I'm a little confused.
HUGS!!!
Jamie
Comments
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Jamie--this will all work out
I had a port for chemo AND blood draws. There was no problem getting either through the port. At first I was very nervous about having a port, but it proved to be the best thing I could have done. I was even admitted to the hospital for 5 days after my last treatment (got an infection and white blood cells non-existant) and they used the port for all blood work and IVs of 2 different antibiotics. No problems there either.
Sounds like someone forgot to do their job as far as getting the info into the computer. I'm sure if you call first thing Monday a.m. all will get done and you'll be able to have your port in on Tuesday if that's what you decide to do. If you ask me--I'd do the port again, no question.
Best of luck.
Hugs, Renee0 -
There are several different
There are several different kinds of ports and maybe some of them are not designed to be used for drawing blood, but mine certainly is. If there were problems with your previous port, I would suspect the access protocols rather than the surgeon who implanted it. A port is only a catheter with a portal at one end. If you had problems with the port leaking or inflammation or hematomas around the port site, then I might be concerned about a possible problem with the implantation. But if the port is just not working well, that would be a problem with the port itself or those who are trying to use it. I must say this new surgeon's behavior and comments seem a bit bizarre to me.0 -
Loved my port
and hated I had to give it up when i had my bi lateral surgery. i still see my onc every 3 months and was hoping to have my labs done through my port! My surgeon felt like my risk of infection from using it only every three months was too risky.
So I gave it up. 0 -
I would be confused too if I
I would be confused too if I were you. I had a purple power port and it was designed and used used for chemo and blood draws and I don't regret having it. After a few days of mild discomfort when it was first inserted, I mostly didn't know it was there. I would seek out a surgeon who feels better about the wonderful advantages of ports. Save those veins! xoxoxo Lynn0 -
Port
I believe there are different kinds of ports, but like others I am happy with mine. I've had it for almost two years now and has gotten me through two cancers and was even able to have my double mastectomy and not disturb it. I have needed transfusions, chemo, scans, etc. and as long as it is used or flushed every month never a problem. Over the two years must have been a gazillion blood draws! So much better than a pick line or a poke! Hope all works out the same for you.0 -
Hi Jamie
I have a power port and it is used for chemo, blood draws, and scans. There is one tech at the hospital where I was having my scans who gave me a hard time on more than one occasion stating that a power port for a scan would not give accurate readings. So I had he last scans done at a sister hospital.
I brought his up to the nurse, they knew who he tech is ans I just wont have any more scans there. I love my port. The first round when my onco suggested it, I figured no big deal I dont need one. The chemo ate up my veins. This time, he just told me he was schedulong the surgery for the port and it has been the best thing ever!
I wish u the best and will be thinking of you.
Carol0 -
No problems with porteihtak said:Port
I believe there are different kinds of ports, but like others I am happy with mine. I've had it for almost two years now and has gotten me through two cancers and was even able to have my double mastectomy and not disturb it. I have needed transfusions, chemo, scans, etc. and as long as it is used or flushed every month never a problem. Over the two years must have been a gazillion blood draws! So much better than a pick line or a poke! Hope all works out the same for you.
I had my port put it Jan. 2011 and never had a problem. It was used for blood draws and chemo. I was also in the hospital for 6 days after my 2nd chemo for fever and low WBC and my port was used the entire time for blood draws and medicine. My surgeon (who is wonderful!) didn't give me a choice of having one or not. He just said he is putting a port in on my next surgery and then explained what it was.
It has not been accessed though since Jan. 2012, I kind of remember the chemo nurse saying to get it flushed every 6 weeks. I really didn't think of it being a problem until I saw a couple of the responses here about infection. I think I'll be calling the surgeon on Monday!!
I say Yes to getting the port----and I agree that the surgeon's office has just forgot to notify the hospital. Take care, Joyce0 -
All ports are not the same.
All ports are not equal - all surgeons are not equal in talent and our bodies are not equal. My surgeon told me it is harder to implant in someone who is 'leaner'. Don't know if all feel this way or just that the technique he uses makes it harder. I have no complaints about his work either for the port or my mast..
For me ,there was never a question of rather or not to get a port. I do have great veins and was not about to take a chance of damaging them. Myy surgeon said that my Bard Power Port could be used for anything a vein could be used for. Personally I've never used it for blood draws (well technically not totally true - twice I've had my RN do the blood draw that was scheduled for the same day that she was doing a flush anyway.). Other than the 16 chemos, it has been used once for dye injection for a CT scan and twice for my cataract surgeries this past winter.
According to what I have been told is that techs (or even LPNs) can not legally access a port - it takes an RN, NP, PA, or MD to access them (ParaMedics can also my surgeon said). Heparin is put in after use or a flush to prevent blood clots. Once it is not activaly being used every few weeks for infusions (if you keep it longer) it has to be flushed. To prevent problems. Mine is flushed monthly as that's twhat the manufacturer says but there are others who go longer between flushes.
Ask if your facility has numbing spray - mine did. If they don't, ask for a script for EMLA cream. It deadens the area so no pain when accessed. Some have said it isn't bad for them but the one time mine has been accessed without spray or cream it HURT much worse than hitting a hand vein. My first5 chemo was the day after implant.
Winyan - The Power Within
Susan0 -
Port and there is another device
Hi Jamie
I believe it is easier to have chemo with a port. In 1994, when I had my port it wasn't the norm as it is today to have them. I have difficult veins to access and it was recommended. They also drew blood from my port with no problem. You have excellent advise from all these other ladies. Your in for the long term now. Having a port is a necessity.
My veins are very difficult to find with only one arm that can be use. When they can't find a vein, they use a device that is a hand held scanner. They run the device up and down the arm until they locate a vein. It does work. In my case, the ER nurse came in the ct scan room when the tech could not find a vein. The cancer center also had such device. I now use the cancer center when ever a vein needs to be located.
Best,
Doris0 -
Oh crap!
I'm sorry but I prayed all weekend for a sign of what I should do. I tried, unsuccessfully, to reach the surgeon's office twice this morning. I called the hospital and someone in the surgical department said she would keep trying to reach him even if she had to call his cell phone. She finally reached him and he acknowledged that I was supposed to have port surgery tomorrow. I couldn't get a pre-op appt. as they were filled up so I was told it would be done tomorrow morning before my surgery and that someone would call between 3 and 5 this afternoon to get my info. When she called, I was told I was scheduled for 1:00 PM instead of the 9:00 AM I had been told by the surgeon on Friday. I decided that all this "crap" was my answer about what to do so I cancelled the port surgery. I will see my onc tomorrow to see what's next but at this point I think I want to just start with the Xeloda pills and wait a couple of months before even thinking about the IV chemo again. It was like pulling teeth, but I finally got an answer about my co-pay for the Xeloda. They said it was zero. I find that hard to believe but tomorrow might just be a continuance of todays big mess? If and when I get another port, it will not be from that surgeon! Thanks for letting me vent again.
HUGS!!!
Jamie0 -
Wishing you the bestjamiegww said:Oh crap!
I'm sorry but I prayed all weekend for a sign of what I should do. I tried, unsuccessfully, to reach the surgeon's office twice this morning. I called the hospital and someone in the surgical department said she would keep trying to reach him even if she had to call his cell phone. She finally reached him and he acknowledged that I was supposed to have port surgery tomorrow. I couldn't get a pre-op appt. as they were filled up so I was told it would be done tomorrow morning before my surgery and that someone would call between 3 and 5 this afternoon to get my info. When she called, I was told I was scheduled for 1:00 PM instead of the 9:00 AM I had been told by the surgeon on Friday. I decided that all this "crap" was my answer about what to do so I cancelled the port surgery. I will see my onc tomorrow to see what's next but at this point I think I want to just start with the Xeloda pills and wait a couple of months before even thinking about the IV chemo again. It was like pulling teeth, but I finally got an answer about my co-pay for the Xeloda. They said it was zero. I find that hard to believe but tomorrow might just be a continuance of todays big mess? If and when I get another port, it will not be from that surgeon! Thanks for letting me vent again.
HUGS!!!
Jamie
Hi Jamie,
Well you won't need a port for the pill form of Xeloda. Wishing you the best to knock the cancer right out and finding that NED again. Zero co-pay is great!
Think positive thoughts for you,
Best,
Doris0 -
JamieSIROD said:Wishing you the best
Hi Jamie,
Well you won't need a port for the pill form of Xeloda. Wishing you the best to knock the cancer right out and finding that NED again. Zero co-pay is great!
Think positive thoughts for you,
Best,
Doris
My port was put on by a radiologist....they have lots of experience implanting ports..at least at my cancer center.....I have a Bard Power Port.....I've had it for 4 months now...it's a blessing for chemo....I use the numbing cream...have yet to feel them access the port...I put it on and I put a lot of it, before I go for labs, onco visit...I cut a square of press and seal put it over this and I'm off....! But I do not have blood draws from it...the lab takes it from my arm.....this is my choice...... this saves a lot of time...otherwise if the take it in the chemo room it has to go to the lab and results to my onco to make sure the blood work is okay to receive treatment...then the pharmacy has to get the drugs to the chemo room...they will not ready the drugs until either your port has been successfully accessed or an IV...
I was on Zeloda for 7 months...only SE was my hair thinned, somewhat....I was 1 week on and 1 week off....easiest treatment ever, for me...my co-pay was $35.00 and thankfully we have great insurance...and it has to come from an oncology pharmacy...mine came Fed Ex...it was, if I remember correctly, it was $2400.00 for two week supply...YIKES! again, thank goodness for our insurance coverage!
Let us know how everything goes...
Hugs, Nancy0 -
Thanks Doris and Nancy!MAJW said:Jamie
My port was put on by a radiologist....they have lots of experience implanting ports..at least at my cancer center.....I have a Bard Power Port.....I've had it for 4 months now...it's a blessing for chemo....I use the numbing cream...have yet to feel them access the port...I put it on and I put a lot of it, before I go for labs, onco visit...I cut a square of press and seal put it over this and I'm off....! But I do not have blood draws from it...the lab takes it from my arm.....this is my choice...... this saves a lot of time...otherwise if the take it in the chemo room it has to go to the lab and results to my onco to make sure the blood work is okay to receive treatment...then the pharmacy has to get the drugs to the chemo room...they will not ready the drugs until either your port has been successfully accessed or an IV...
I was on Zeloda for 7 months...only SE was my hair thinned, somewhat....I was 1 week on and 1 week off....easiest treatment ever, for me...my co-pay was $35.00 and thankfully we have great insurance...and it has to come from an oncology pharmacy...mine came Fed Ex...it was, if I remember correctly, it was $2400.00 for two week supply...YIKES! again, thank goodness for our insurance coverage!
Let us know how everything goes...
Hugs, Nancy
Today's visit to onc was a waste of time and money. I saw the NP instead of the onc and she said I have to have a port before starting anything including the Xeloda pills. I told her the onc said I could start the Xeloda right away but she wasn't listening to me. I did insist on an interventional radiologist (hopefully the one that did my lung biopsy) to put the port in. The NP said that wouldn't be a good idea because if anything goes wrong with the port, there wouldn't be anybody to fix it. I still insisted on it. Now I'm back to waiting for someone to call me with an appointment time.
HUGS!!!
Jamie0 -
What??jamiegww said:Thanks Doris and Nancy!
Today's visit to onc was a waste of time and money. I saw the NP instead of the onc and she said I have to have a port before starting anything including the Xeloda pills. I told her the onc said I could start the Xeloda right away but she wasn't listening to me. I did insist on an interventional radiologist (hopefully the one that did my lung biopsy) to put the port in. The NP said that wouldn't be a good idea because if anything goes wrong with the port, there wouldn't be anybody to fix it. I still insisted on it. Now I'm back to waiting for someone to call me with an appointment time.
HUGS!!!
Jamie
Why would you have to have a port for Zeloda? Are they expecting you to also have IV chemo?? Both IV and Zeloda chemo, it doesn't make sense! I do know they don't want any kind of surgery during chemo...doesn't it make you angry when you think you'll see the oncologist and they pawn you off on someone else???!!!!
Stick to your guns, on having who you want to implant your port...it's your right to have who you want! I think a radiologist, in my opinion, is more experienced...And the waiting on calls, YIKES! I hate that!
Keep us posted....
Big hugs, Nancy0 -
Not understandingjamiegww said:Thanks Doris and Nancy!
Today's visit to onc was a waste of time and money. I saw the NP instead of the onc and she said I have to have a port before starting anything including the Xeloda pills. I told her the onc said I could start the Xeloda right away but she wasn't listening to me. I did insist on an interventional radiologist (hopefully the one that did my lung biopsy) to put the port in. The NP said that wouldn't be a good idea because if anything goes wrong with the port, there wouldn't be anybody to fix it. I still insisted on it. Now I'm back to waiting for someone to call me with an appointment time.
HUGS!!!
Jamie
My thought is that I would have DEMANDED to see the DR then! I have never seen a PA with either my chemo or rad appts. I did see a PA/NP twice with post suargery appts but that was post. (Well my PC for 16 yrs is a PA and she is fantastic!)
My port was put in by my surgeon. If you are having problems with your surgeon - look fo /other surgeon. If you are getting different info for the chemo staff and the Dr, look for a second (or 3rd/4th) opinion.
Winyan - The Power Within
Susan0 -
Like MAJW
I had the bard power port. They did not do any blood draws from mine either. I just figured some cancer centers may have a different protocol for this as the blood is drawn the day before or the same day as your chemo treatment. I wondered if the chemo people wanted an unused site to put in the chemo medicine or what.
I liked the port myself. After a couple of days I was rather oblivious to it except sometimes for the car seatbelt. Try not to stress out over it all. Don't get me wrong. Make sure you are getting excellent care, but some of these matters are perhaps about hospital/cancer center policy. We do have to be our own advocates but I hope things line up for you better this time around.0 -
My port has been in since
My port has been in since Aug 25, 2009 - my last chemo was done Jan 28, 2010. (My choice, with Dr approival, to keep it til I hit the 'Majik 5 years'.) So I have had 27 flushes since then (didn't need when it was used for my cataract surgeries as it was accessed for them - thus in essence - a flush.
It'is not as simple as just sticking a needle in before pulling blood or injecting. While not in use, there is heparin in the line to prevent blood clots forming. When the needle is put in it is then aspirated to get good blood flow and the saline is pushed to clear. Once whatever is done, again saline is used to 'clean' and then heparin is put back in to prevent clots. That's very simplistic but the basics as it was explained to me. My card from Bard say to do every 4 weeks - I do mine monthly so a day or 2 over. I have heard that some have been told to do every 6 weeks but I go with what the manufacturer says. As I understand, it is because of actually injecting the heparin is the reason it requires an RN, PA, NP, Dr (or PM on Dr orders) to access it so not what a Tech can do.0 -
Xeloda can be taken alone and in combinationRague said:My port has been in since
My port has been in since Aug 25, 2009 - my last chemo was done Jan 28, 2010. (My choice, with Dr approival, to keep it til I hit the 'Majik 5 years'.) So I have had 27 flushes since then (didn't need when it was used for my cataract surgeries as it was accessed for them - thus in essence - a flush.
It'is not as simple as just sticking a needle in before pulling blood or injecting. While not in use, there is heparin in the line to prevent blood clots forming. When the needle is put in it is then aspirated to get good blood flow and the saline is pushed to clear. Once whatever is done, again saline is used to 'clean' and then heparin is put back in to prevent clots. That's very simplistic but the basics as it was explained to me. My card from Bard say to do every 4 weeks - I do mine monthly so a day or 2 over. I have heard that some have been told to do every 6 weeks but I go with what the manufacturer says. As I understand, it is because of actually injecting the heparin is the reason it requires an RN, PA, NP, Dr (or PM on Dr orders) to access it so not what a Tech can do.
Hi Jamie
Sorry for today's visit something is very wrong. Xeloda can be taken alone and in combination. I do not understand why yet did not give it to you. With week on week off regimen you can do your per-oper while taking Xeloda. Did they do ECG and blood prior your lung biopsy?
Please reach out for answers and demand your discussion with oncologist.
Hugs0 -
Finally have appointment.MAJW said:What??
Why would you have to have a port for Zeloda? Are they expecting you to also have IV chemo?? Both IV and Zeloda chemo, it doesn't make sense! I do know they don't want any kind of surgery during chemo...doesn't it make you angry when you think you'll see the oncologist and they pawn you off on someone else???!!!!
Stick to your guns, on having who you want to implant your port...it's your right to have who you want! I think a radiologist, in my opinion, is more experienced...And the waiting on calls, YIKES! I hate that!
Keep us posted....
Big hugs, Nancy
Oddly enough I got a call first from someone informing me that I needed to pay a deposit of $2,000.00 for my procedure. I remember freaking out when they wanted an $800.00 deposit for the lung biopsy. This time I just laughed. I asked what was the minimum deposit they could accept and she asked me what I could pay. I suggested $200.00 and she said that would be okay so I asked her exactly when would this be done because I hadn't heard from anyone before she called. She was only able to tell me I was scheduled for July 25th at 1:00 PM. I couldn't reach anyone at my onc's office who could tell me anything about my appointment so I waited and a couple of hours later someone from the hospital called to tell me when my procedure was scheduled. It will be done by the interventional radiologist under conscious sedation. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a case of "be careful what you wish for".
HUGS!!!
Jamie0 -
I wouldn't worry too muchjamiegww said:Finally have appointment.
Oddly enough I got a call first from someone informing me that I needed to pay a deposit of $2,000.00 for my procedure. I remember freaking out when they wanted an $800.00 deposit for the lung biopsy. This time I just laughed. I asked what was the minimum deposit they could accept and she asked me what I could pay. I suggested $200.00 and she said that would be okay so I asked her exactly when would this be done because I hadn't heard from anyone before she called. She was only able to tell me I was scheduled for July 25th at 1:00 PM. I couldn't reach anyone at my onc's office who could tell me anything about my appointment so I waited and a couple of hours later someone from the hospital called to tell me when my procedure was scheduled. It will be done by the interventional radiologist under conscious sedation. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a case of "be careful what you wish for".
HUGS!!!
Jamie
about the radiologist doing it. Mine was done by the radiologist and it went very well. I was surprised when they said the radiologist's pa was doing it, and he would be doing one in the or next door. When I looked startled, the nurse told me that they both have been doing them for years and he would be comfortable with either of them. The nurse told me it is always the radiologist or pa here, very seldom does a surgeon put one in.
I am glad that you are standing up for what you want. I was asked to see an NP when I went off my break by the receptionist, as they had a new patient that was in bad shape. I told them no. I've never met her, and we were deciding on changing chemo's. How could she decide that when she had never met me? They were surprised that I refused and said she could talk to the doctor if he was making changes, I said if she has to talk to him anyways how would that be saving him any time. If they needed my slot that bad to reschedule me for the next week with the doctor. Then I learned he was on vacation and had no idea that they were moving me to the NP.
So I don't think they will even ask me again which is fine with me.
If you are not comfortable with something, tell them. It is our choice who we see.
I will be thinking of you, best of luck!0
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