo and she won't even feel the needle stick. I didn't know about EMLA, but they always sprayed my port with aerosol Ethyl, which kinda froze the port with pretty much the same effect.

    Btw~ never feel you need to apologize! That's the beauty of this place~ we walk together, and are the proverbial safe place to land! We all need to vent; that's why we're here!

    Hugs to you and your sister; as well as your sweet hubby who is emotionally re-visiting a frightening time. Bless you all!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #18
    chenheart said:

    The port is about the size
    The port is about the size of a quarter, or a watchface...it is UNDER the skin, and is usually visible as "something" obvious, but not on the OUTSIDE. For chemo and blood draws, the skin is cleansed and then the chemo IV or needle is poked through the skin into the port, and voila~ it is administered throughout the body with no vein collapse! One can swim, shower, etc with a port. If your sister asks for the prescription for EMLA cream, she can rub it on her skin an hour before chemo and she won't even feel the needle stick. I didn't know about EMLA, but they always sprayed my port with aerosol Ethyl, which kinda froze the port with pretty much the same effect.

    Btw~ never feel you need to apologize! That's the beauty of this place~ we walk together, and are the proverbial safe place to land! We all need to vent; that's why we're here!

    Hugs to you and your sister; as well as your sweet hubby who is emotionally re-visiting a frightening time. Bless you all!

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    My port
    My port is on the right side about 3 1/2 - 4 inches below my clavicle and then the catheter goes up into the jugular vein. That is why there are two incisions and she may have thought there were two ports. To bad they didn't explain in detail how it was going to look.

    Mine does stick out quite a bit because of the tissue expander underneath it.

    I wish your sister the best in her treatment.

    Hugs,
    Margo
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #19
    rodripa9 said:

    I'm sorry
    I really am sorry for all of this freaking out. I usually am pretty calm and collected. Every picture I saw up to now had something actually sticking out of the skin, like an IV. No wonder when I saw a girl on youtube about to get a treatment all I saw was a small scar on her clavicle, so I just assumed I was watching the wrong thing and closed it out. So the small bump must be the port and the scar over the nipple must be where they put it in through? She's fast asleep now, while I'm still worried. Tomorrow is a new day! Well today was enough for me to convince myself that one more week spent in FL w/my sister is not going to take away from prepping for school on Aug.11. I'm leaving Sunday to surprise her for her 1st chemo. Then she'll be on her own for #2-4. If she's feeling well enough I might take her to Orlando to help her shop for a wig. She's set on getting one, she deals with people on a daily basis for work and she doesn't want to have to explain herself every time. Sorry this got longer then I was expecting it too. Just venting! She's scared, I'm scared, my hubbies mom didn't survive this (even though it's been 11 years, it's still fresh for him)so talking to him is out. He's actually being great about it all. He's the one that told me he's driving me down Sunday to be with her.

    I am so sorry that you and
    I am so sorry that you and your sister were so upset. I think you and her will feel better when you are together. That is great that you can go. Good luck to you and her!
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #20
    So sweet of you....
    Glad you are heading down to be with your sister. She will no doubt feel much better with you by her side! :) Pammy
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #21
    Akiss4me said:

    So sweet of you....
    Glad you are heading down to be with your sister. She will no doubt feel much better with you by her side! :) Pammy

    You two really got upset.
    You two really got upset. Everything will be fine. Enjoy your stay with her. It will be great for both of you. My sister has been amazing to me during this! :)

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