Cancer Survivors Network

Hey Sam

Are you sure you want the port out??? I've seen the nurses digging to get the needle in people without a port and it looks painful. I'm also on herceptin every 3 weeks (I have 10 more to do) I can't imagine not using my port. Does your port hurt you? Mine doesn't and I can do just about everything I could before having it in. It is ugly looking but I don't look at it. I, like Judy, would be curious to know the nurses objections. If yours does hurt, I can see why you would want it out. If it's what you want, then good for you.

I am a nurse working in a surgery center. I start many IV's. I feel SO, SO bad when I have to poke and dig to get a vein, and as soon as I get in, it will "blow". So I have to try again. I hot pack, dangle, and use a "baby" needles. But it is frustrating for all parties involved.

Chemo makes your veins very fragile, as well as the steroids that we have to take. There was a post not too long ago about someone who's treatment was delayed because they could not start an IV. I totally understand your desire to have this removed, but I would recommend you listen to your nurses and try to live with it for a few more weeks.

I work in a large teaching facility, and need to "educate and monitor" physicians about what would be in the patient's best interest. (They don't always see the Big picture). I feel, and think other nurses feel, we are patient advocates and the last line of defense. Ultimately this is your decision, I just encourage you to see all views. Your nurses are looking out for you as well as themselves.

Good luck with whatever decision you make. - Carrie

P.S. It is now very hard to be on the "other side of the needle", and having veins that suck.

Congrats Sam on getting your port out!

Sending you congrats Sam on getting your port out! Happy for you!

Congrats Sam!

Hugs, Leeza

and I can tell you, you're right about the feeling! FREEDOM!!!! BUT. if I were you I'd wait until you're done with those 8 shots. The ease of using the port as opposed to the pricks on your arm is a huge positive issue! If I even needed that port for ONE more use I'd have kept it. Think about it before you bust a move.

Well...the doctor said I could have it out and my veins look good. They never have a problem when they draw blood, give me injections, etc so I feel confident I wont have any problems. I just want this thing out of my chest, its always tender and hard to sleep on. The nurse was just a rag about it...she was a rag the whole day, I didnt like her, LOL.
I would think the doctor would say it wasnt a good idea if he though that...I trust him. Hes been nothing but honest and upfront with me from the get go...

So many people on this board hate their ports and talk about the scar showing or hurting them and I'm wondering why. I only have a tiny, thin line where they inserted it, it doesn't show (you have to feel for it) and it doesn't hurt at all. But I saw a picture in a breast reconstruction site and this girl had this big round bump on her upper chest where my port is and I began to wonder if that is normal for a lot of people. I am overweight and maybe that's why it's so comfortable and doesn't show?

I'm glad in my case it's like it's not even there cause I have to have it, but would you guys let me know how yours is? Then I can understand why so many of you are so anxious to get it out. To me it's a lifesaver, but if it looked like that girl in the picture I would certainly be unhappy.

Love My Port,(hahaha)
Judy :-)

The scar for my port is only about 3/4" long and just a very thin line - I've got lots of bigger/nastier scars all over from 'tangles' with pavement, barbed wire and a host of other things. It is a raised area but smaller than my friend's pacemaker. How much it shows may have something to do with weight - I'm on the 'leaner side' (5'6"; 135 lbs approx). Basically it won't show with my tanktops (when it gets warm enough here and all the rad burns heal) but if it does OH HA WELL. There is no pain or even discomfort.

Mine will be in for at least a year and probably longer. IBC is a nasty one with not the best future oulook - my port is there now and there it will stay - just 'in case'.

I have great veins and I intend to do all I can to keep the ones (left arm) that are useable 'great'.

"Love my port" TOO!

Susan

My chest looks worse without the port than it did with it! I did not get the thin line that I saw on a friend of mine...my port site collapsed when it was taken out, and to describe it, when I am lying down I think a golf ball would nestle into the dent. But much as I hated that, now I don't worry about it because there seems to be nothing I can about it. So, I wear the tanks, and whatebver I want~ yes, I get the odd glances, but I would probably be giving them too ! I have always wondered if it was because my oncol doc insisted I keep the port in for a YEAR post treatment, so it sat in my chest for almost 18 months!

As Meg Ryan's character said to Tom Hanks character in Joe vs The Volcano: "It's always going to be something with you, isn't it?" Yeah, I guess it is! LOL

Congrats on getting the port out!

Hugs,
Claudia

Congrats to you Sam if you get your port out. I didn't have one, so, I don't fully understand about them. Nice pic of you too!

Sue :)

I just saw my surgeon today for follow up and we agreed to have the port out on May 7th! I will just feel "done" I guess. He's OK with leaving it in, too, but I'm not!

I love my port tooooo!!!! I finished chemo ... and then finished my herceptin March 12th. I asked if/when I should think about having my port taken out and the doctor said in few months. I told him I'd like to keep it in there FOREVER! The thought of a doctor/nurse EVER having to draw blood from my arm makes me cringe! But ... I guess "forever" is not an option because the "equipment" gets out-of-date. I see my surgeon next month and am going to ask him what he thinks. I haven't gone in for my first "port-flushing" yet ... but as long as there's EMLA cream ... I don't mind going in every 6 weeks for a flushing. I'll do anything to keep from having to get poked and jabbed in the arm!

hugs.
teena