chemo port

teresaglea
teresaglea Member Posts: 16
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have had a port for a year and a half. I'm getting ready to have it removed but it has sunken down into my chest. It looks bad. When I asked the dr. if I could have a plastic surgen repair the hollow area, they thought I was nuts. I'm not a vain person but this will look really bad with a bathing suit in the future. Anyone else have this problem? If so after the port was taken out, did the indentation get less noticeable? Thanks in advance for your help

Comments

  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    #2
    when i had my port removed,it was sunken,then I got a hard lump in it..that was fluid filling the spot where the port was. the lump did desolved and looks fine now..I have just the scar line.
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #3
    I have had mine out for about a year. And yes it does leave a scar. I tend to make sure that swim suits cover the area and also blouses. It does tend to limit what I wear. And I will admit that I have thought about having something like laser surgery done to make it look better... Haven't done it yet... to busy living life... but maybe one of these days...

    Susan

    Take Care... You aren't nuts for wanting to get back as much of your body as possible...
  • teresaglea
    teresaglea Member Posts: 16
    #4
    babs49242 said:

    when i had my port removed,it was sunken,then I got a hard lump in it..that was fluid filling the spot where the port was. the lump did desolved and looks fine now..I have just the scar line.

    Thanks for your reply Babs. I don't mind the scar so much as the indentation. I guess there is still hope I will heal. Thanks again
  • teresaglea
    teresaglea Member Posts: 16
    #5
    Susan956 said:

    I have had mine out for about a year. And yes it does leave a scar. I tend to make sure that swim suits cover the area and also blouses. It does tend to limit what I wear. And I will admit that I have thought about having something like laser surgery done to make it look better... Haven't done it yet... to busy living life... but maybe one of these days...

    Susan

    Take Care... You aren't nuts for wanting to get back as much of your body as possible...

    Thanks Susan, My port is so high, I could never find a swim suit to cover it. But if the indentation goes away, I won't mind the scar. Do you still have an indentation? Thanks again for your help. Teresa
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #6
    Well, I also had a port in for 18 months, and had the dent when it was removed. Sadly, it never filled in again~ and it has been 4 years now. I am a vain woman (let me be the first to admit that!) I wore false eyelashes during chemo, slept with a bandana so my b/f wouldn't see me "au naturale"~ even though he thought I was beautiful no matter what. I even showered in the dark so that I wouldn't have to look at myself! You'd think that this dent would bother me to no end, wouldn't you??? And for about a year, I must say, it probably did. But, ya know how people have bed-head...and they seem oblivious to it because it is usually on the back of their heads??? Well, even though the port dent is on my chest, I can't see it unless I am looking at it in the mirror! And better yet~ I don't care that it's there! Mostly I have forgotten all about it! And, I rarely if ever notice anyone giving it a sideways glance. I wear scoop necks, tees, and even bathing suits. I say, IF someone should notice, well hey! Cancer should be a crime, and yet so far it isn't so I know I won't be arrested for having a dent on my otherwise flawless ( HA) body! Most of my friends know I am a BC survivor, and those who don't, and might be curious about the dent perhaps ask my friends. Because no one has ever asked ME! Maybe no one cares...and wouldn't that be nice?
    I know this isn't perhaps what you wanted to hear~ but it's my experience with porta-dent. Which is now Perma-dent!
    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • OregonSeaStar
    OregonSeaStar Member Posts: 41
    #7
    I, too, have the porta-scar and telltale dent just under my collarbone. Its very noticeable, but I don't care much about it. I feel as I do about all my scars and my very white/gray hair - I've earned every one of them! My mother used to tell me that anyone could have a pretty face/good body, but one with scars shows character (if so, I've got a heckofalotta character - HA!). Anyhow, we all need to do whatever it takes to make us feel better about ourselves and our bodies; get some referrals or recommendations for plastic surgeons and talk to them. It would seem to me that this should have a fairly easy fix.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #8
    Ok, now from the 'old lady'...lol...

    This port (I had one for 2 years, thru both cancers and a total bowel obstruction where they fed me thru it) is sort of like braces. The wearer is MUCH more aware of it than anyone else on the PLANET. Trust me....mine was removed, and the 'dent' is there...but I still went back to wearing my plunging necklines/tight shirts when the mood strikes.
    For me, 1 year post-port removal, I am more sensative to the 2.5 inch scar that is left...But then so much else has changed...my hair is a TOTALLY different color, my skin color, too, from the chemo...and I have been told that I look younger than I have in 10 years....it must be the Survivor spirit shinning thru....

    I also have a 12" 'up-and-down' scar on my belly from the bowel resection....and have started wearing bikinis again...take a look around...there are some REALLY narly people wearing them...no one is going to notice me...except for the big smile for being alive!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    #9
    KathiM said:

    Ok, now from the 'old lady'...lol...

    This port (I had one for 2 years, thru both cancers and a total bowel obstruction where they fed me thru it) is sort of like braces. The wearer is MUCH more aware of it than anyone else on the PLANET. Trust me....mine was removed, and the 'dent' is there...but I still went back to wearing my plunging necklines/tight shirts when the mood strikes.
    For me, 1 year post-port removal, I am more sensative to the 2.5 inch scar that is left...But then so much else has changed...my hair is a TOTALLY different color, my skin color, too, from the chemo...and I have been told that I look younger than I have in 10 years....it must be the Survivor spirit shinning thru....

    I also have a 12" 'up-and-down' scar on my belly from the bowel resection....and have started wearing bikinis again...take a look around...there are some REALLY narly people wearing them...no one is going to notice me...except for the big smile for being alive!

    Hugs, Kathi

    You gooooooooooooo girl!
  • teresaglea
    teresaglea Member Posts: 16
    #10
    OregonSeaStar said:

    I, too, have the porta-scar and telltale dent just under my collarbone. Its very noticeable, but I don't care much about it. I feel as I do about all my scars and my very white/gray hair - I've earned every one of them! My mother used to tell me that anyone could have a pretty face/good body, but one with scars shows character (if so, I've got a heckofalotta character - HA!). Anyhow, we all need to do whatever it takes to make us feel better about ourselves and our bodies; get some referrals or recommendations for plastic surgeons and talk to them. It would seem to me that this should have a fairly easy fix.

    Thanks for your help ladies. I did ask the surgeon about a plastic surgeon and he said let's just do the surgury and see how it looks. But that means two surgeries instead on one!! Of course that's not his problem. I think he just doesn't want to share an operating room with another doctor! Teresa
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #11
    Wow, it sounds like everyone had a port. Is it standard procedure to get one? I didn't get one and my vein is hard as rock. They have to take blood out of my hand now. It wasn't till months after my last chemo that the full extent of the damage was known. Glad to hear everyone is handling their "dents" in stride although I can certainly see wanting to look as normal as possible.
    cheers
    jan
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #12
    teresaglea said:

    Thanks Susan, My port is so high, I could never find a swim suit to cover it. But if the indentation goes away, I won't mind the scar. Do you still have an indentation? Thanks again for your help. Teresa

    I have a little indention.. but not too bad. I think it gets better with time. And after about a year, it starts to get the color back... gets a little tan rather than so pink.

    Susan
  • teresaglea
    teresaglea Member Posts: 16
    #13
    phoenixrising said:

    Wow, it sounds like everyone had a port. Is it standard procedure to get one? I didn't get one and my vein is hard as rock. They have to take blood out of my hand now. It wasn't till months after my last chemo that the full extent of the damage was known. Glad to hear everyone is handling their "dents" in stride although I can certainly see wanting to look as normal as possible.
    cheers
    jan

    Jan, So sorry about your veins. The decision to put in a port is based on how many chemo treatments you will have and also the type of chemo. I had 26 treatments and my doctor knew my veins would never stand up to all that. Congrats on being over your chemo. Teresa
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #14
    teresaglea said:

    Jan, So sorry about your veins. The decision to put in a port is based on how many chemo treatments you will have and also the type of chemo. I had 26 treatments and my doctor knew my veins would never stand up to all that. Congrats on being over your chemo. Teresa

    Thanks Teresa, if that and being one breasted is all I have to contend with I'll be happy. It's the anthracyclines (adriamycin/epirubicin/red devil) which is a vesicant that do the real damage to our viens and skin for that matter and I was only hit 3x with that one. Good thing!
    cheers
    jan
  • Skybuf
    Skybuf Member Posts: 143
    #15
    Hi there, you've all had ports in the chest, I wish my dr mentioned that option to me, I had a port-a-cath in my upper inside arm. I am allergic to ALL tapes and sticky things. It was a nightmare when the nurse would come to clean the thing and put a new part on it....the clear adhesive on top, nope couldn't tollerate it at all, bubbled up and became infected. I couldn't shower because water would get into the hole, it too became infected and needed cream put on daily. No tape.....not even paper tape now, had to order some stuff from Sweden that held lightly without adhesives in it. I bathed in the tub with my arm raised with gause on it. The nurse had to wrap it with gauze to keep it clean. My arm is still sore from where the port-a-cath was, like a bruise....glad they allowed you the port in the chest....be blessed...
  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    #16
    Skybuf said:

    Hi there, you've all had ports in the chest, I wish my dr mentioned that option to me, I had a port-a-cath in my upper inside arm. I am allergic to ALL tapes and sticky things. It was a nightmare when the nurse would come to clean the thing and put a new part on it....the clear adhesive on top, nope couldn't tollerate it at all, bubbled up and became infected. I couldn't shower because water would get into the hole, it too became infected and needed cream put on daily. No tape.....not even paper tape now, had to order some stuff from Sweden that held lightly without adhesives in it. I bathed in the tub with my arm raised with gause on it. The nurse had to wrap it with gauze to keep it clean. My arm is still sore from where the port-a-cath was, like a bruise....glad they allowed you the port in the chest....be blessed...

    I am glad mine was in the chest( only problem there was when the grandkids would sit on my lap their heads were right inline of the port! ouchie). I was informed that they also put them in the arm and legs. not where the docs like to put them....I still have problems with tape stickiness...blister no matter what kind,even bandaids.
  • epgnyc
    epgnyc Member Posts: 137
    #17
    While I didn't have a port, I do have a huge dent in my chest. I think of it more as a chasm rather than a dent! My breast tumor (1.7 cm) was located in a very unusual place -- very high up on the inside chest wall. Literally, it was above my bra line. With the odd location it was a miracle it was found before it spread to my nodes, because it never showed up on a mammogram and one certainly doesn't hit that spot during a self-breast exam. Anyway, don't feel silly having asked the doctor about possible plastic surgery. I did the same thing, since the sunken place is so large and so visible. The doctor explained that after plastic surgery in such a location, the concave part often reappears, so I gave up on the idea. I don't expose the area (okay so I'm a little vain) and wear higher necks on all my clothing and swimsuits. But heck, we're still here and that's the important thing!
  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #18
    epgnyc said:

    While I didn't have a port, I do have a huge dent in my chest. I think of it more as a chasm rather than a dent! My breast tumor (1.7 cm) was located in a very unusual place -- very high up on the inside chest wall. Literally, it was above my bra line. With the odd location it was a miracle it was found before it spread to my nodes, because it never showed up on a mammogram and one certainly doesn't hit that spot during a self-breast exam. Anyway, don't feel silly having asked the doctor about possible plastic surgery. I did the same thing, since the sunken place is so large and so visible. The doctor explained that after plastic surgery in such a location, the concave part often reappears, so I gave up on the idea. I don't expose the area (okay so I'm a little vain) and wear higher necks on all my clothing and swimsuits. But heck, we're still here and that's the important thing!

    I didn't have a port but I do have a dent above my breast which was caused by removing the tissue during the mastectomy and not having it refilled during reconstruction. Initially, it bothered me so I had the Plastic Surgeon try to fill it. Once, he tried one of their fillers and it didn't work so the 2nd time, he used my fat from my thigh. It filled it in a bit but reabsorbed. It is very obvious to me but I don't think it really is that noticable to others. I'm a 7 year survivor and have since stopped focusing on it. You do what you feel is necessary for your piece of mind, but I don't think people think any less of you for having it! HUGS!! Cathy
  • teresaglea
    teresaglea Member Posts: 16
    #19
    cruf said:

    I didn't have a port but I do have a dent above my breast which was caused by removing the tissue during the mastectomy and not having it refilled during reconstruction. Initially, it bothered me so I had the Plastic Surgeon try to fill it. Once, he tried one of their fillers and it didn't work so the 2nd time, he used my fat from my thigh. It filled it in a bit but reabsorbed. It is very obvious to me but I don't think it really is that noticable to others. I'm a 7 year survivor and have since stopped focusing on it. You do what you feel is necessary for your piece of mind, but I don't think people think any less of you for having it! HUGS!! Cathy

    thanks for all your help ladies. I guess I'll just live with it. I'm not going to have plastic surgery and still have a dent. Just not worth it. Your folks are great, thanks again. Teresa

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