port removal

robin226
robin226 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Long-Term Effects of Treatment #1
as of today I am cancer free, it has really been 1 year this month. When is the smartest/ best time to have the port removed? Is one year cancer free right?- for removal of a port.

Comments

  • harleyrider
    harleyrider Member Posts: 6
    #2
    Mine was removed 1 month post treatment end. I had anal canal cancer - I think it depends in part on your doctor - what he thinks is your prognosis - combined with the "personality" of the cancer you had.
  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 43
    #3
    harleyrider said:

    Mine was removed 1 month post treatment end. I had anal canal cancer - I think it depends in part on your doctor - what he thinks is your prognosis - combined with the "personality" of the cancer you had.

    I finished treatment for anal cancer last Sept and in my 3month exam the doc found only scar tissue. I assume they will leave the port in for awhile yet. What is removal like? Do they put you out for it and if not is it painful?
  • artizan
    artizan Member Posts: 59
    #4
    Therre is no one answer
    Discuss this with your doctors. What is your prognosis? In my case it was left up to me. I was in an early stage of cancer that had not spread. They were certain that they had gotten all of the cancer. They asked me how I felt about having it or not having it. Some people just want it out as a final step in the battle. Others are comfortable with having it in. I had mine removed one year after my cancer during my second mastectomy which was prophylactic.
  • Dreamdove
    Dreamdove Member Posts: 175 Member
    #5
    Glad mine came out
    Mine was removed 6 months after my last chemo. I thought, "what if it comes back--does that mean they will open up the healed incision and insert another one?" But so far, so good. I've been 19 months in remission from stage 3c ovarian cancer. Glad it's out in any case!
  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 43
    #6
    My port?
    I was just wondering if the removal is painful? I guess it seems like whining after the brutal treatment I went thru for the anal cancer but everything seems to make me so emotional these days. I was brave and cheerful going thru the treatment but now I seem to be in tears at the drop of a hat.
  • Chellebug
    Chellebug Member Posts: 133 Member
    #7
    zjrosenthal said:

    My port?
    I was just wondering if the removal is painful? I guess it seems like whining after the brutal treatment I went thru for the anal cancer but everything seems to make me so emotional these days. I was brave and cheerful going thru the treatment but now I seem to be in tears at the drop of a hat.

    Is it painful? It depends....
    My original port was put in on my right side (before they knew I had breast cancer on my right side, too). I ended up having it removed so that I could do radiation on the right, then they put a new port on the left side.

    Anyway, to remove the old port and put a new one in, they sedated me. I was awake and could talk to the doctor and nurses during the entire process. It's a litte weird. I think the sedation is supposed to relax you and the shots are supposed to keep you from hurting. But in my case, I felt the entire thing. And it hurt! I liken it to them digging around to get a rusty nail out of my chest. But my case is an odd one, as I'd just had a bilateral mastectomy about 3 weeks before the port was removed. That may be why it was so painful.

    Now, they put the new one in first and then took the old one out. Maybe they didn't give me enough sedation since my procedure lasted longer. A friend of mine recently had her port removed in a similar fashion. Her biggest complaint was feeling claustrophobic because they drape one of those blue sheets over your head. There's some space between your face and the sheet, but it can be a bit claustrophobic.

    Ask your doctor how they're going to do the procedure. Will they put you out completely, or just sedate you?

    You sound like me. I was very strong and brave and cheerful through the majority of my treatment. In the last month I started getting very weepy and emotional, and depressed. I started on an anti-depressant and am feeling SO MUCH better. Odd that I didn't need it during the majority of treatment.
  • Chellebug
    Chellebug Member Posts: 133 Member
    #8
    Best time to remove...
    Your doctor will probably have the best recommendation, but ultimately I think it's up to you. I just finished my treatments on Tuesday, but I'm hoping to keep my port as long as it works. I can't have blood drawn from either of my arms, so for me, I'd rather my blood draws come from my port instead of my ankle! I haven't talked to my doctor about it yet, but that's what I plan on telling her. Strange, though. I remember when I first got my port and HATED it. Now it's a good friend that I'd hate to lose. Chelle
  • harleyrider
    harleyrider Member Posts: 6
    #9
    port removal
    They gave me the same thing to take it out as they did to put it in - phentynal and versed. (not sure how to spell that) Anyway - did it hurt. Yes - but not painfully so. It sort of ached - it actually hurt more being put in as everything had to stretch. Now the scar just itches like you wouldn't believe.

    As for being weepy - I hear ya - that sucked - the treatment the side effects the humiliation of all the exams, etc. I was brave and even had a of jokes to tell - anal canal cancer is a target rich environment for jokes - Suffering deserves tears - and joy - that we able to live through it and can move past it. That requires grieving and that means tears.
  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 43
    #10
    Port and anal cancer
    Thanks for the info on port removal. I just saw my chemo oncologist last week and she said that they used to leave the port in for a year but as they have had so few relapses (great news) that they could take it out sooner. I decided to leave it in until my next exam at 6 months post treatment just in case I need another round of chemo. As long as they put me out like for the insert it shouldn't be a problem. Having it in is just a constant reminder that I am still a cancer patient. The tears have subsided somewhat but I have a feeling it is going to take me a long time to process this whole experience.
  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #11
    zjrosenthal said:

    My port?
    I was just wondering if the removal is painful? I guess it seems like whining after the brutal treatment I went thru for the anal cancer but everything seems to make me so emotional these days. I was brave and cheerful going thru the treatment but now I seem to be in tears at the drop of a hat.

    port
    I had my port taken out as soon as possible. I had my ileostomy reversal in Dec 07, and they took my port out in Jan of 07. The surgeon did this in his office. He numbed the area with only a local. The numbing part with a needle was the worst part. I could tell that he was tugging and pulling but didn't feel any pain. I considered myself quite the trooper for only having a local. He did this before he checked my incision from the reversal. That night the area was pretty sore, the next day it was tender. Pain meds took care of it very well. God bless.
  • momacork
    momacork Member Posts: 3
    #12
    Port
    I am three weeks out of treatment for anal cancer and saw the onco today she said they will probably leave it in for awhile in case of the need for more treatment. It does not bother me to much however my summer shirts when I ride will show and people have alot of questions when they see the lump and tube running up my neck but thats ok. I weigh a mere 100 pounds and it is very noticeable but maybe I will be able to educate some people on being proactive with their medical problems and treatments. My prayers are with you all!!!!
  • ACW189
    ACW189 Member Posts: 24
    #13
    harleyrider said:

    Mine was removed 1 month post treatment end. I had anal canal cancer - I think it depends in part on your doctor - what he thinks is your prognosis - combined with the "personality" of the cancer you had.

    Anal Cancer Just Diagnosed
    Would you be willing to answer a few questions? I was just diagnosed and looking for others to share. I too had a very small lesion. Two biopsies confirmed stage one. They were able to excise the lesion but I'm still going to have radiation and chemo 5 1/2 weeks with two cycles of chemo (5FU and MitC). I've been told the radiation is low dose but worry about the side affects from both. I have a rectocele, so the lining between my rectum and my vagina is very thin -- worrisome. How did you manage the process? Any words of wisdom? What late side affects are you noticing?
  • t_1959
    t_1959 Member Posts: 4
    #14
    harleyrider said:

    Mine was removed 1 month post treatment end. I had anal canal cancer - I think it depends in part on your doctor - what he thinks is your prognosis - combined with the "personality" of the cancer you had.

    Anal Cancer
    Hi harleyrider,i was diagnous with anal cancer june 2nd 2009.i had 5 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy treatments.5 weeks after my therapy treatments i had surgery october 27th.on october 13th was my follow up with my doctor he said he removed the cancer and i had to have a colosomy bag.i begged to have this "infusaport" removed from my left arm on october 3rd,i called the doctor office and reguest anesthesia before removal.i'm a surviver thank god !!
  • t_1959
    t_1959 Member Posts: 4
    #15
    Dreamdove said:

    Glad mine came out
    Mine was removed 6 months after my last chemo. I thought, "what if it comes back--does that mean they will open up the healed incision and insert another one?" But so far, so good. I've been 19 months in remission from stage 3c ovarian cancer. Glad it's out in any case!

    Anal Cancer
    Hi Dreamdove,i'm having my infusaport removed on october 3rd 2009.i beg to have anesthesia.yes i guess i'am a big baby too.after all i have been through this year no more pain.thank god !

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