chemo port

abita
abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I am way ahead of myself asking this since I have 8 infusions to go, but how long after the last infusion do they take the chemo port out? Do they do it right after, or do they wait a while to make sure no more chemo is needed? I really am looking forward to it out! I get so nervous about it.

Comments

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #2
    I think it's up to you. They

    I think it's up to you. They left mine in and after a year it started to come out through my skin so they had to remove it. Taking it out was easy and quick. Not an issue at all. 

    Jan

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    #3
    That is interesting. The body

    That is interesting. The body pushed it out. I was hoping it would be easier than inserting it. Why did they leave it in for a year? I wonder if there are pros to leaving it in. I wonder about blood clots. I get nervous when anyone gets close to my neck that it could get smashed. It makes sleeping a bit uncomfortable. All kinds of silly reasons I think about.

  • lhduffer
    lhduffer Member Posts: 90 Member
    #4
    I think it depends

    I think it depends on the individual circumstances.  I still have mine 2 1/2 years out.  I asked my surgeon about having it removed in October but was told no.  They want me to wait until at least 2 years after my surgery, which will be this April.  They said we could take a look at it after my next scan, which is in March.

    I have gotten used to it but mine protudes greatly so I really want it removed so I can wear some of my clothes again!

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #5
    3 months for me.

    After my first clear scan, my Oncologist wanted it out. He said because of infection. 

    Luckily, after my liver ablation, they decided no more chemo, so I dodged a bullet there. 

    Tru

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    edited February 2018 #6
    Mine was sitting right on top

    Mine was sitting right on top of a bone. I hated it. Seatbelts were uncomfortable, I'd cringe if someone wanted to hug me, it was just ugly. I was lucky to still have it when I had the blood clot, though, because they'd take blood at least once a day and they could do it through the port. They'd do it at 5 am and I wouldn't even wake up. I had mine a year and a half, sorry, not a year. 

    Then it wasn't being used but I still had to go in and get it flushed which was a pain in the rear. Sometimes it would clog. I remember one time having to march up and down the halls where people were waiting to try to unclog it. Then, as I said, it started to come out through my skin. The little bumps that they use as a guide did come out and were bleeding and then all scabby. I didn't find that it helped much for the chemo anyway, it still hurts a lot when they poke you.

    Anyway, the removal is easy, don't worry about it.

    Jan

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    edited February 2018 #7
    JanJan63 said:

    Mine was sitting right on top

    Mine was sitting right on top of a bone. I hated it. Seatbelts were uncomfortable, I'd cringe if someone wanted to hug me, it was just ugly. I was lucky to still have it when I had the blood clot, though, because they'd take blood at least once a day and they could do it through the port. They'd do it at 5 am and I wouldn't even wake up. I had mine a year and a half, sorry, not a year. 

    Then it wasn't being used but I still had to go in and get it flushed which was a pain in the rear. Sometimes it would clog. I remember one time having to march up and down the halls where people were waiting to try to unclog it. Then, as I said, it started to come out through my skin. The little bumps that they use as a guide did come out and were bleeding and then all scabby. I didn't find that it helped much for the chemo anyway, it still hurts a lot when they poke you.

    Anyway, the removal is easy, don't worry about it.

    Jan

    I have problems with bra

    I have problems with bra straps, purse straps, hugging all that too!

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #8
    abita said:

    I have problems with bra

    I have problems with bra straps, purse straps, hugging all that too!

    Ah, memories (lets keep them that way)

    Mine also went under my bra strap. I ended up using a nursing pad to give a little comfort, but not much. I also went braless at home.

    My word, what with going braless because of the port, and knickerless because of the radiation, I really did drop my underwear, so to speak. HA! 

    Tru

  • zx10guy
    zx10guy Member Posts: 273 Member
    #9
    For the ladies, it's always a

    For the ladies, it's always a good idea to wear your bra for the surgeon to mark the location where to put the port.  It doesn't have to go where they think it needs to go so long as they have a guide of where to avoid.  Typically, I've seen the surgeon go for the right side for port placement.  This will be good for you if you drive a lot as the seat belt would be a non issue.  For me unfortunately, the attempt to put my port in on the right side failed and they had to get it in on the left via guided ultrasound and a radiologist.

    As far as when your port comes out, as other said, it depends on your situation.  My oncologist helped make the call with me.  I hated my port for many reasons.  I asked my oncologist when I could get the blasted thing out on my 11th cycle.  He said to wait 2 weeks after my last round of chemo before getting it out.  This was probably because he wanted to make sure there was enough time for any residual of the chemo to work its way out of my system.  The same thing they do for people going in to surgery after going through chemo so your body can heal properly.  I told my surgeon of our plan and he was a bit shocked by how soon it was coming out as he expected to have it in at least a year.  He asked me to double check with my oncologist again and if my oncologist confirmed it was ok, he would pull it out.  My oncologist confirmed and it was out 2 weeks after finishing chemo.

    Again, it's an individual thing.  Many people want the security of having it in place in case a recurrence happens.  I'm of the mindset that my port was problematic and I wanted it out.  If I had a recurrence, I would have bigger issues than worrying about having a port put back in.

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    #10
    zx10guy said:

    For the ladies, it's always a

    For the ladies, it's always a good idea to wear your bra for the surgeon to mark the location where to put the port.  It doesn't have to go where they think it needs to go so long as they have a guide of where to avoid.  Typically, I've seen the surgeon go for the right side for port placement.  This will be good for you if you drive a lot as the seat belt would be a non issue.  For me unfortunately, the attempt to put my port in on the right side failed and they had to get it in on the left via guided ultrasound and a radiologist.

    As far as when your port comes out, as other said, it depends on your situation.  My oncologist helped make the call with me.  I hated my port for many reasons.  I asked my oncologist when I could get the blasted thing out on my 11th cycle.  He said to wait 2 weeks after my last round of chemo before getting it out.  This was probably because he wanted to make sure there was enough time for any residual of the chemo to work its way out of my system.  The same thing they do for people going in to surgery after going through chemo so your body can heal properly.  I told my surgeon of our plan and he was a bit shocked by how soon it was coming out as he expected to have it in at least a year.  He asked me to double check with my oncologist again and if my oncologist confirmed it was ok, he would pull it out.  My oncologist confirmed and it was out 2 weeks after finishing chemo.

    Again, it's an individual thing.  Many people want the security of having it in place in case a recurrence happens.  I'm of the mindset that my port was problematic and I wanted it out.  If I had a recurrence, I would have bigger issues than worrying about having a port put back in.

    I hate my chemo port! I just

    I hate my chemo port! I just had a liver resection after 4 rounds of chemo, and yes, they waited 3 weeks for the chemo to get out of my system. I don't start the last 8 rounds until 5 weeks after surgery so that my wound and liver have recovered enough. Surgery and chemo apparrently don't mix. Also, chemo is hard on the liver, so I wonder if giving it time to start regenarating was part of it.

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    edited February 2018 #11
    Up to Doctor

    It's really up to doctor on how they want to proceed.  Mine actually took it out a month after finishing treatment and was so relieved.  It hurt me because it was so close to the surface that anything that it touched would make it hurt.  Ask your doctor what they think.  Some like to keep it in longer to check the next CT scan to make sure your are still clear.  My scan was clear in early October and they took it out two weeks later.  Wishing you well.

    Kim

  • PamRav
    PamRav Member Posts: 348 Member
    edited February 2018 #12
    Irritating

    I found mine to be sore and irritating during the chemo. But after being off the hard stuff since end of August I don’t notice it much at all. No one has mentioned it’s removal. I would assume they’ll wait till I have a few consecutive clean scans 

    in The meantime I find it’s a not so gentle reminder to eat well and exercise. 

    Pam

  • ThomasH
    ThomasH Member Posts: 106 Member
    edited February 2018 #13
    Mine is in my arm

    They installed mine in my left inside bicep. I finished my chemo about a year and a half ago, and I still have my port in. I still get it flushed once a month, but aside from that I pretty much forget it is there. I'm glad I don't have it in my chest, sounds like that has some extra challenges.

    My Dr is talking about leaving it in me for up to 5 years. I don't know if that is normal, but that is my normal anyway.

    Thomas

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    #14
    ThomasH said:

    Mine is in my arm

    They installed mine in my left inside bicep. I finished my chemo about a year and a half ago, and I still have my port in. I still get it flushed once a month, but aside from that I pretty much forget it is there. I'm glad I don't have it in my chest, sounds like that has some extra challenges.

    My Dr is talking about leaving it in me for up to 5 years. I don't know if that is normal, but that is my normal anyway.

    Thomas

    5 years? Yikes!

    5 years? Yikes!

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #15
    ThomasH said:

    Mine is in my arm

    They installed mine in my left inside bicep. I finished my chemo about a year and a half ago, and I still have my port in. I still get it flushed once a month, but aside from that I pretty much forget it is there. I'm glad I don't have it in my chest, sounds like that has some extra challenges.

    My Dr is talking about leaving it in me for up to 5 years. I don't know if that is normal, but that is my normal anyway.

    Thomas

    In your arm...

    YUK!

    I've seen Pics in peoples arms, and that looks uncomfortable enough, but a port in an arm. Nasty!

    And five years, wow. Rather you than me. 

    Tru

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