power port

Greg53

finz2lft said:

Port
One thing, the hospital that I get the chemo and rads at, will not numb the port area prior to using the port. They told me to get some Lydacaine from my Oncologist and they would use that to numb the area. My Oncologist gave me a RX, and it is very helpful as many times as I get stuck. God Bless everyone.

finz2lft
Finz,
Got your email and replied. My email has been acting up, let me know if you received it.
Greg

Skiffin16

finz2lft said:

Port
One thing, the hospital that I get the chemo and rads at, will not numb the port area prior to using the port. They told me to get some Lydacaine from my Oncologist and they would use that to numb the area. My Oncologist gave me a RX, and it is very helpful as many times as I get stuck. God Bless everyone.

Port Pain
Finz, with as many time as you'll get stuck the pain from sticking the port becomes minimal. It does sting for a few minutes, but goes away.

I tend to dislike it more now that when I was getting stuck routinely. Now it's only for the flushing.

JG

tonyanddenise

Kent Cass said:

Could be-
right about the artery thing, John- the blood toter that sticks-out against the skin above, in my case, the Port lump. Thing is, Tony really should get an explanation for this malfunction with his Port- you really should, Tony.

kcass

2 docs 3 nurses 1
2 docs 3 nurses 1 radiologist and a fluoroscope. no answer. they did however replace the thing yesterday. thanks by the way

tonyanddenise

Greg53 said:

finz2lft
Finz,
Got your email and replied. My email has been acting up, let me know if you received it.
Greg

I can't seem to get this
I can't seem to get this site mail to work for me. I am @ tonyberry@columbus.rr.com

tonyanddenise

Kimba1505 said:

What treatment plan?
Tony,
What treatment plan did you decide on? I am interested. Mark just switched from cisplatin to carboplatin/taxol. Radiation wise he hit the 1/2 way mark yesterday and is doing great. Still swallowing everything...no use of the PEG yet. Biggest comlaints: dry mouth, no taste, stiff jaw.
Mark doesn't have the port. He was supposed to just have 3 rounds of chemo (with two days of IV fluids after) 9 IVs. I guess they did not think this was enought to warrent a port. He does have blood drawn every week too. With new chemo he will only have 3 more IVs (hopefully).
Keep going. It does move forward.
Kim

tx plan
the consensus was cisplatin and taxol with anti nasuea. also not completely sure of the rest except for the lasix @ the end of day. I was told the drip would be about 7 hours once a week.
This was to be accompanied by 6000 RAD IMRTK daily for 7 weeks to start. I really like my drs. been looking for that comfort zone.I am looking for numbers like a similar post you had commented on. The Dr. won't really comment on things per say, simply that the thing to concentrate on an aggressive tx to try and stop probable recurrence. I think there is concern about a second primary since my nodes were so low in neck and chest. my wife says I worry too much. I just keep seeing doubtful 5 yr survival, also seeing great strides of healing. pretty scared for my family and want to try to make sure not to become a burden.

CLRRN

MIke here had to butt in after I heard..........................
Hey Tony this is Mike Chris's other half and the reason we are on here. I can totally relate to your entire case history started pretty much like mine did. I can tell you a few things first hand, having finished all of my treatments I coudlnt be happier they are actually over and done with. Th actual day to day worsening of my health was a lot to deal with swallowing gradually going to none, voice fading to a whisper, very disheartening on a day to day basis. But the good news is it resolves quicker than it appears to have come on as my voice is back and the swallowing well thats a ways off yet but I know it will get better. Skin rash from the radiation treatments is almost all gone, along with my scar from the dissection. I have to crank my bow down a bit I can no longer pull back 70 pounds but seeing as 2 days after my dissection I could shoot the bow I know it will come back ! I was lucky enough to have my left side the bow holding hand side involved in the dissection and was able to still shoot Good thing hate to think a brand new bow from last season would have been un-usable for this season. Was fully prepared to be a crossbow hunter as I have had one for a few years and have already developed a love for crossbow hunting not much different from regular bow hunting maybe a ten yard boost in range but I can shoot my regular bow to fifty yards so I didnt even get that, the increase in noise makes it about even so you still need to be bow hunter stealthy to be good with it so knowing you cant pull your bow do yourself a favor and go get one, if you cant let me know maybe you can borrow mine to at least get out there this season make that one of your goals for this disease. Theres a lot of stuff you will have questions about so feel free to ask away I can help with most anything you wonder about been through all you have in front of you. Its a tough road probably the hardest thing Ive ever faced and in cancer probably the second toughest treatment out there behind only rectal Im told. So yeah its ok to why me and cry to yourself but what ever you do keep your other half constantly in the loop Denise sounds as awesome as Chris is with me so keep her close and never stop telling her you love her she will be what you need to get through the tough times Chris has been the only reason Ive made it so far because there were times when I wished I just ignored it and let it run its course knowing of course that what I did was make the right decision. I think basically we have a year to go t get through this and then we can look back and say thats just a bad memory now. a year from now. I looking forward to next years vacation having had to skip the trip this year. I know I babbled a lot but just wanted to let you know a few things straight away

tonyanddenise

Kent Cass said:

tony
let us know the results of the Port testing, please. next flush I might ask the Nurses if they've ever run into a leaker.

kcass

port
the doctor has not given me a reason that the port had failed. He said it was operating fine at the inception. This guy is in another facility and not my regular staff of doc's. I am not really thrilled with him. the port in my opinion had tilted. I suspect that there was a kink in the catheter itself. Probably not highly likely but my best guess. He did reinstall and it "sets" in a flatter position and more stable. I guess we'll see Thursday @ the chemo start.
Oddly enough while at the jeweler in town dropping off my wifes charm bracelet I spoke to the jeweler about his wife and her reoccuring breast cancer. His brows raised while explaining the port problem. Apparently she had hers replaced as well due to complications with the unit. I opted for this as a "better" than vein frying option. Lets hope it was the right choice. Seems the black cloud has followed me for a while at each step. I am ready for some sunshine!