IP Port

MK_4Dani

Hello Everyone. I am new to this world of cancer and these boards have really helped with great information and postive thoughts. I was dx in July of this year. I have had all the surgery (Stage IIIC) and getting ready for chemo. I am wondering who has had carboplatin via IP (6 rounds every three weeks) that can share their experience and what to expect.

TDodds68

Carbo
I will say you probably won't have any issues with carbo most of the people I have spoken with at my clinic don't. I thank God for the port I have horrible veins. My port is implanted in my right chest. They do the blood work flush it then keep it accessed for the chemo.

I was supposed to be on taxol and carbo but was elergic to taxol so they did just the carbo. They had me 6 rounds 1 every 3 weeks also. The main syptoms were I would just get tired easily and nautious some I only got sick a couple of times. Also I would get very hot especially from my head partly due to surgery and partly the chemo. Just make sure you take something for any problems you have with bowels that is a major problem with any of the chemos and from the surgery. That was the only things I had felt but I must have had some type of reaction to the carbo also slowly I was getting blurred vision, then hearing problems first like when your ears need to be popped then sharp pains in them. Yesterday was supposed to be my final round but they cancelled it not only was my potassium really low but he said he didn't want me to loose my hearing for one more round of chemo he thinks it is related to the chemo so they are not going to do the 6th round at all. I was also getting some skin problems with sores appearing but I am an albino with skin problems he said it could be aggravating it. He is doing a auditory consult to check to see how bad the hearing has gotten and I am doing a pelvic and abdominal CT scan any day now to make sure everything looks good including the spot that was on my lung and then every 3 months I will go in for CA-125 to make sure it is not recurring. They are keeping my port in to be on the safe side so I will have to go in once a month to have it flushed and heperin injected. Unfortunitally I am one of those people that have a problem with almost any med. AFter surgery I had to be on extra strenght tylenol since I get sick on stronger pain meds and the nausia meds make me sick. The majority of people have no problems with carbo, pain, or nausia meds I just seem to be the lucky one when it comes to meds my mom is the same way. Good luck and you will be in my prayers.

nancy591

IP meaning intra-peritoneal
I had 3 rounds of IP (directly into the abdomen). First they infuse 1 lt of fluid IV. When that is complete they infuse 1 lt of fluid into your abdomen. So, if I remember correctly, you'll probably be recv'ng 2 lts of fluids total. Wear stretchy pants as your will feel a bit bloated. Sometimes accessing the IP port was a bit painful. They gave me a topical ointment to apply 30 min prior to infusing. They bloated feeling usually goes away within 24hours. I also experienced a lot of rectal gas after the infusion. I recv'd cisplatin and taxol IP. Hope this info helps and good luck!

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groundeffect

Starting mine soon, too
Hi MK,

I'm going to have IP carboplatin soon, also. My port is in place; the gyn/onc put it in place when I had a tumor removed on Sept. 16th. I've been told it's a rather painful process, but I know we all have different pain tolerance, so I'm hoping for the best.

My port is a bit annoying, being just below my right ribs, and seems to like to try to wedge itself between my bra and pants waistband! One of my notes for tomorrow is to find a bra that's not an underwire!

I'm to have my staples removed on Monday at the oncologist's office, and hope to have more information myself then. I tolerated the carbo/taxol combo well when I had it seven years ago, and it did well for a long time for me; I hope it will do the same for you!