Anyone with Ports inserted for Chemo

rodripa9

Hi all. My sister is having a port inserted into her chest on Wednesday for 4 sessions of TC beginning July 29th. What do you guys think? Did you like having it, uncomfortable, life saver, etc? Necessary even if only 4 sessions? Any advice? I'll be happy for tips on making things more comfortable during these next 3 months. I've been with her through diagnosing, biopsy, and lumpectomy surgery. Chemo was unexpected, we thought only radiation and hormone therapy was on the schedule. Now she's on her own for chemo since we live in different states and I start school Aug 11. Do you guys think she will be able to work, she's planning on working through it all. I don't think it's realistic, but that's what keeps her going. Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you

chenheart

Chemo
I had a port and I had no trouble with it, and for me it was indeed a god-send. Not only is it used for chemo, but for all blood draws for lab work as well. I was able to shower, swim, do whatever with it. Most everyone will suggest that if your sister gets a port she should ask for a prescription for EMLA cream---it is a topical cream she can put on the port about an hour before her chemo. It will completely numb the site. That way, she won't even be aware that she is having chemo admimistered. Ditto any blood draws.

Each person reacts individually with chemo~ many of us are NOT made physically sick from the chemo. There are many anti-nausea meds on the market now; if need be, your sister can avail herself of them. Many of us work as well; the largest obstacle are our immune systems are compromised and we have to be ultra-careful about germs, and the cumulative fatigue.

There is a lot more I can tell you, but I feel certain my fellow Kindred Spirits will weigh in here, too!

Bless you for being such a loving sister and REALLY being there physically and most importantly, emotionally for her. You are a blessing, indeed....


Hugs,
Claudia

mlmjt1

Hi rodripa9
I had a port inserted for chemo. They do it under conscious sedation and in the scheme of everything i had done it was the easiest. The port is the easist and most convenient for everyone. Some of the chemo can be toxic to peripheral veins so they would rather use a line that goes into a larger vessel. Her other alternative is a picc line which would have a tubing sticking out of her upper arm. They tend to occlude, sometimes catch on things, she would have to wrap it to shower. The picc lines usually dont stay in for any length of time though they could stay in up to a year but they dont usually last that long. Go for the port for sure. As far as working goes, I had my second round of chemo friday. I do home health nursing and I worked about 30 hours out of a 50 hour week and dont plan to work over 6 hour days just because I have been told that the fatigue is cummulative. Got to have time to rest, sleep, eat, exercise and care for yourself. Tell her not to push it.

Luck to you both

Linda T

tjhay

mlmjt1 said:

Hi rodripa9
I had a port inserted for chemo. They do it under conscious sedation and in the scheme of everything i had done it was the easiest. The port is the easist and most convenient for everyone. Some of the chemo can be toxic to peripheral veins so they would rather use a line that goes into a larger vessel. Her other alternative is a picc line which would have a tubing sticking out of her upper arm. They tend to occlude, sometimes catch on things, she would have to wrap it to shower. The picc lines usually dont stay in for any length of time though they could stay in up to a year but they dont usually last that long. Go for the port for sure. As far as working goes, I had my second round of chemo friday. I do home health nursing and I worked about 30 hours out of a 50 hour week and dont plan to work over 6 hour days just because I have been told that the fatigue is cummulative. Got to have time to rest, sleep, eat, exercise and care for yourself. Tell her not to push it.

Luck to you both

Linda T

The port is a life saver,
The port is a life saver, mine is a little uncomfortable at times, however what chemo can to to your veins and seeing as I will be having blood drawals for a very long time, cause I plan on living a very long time, the port is the way to go.
Happy smiles
tjhay

cats_toy

Hi Rodripa
most oncs wantyou to have a port or a picc because the chemo is dangerous if it leaks out of one of your veins, and this way it is put into a strong enough vein to make it safe. You can check out my expressions page to see both. But I would recommend the port.
Good luck to your sister in her treatments
Cat

lynn1950

I vote yes for a port
I had a port and I am really grateful. It's a little uncomfortable at first after the surgery, but as others have posted, it is good for more than just chemo. There was a two week period where I couldn't swim while I healed from the surgery of having it put in; Icould shower and do everything else I normally do. The port can be accessed for scans, labs, and blood draws. I used the EMLA cream to take care of any pain from having it poked. EMLA is lidocaine in a cream form that you spread over the port area one hour before it is going to be accessed.

As for working, we are all different. I was able to work, but I work half-time. I'm not sure I could have managed full-time. I would have chemo Wednesday, feel OK Thursday, start feeling kind of yucky Friday night, be out for the count on Sat. and Sun. and return to work on Monday, not feeling totally OK. By Tuesday I was fine.

Thanks for taking such good care of your sister. Caregivers are survivors' guardian angels.

Lynn

rjjj

lynn1950 said:

I vote yes for a port
I had a port and I am really grateful. It's a little uncomfortable at first after the surgery, but as others have posted, it is good for more than just chemo. There was a two week period where I couldn't swim while I healed from the surgery of having it put in; Icould shower and do everything else I normally do. The port can be accessed for scans, labs, and blood draws. I used the EMLA cream to take care of any pain from having it poked. EMLA is lidocaine in a cream form that you spread over the port area one hour before it is going to be accessed.

As for working, we are all different. I was able to work, but I work half-time. I'm not sure I could have managed full-time. I would have chemo Wednesday, feel OK Thursday, start feeling kind of yucky Friday night, be out for the count on Sat. and Sun. and return to work on Monday, not feeling totally OK. By Tuesday I was fine.

Thanks for taking such good care of your sister. Caregivers are survivors' guardian angels.

Lynn

I love my port
I have finished all treatments except the year of Herceptin, and it came in handy for all the blood draws as well. It was just a little sore for a week or so and since then i have had no problem at all with it. definitely a life-saver.
jackie

rodripa9

rjjj said:

I love my port
I have finished all treatments except the year of Herceptin, and it came in handy for all the blood draws as well. It was just a little sore for a week or so and since then i have had no problem at all with it. definitely a life-saver.
jackie

You guys are such great help
Thanks guys for all of your suggestions! You guys are extremely helpful. I've been writing all of your tips down and making a "chemo survival guide" for my sister. I think I might be able to surprise her for her 1st treatment & then she'll be on her own for the next 3 months. She has two young children but they're in that "me" stage & scared at the same time. Until now everything has been fairly easy, but w/chemo and seeing the effects of chemo it's going to be a reality check for all of us!(including my sister) Keep it coming ladies!

ladybug22

i loved my port had it 2
i loved my port had it 2 yeare going to take it out this aug.

piseminger

yes on the port
I had chemo treatments for a total of 16 session. the first 4 were every other week then they changed my chemo drugs and I went every week for 12 weeks. Like others have said the port saves your veins. I did not use anything as far as a numbing agent. There was a little prick when they inserted the needle but it wasn't as bad as if they were drawing for blood. My chemo dr. wants the port to stay in until I have 2 clean pet scans.
I was not working during the first 4 treatments but I was a full time college student and I did a full time teaching internship during my next 12 treatments. I did get tired but nothing I couldn't handle. I would tell your sister to keep her head up and go for it. I wish her the best. Welcome to the site.

susie09

What a great sister you are
What a great sister you are to try and find out so much for your sister! Just want to wish your sister good luck and to welcome you to the site here.

Keep us updated on your sister!

Good luck!

Susie