Ports & Chemotherapy

lnyeholt
lnyeholt Member Posts: 59
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I will be starting treatment for ovarian cancer next week. I was originally scheduled to have the port installed Wednesday with chemotherapy beginning Thursday. Due to a conflict in my oncologist's schedule, his office would like to do the surgery to install the port in the morning and administer my first chemo treatment the afternoon of the same day. Has anyone done both the same day? For those with experience with same day procedures, What pros, cons, advise, etc. can you offer?

Comments

  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #2
    Same Day
    Hello, I think it is a good idea as you are a bit sore afterwards and that accessing part would be a bit more tender. The same day they can leave it accessed for the chemo. Most the women I know get the port then the chemo, that is for regular chemo anyway. If you are talking about IP port I dont' much about that, but know lots of women here who have had both types. Good to meet you and God Bless

    Bonnie
  • lnyeholt
    lnyeholt Member Posts: 59
    #3
    BonnieR said:

    Same Day
    Hello, I think it is a good idea as you are a bit sore afterwards and that accessing part would be a bit more tender. The same day they can leave it accessed for the chemo. Most the women I know get the port then the chemo, that is for regular chemo anyway. If you are talking about IP port I dont' much about that, but know lots of women here who have had both types. Good to meet you and God Bless

    Bonnie

    Same day port & chemo
    Hi Bonnie!

    Very nice to meet you, too - I've been roaming thorugh the site and enjoying your other (very helpful) comments. Thanks for the reply.

    It's a regular port that will go in at the shoulder, not IP. I didn't realize the port could be left ready for immediate access and was worried about further irritating the area right after installation. Plus, since I don't know how I'll react to chemo I'm concerned about doing two invasive things all at once. I haven't been able to find much on the net about doing both the port and the first chemotherapy the same day but a fair amount about how sore you can be after the port is inserted.

    The nurse I talked to assured me that it's o.k. to have it done that way but I'd rather hear from people with first-hand experience before making the decision.

    Lyn
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #4
    iv port
    I had my chemo one week after the port and it was still tender. My opinion is that it would be OK to go right to chemo. My first dose caused extreme constipation so stock up on stool softeners and have you caretaker (husband) force you to drink lots of water afterwards and I do mean lots. My worst side effects came 72 hours later but the bowel thing hits the next day. ((Hugs))) Saundra
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #5
    Ports/Chemo
    Hi and welcome. It is okay to get the port, have them access it and get chemo in the same day. They would access it while you were anethesized so you would feel it. There's always a little poking feeling when they access the port normally - but they are fantastic. I highly recommend a port.

    Good luck and let us know how it goes. Hope to see you here often.

    Take care.

    Kris
  • lnyeholt
    lnyeholt Member Posts: 59
    #6
    Thanks for all the good advise!
    I want to thank everyone for all the input, both to my question and also the incredible wealth of information from other posts. I grilled the N.P. yesterday armed with questions I hadn't thought to ask earlier because I lacked input from people with first hand experience. There are no family members or friends who have had chemotherapy and I'm finding that health professionals hesitate to tell you things that might be alarming. Forewarned is forearmed, in my opinion and I appreciate your generosity sharing your own OVCA trials and tribulations!

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