Port?

ppm20wife
ppm20wife Member Posts: 44
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
What is this? Why do people have it? My dh is very new to his dx about 2 weeks and we are still meeting with drs., test results, etc....so I am trying to learn as much as I can....thank you!

Comments

  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
    #2
    portcatheter
    I'm sure they will offer your husband this option. A portcath is a quarter size in diameter spaceship looking contraption they surgerically implant into your chest, with a catheter into your jugular vein. The idea is to administer chemo more efficiently, and to save you from getting poked with needles every time you go to get infused. You still get a very large needle poked into the port, but with a little lidocaine, it's just fine. They may offer him a PIC. I wouldn't recommend that. It goes into a vein in your arm. I know more people who've had trouble with that than the portcath.

    Hugs,
    Krista
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #3
    Chemo and Blood
    A port is used to infuse you with chemo and draw blood. It is usually placed on your collar bone, mine is on the right side, or I've heard of it being placed under the arm. Most people get the port to save the veins from collapsing as chemo can be very hard on the veins. I've only had my blood drawn once from the port. The doctor can prescribe a cream that you put on the port about 3/4 to an hour before they access your port so it doesn't hurt. I've never felt anything so far either going in or out so it is a big help.

    I'm sorry to hear of your husband's diagnosis.

    Please post as much as you need and ask away. There is almost always someone available to answer your questions.

    Kim
  • donnare
    donnare Member Posts: 266
    #4
    Husband has one
    Hi - know how you feel - I'm about 3 weeks ahead of you. My husband was dx 5/28. Alot to learn, isn't there?

    My husband had his port placed on the left side of his chest just below the collarbone during his colon resection surgery. He said it doesn't bother him at all. He hasn't started chemo yet, but they used it to give him some fluids and he said it didn't hurt at all.

    Wishing you both the best!
    Donna

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