port question
But ... my friend ... OMG! When she went for her first treatment the nurses said they couldn't do it using the port because it was so swollen, sore ... bruised etc ... and that was three WEEKS after port installation. Since it wasn't an "emergency" to start chemo ... they told her to wait and come back the following week ... but it didn't look any better so they had to use the vein in her arm.
Anyway ... did my friend go to a crappy surgeon ... or ... is it really a more difficult procedure to put the port on the right side? It still looks like a mess ... and she's still sore and bruised from surgery almost 2 months ago.
Thanks for any input on this.
hugs.
teena
Comments
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right side port
I had my port on the right side and had no problems. I was sore for the first week but then hardly knew it was there. I would have your friend check back with the surgeon to see if there is an infection at the site.0 -
Hi Teenacalvertcrafts said:right side port
I had my port on the right side and had no problems. I was sore for the first week but then hardly knew it was there. I would have your friend check back with the surgeon to see if there is an infection at the site.
I had my lumpectomy, axillary node dissection on the left side, so my surgeon put my port on the right. I had a little soreness initially, but after that no problems at all. I think they try to put it on the unaffected side, but with a double mastectomy---I really don't know how they decide. Girls?
Hugs, Renee0 -
Left
My surgeon said it depends on which side is going to have the most surgery done - it's put on the least affected side. In other words if you are going to have a left mast then it will be on the right side, with bilat mast it will be put on the side that is getting the least invasive surgery. Can also be placed in arm.
I had my first infusion the day after port was put in - no problem. My port's been in close to 2 years now and there it is going to stay "just in case" til I hit the magic 5 year post point (I'm IBC). The way I look at it is sort of silly but as long as it's there, it's ready to do battle again and the cancer knows it so it will stay away. If it's taken out then the cancer will know it can get a bigger hold before it can be fought again so it will attack. Said it was silly but to me makes sense. My Chemo Dr and my PA all agree with me - well not exactly the way I picture it but the idea of keeping til I hit 5 yrs. So I have another 3+ years of monthly flushes but that isn't bad at all for the peace of mind it being there gives me. (Also allows me to see my PA's RN monthly so if I have any questions I can ask her- she'll go ask PA IF she doesn't know the answer or go grab PA to come see me if she think it's necessary. Gives me a little more 'security' in that I'm doing all I can rather than just having 6 mth appt.)0 -
Mine was on the right
Mine was on the right side since cancer was on the left. I was lucky and had no problems with it. I've been under the impression that the port goes on the side cancer is not, but I could be wrong.
Wishing your friend a quick recovery from this and an easy time from now on.
marge0 -
My thoughts on this are themwallace1325 said:Mine was on the right
Mine was on the right side since cancer was on the left. I was lucky and had no problems with it. I've been under the impression that the port goes on the side cancer is not, but I could be wrong.
Wishing your friend a quick recovery from this and an easy time from now on.
marge
My thoughts on this are the same as Marge. My cancer was on the left side, so mine was installed on my right side. But I had mine removed when I had my bilateral mastectomy/reconstruction surgery. It is my understanding that the major vein (jugular in the neck)runs down the side of your body and it's this vein that they tap the port into and it's then placed above the heart. I was warned when mine was installed that there could be complications, but it happens so infrequently. It sounds like the oncology nurses are keeping an eye on it though, I am sure if it worsens she will need to have the surgeon look at it.
Wishing your friend better success down the road,
Lorrie0 -
Thanksbutterflylvr said:My thoughts on this are the
My thoughts on this are the same as Marge. My cancer was on the left side, so mine was installed on my right side. But I had mine removed when I had my bilateral mastectomy/reconstruction surgery. It is my understanding that the major vein (jugular in the neck)runs down the side of your body and it's this vein that they tap the port into and it's then placed above the heart. I was warned when mine was installed that there could be complications, but it happens so infrequently. It sounds like the oncology nurses are keeping an eye on it though, I am sure if it worsens she will need to have the surgeon look at it.
Wishing your friend better success down the road,
Lorrie
Thank you all for you input on this. My friend has some sort of leukemia ... so it doesn't involve right/left breast. It was my thought that this new port was not installed on the left side because that's where her other one was and there might be scar tissue from its removal. So ... the new one went on the right side. I just couldn't imagine how a doctor could make such a mess out of a port installation. I thought we were pretty much "built" the same on both sides ... so I couldn't imagine how much more "difficult" it could have been this time on the right side. And ... those of you who had your ports on the right side pretty much let me know that she just had a "not-so-good" surgeon... which is what I thought all along. Poor thing.
hugs.
teena0 -
RightRague said:Left
My surgeon said it depends on which side is going to have the most surgery done - it's put on the least affected side. In other words if you are going to have a left mast then it will be on the right side, with bilat mast it will be put on the side that is getting the least invasive surgery. Can also be placed in arm.
I had my first infusion the day after port was put in - no problem. My port's been in close to 2 years now and there it is going to stay "just in case" til I hit the magic 5 year post point (I'm IBC). The way I look at it is sort of silly but as long as it's there, it's ready to do battle again and the cancer knows it so it will stay away. If it's taken out then the cancer will know it can get a bigger hold before it can be fought again so it will attack. Said it was silly but to me makes sense. My Chemo Dr and my PA all agree with me - well not exactly the way I picture it but the idea of keeping til I hit 5 yrs. So I have another 3+ years of monthly flushes but that isn't bad at all for the peace of mind it being there gives me. (Also allows me to see my PA's RN monthly so if I have any questions I can ask her- she'll go ask PA IF she doesn't know the answer or go grab PA to come see me if she think it's necessary. Gives me a little more 'security' in that I'm doing all I can rather than just having 6 mth appt.)
Thanks for the info. I will have to question my surgeon. She plans on putting the port on my right and I am having a lumpectomy and node removal on the right.0 -
I didn't have good veins in my neck area....
so my port was put in my right thigh. It worked out well being there, except in the winter when I had to wear long pants. I just took a pair of old sweats and cut a hole in them right where the port was and they did my chemo that way. I have since heard that having your port in your thigh is very rare. I had it taken out as soon as I was given a clear bill of health and hope I never need one again.
Love and Light,
Vicki0 -
problem insertion but . . .Reikigemgirl said:I didn't have good veins in my neck area....
so my port was put in my right thigh. It worked out well being there, except in the winter when I had to wear long pants. I just took a pair of old sweats and cut a hole in them right where the port was and they did my chemo that way. I have since heard that having your port in your thigh is very rare. I had it taken out as soon as I was given a clear bill of health and hope I never need one again.
Love and Light,
Vicki
My surgeon had problems getting my port in - it was put in on the left since my cancer was in the right breast. He tried twice but my vein were built funny or something and my BP spiked up over 190/95 so he quit and called in an intervention radiologist who got it in without a problem (4 days later of course since he wasn't free the same day!). I didn't have any problems after. I, too, think your friend needs to get that checked and am surprised the nurses didn't push the issue. Hope all is better soon.0 -
my cancer was on left, hadlynn1950 said:Hi Teena! My cancer was on
Hi Teena! My cancer was on the left and my port was put in on the right. After a week of some soreness, I had no problems with my port. Sorry your friend is having trouble with hers. xoxoxox Lynn
my cancer was on left, had the mastectomy and port was installed on left, getting ready to start radiation and was wondering how long i needed to keep the port...0 -
Renee I still have my port and my chemo ws completed a year ago March 30. My surgical oncolgist wants it out, but my medical oncologist will not remove it until I get all my scans this June. If everything looks good then they will remove it. Some have had their ports removed shortly after receiving chemo. In my experience it seems to depend on you, your dx (mine was very aggressive) and your onc.renee616 said:my cancer was on left, had
my cancer was on left, had the mastectomy and port was installed on left, getting ready to start radiation and was wondering how long i needed to keep the port...
Loved having my port for chemo and blood draws.0 -
Teena... My port was installed on the right.natly15 said:Renee I still have my port and my chemo ws completed a year ago March 30. My surgical oncolgist wants it out, but my medical oncologist will not remove it until I get all my scans this June. If everything looks good then they will remove it. Some have had their ports removed shortly after receiving chemo. In my experience it seems to depend on you, your dx (mine was very aggressive) and your onc.
Loved having my port for chemo and blood draws.
I had a bilateral, however most invasive surgery/nodes removed was on the left. I agree with all, surgeon installed the port on the side that required less surgery. No problems with my port. It's been Great with the Chemo and blood draws. Can't imagine Chemo without it.
Good post... Thanks!!!
Mitzi ;0)0 -
Right side cancer, left side
Right side cancer, left side port. My install was perfect. The incision healed to a mear sliver of silver scar tissue. Had port removed few days after last chemo. Had same doc remove that installed it. He reopened the scar and it has healed up horribly. Big and dark pink and it still itches. I hate it. I should have had him make a new incision. I would have rather had two slivers rather than one big ugly.
I do recall that they want port to be on opposite side of affected breast. I also recall something about being on left side is preferred because of closeness to heart. I recall my husband being happy my cancer was on right because it meant port would be on left.0 -
Had my port on the leastEllenaMaria said:Right side cancer, left side
Right side cancer, left side port. My install was perfect. The incision healed to a mear sliver of silver scar tissue. Had port removed few days after last chemo. Had same doc remove that installed it. He reopened the scar and it has healed up horribly. Big and dark pink and it still itches. I hate it. I should have had him make a new incision. I would have rather had two slivers rather than one big ugly.
I do recall that they want port to be on opposite side of affected breast. I also recall something about being on left side is preferred because of closeness to heart. I recall my husband being happy my cancer was on right because it meant port would be on left.
Had my port on the least affected side, as others have spoke of. I did have some minor irritation where the thread stuck out. Now that has been removed and the port is great. I am so sorry to hear of your friends troubles. She should definitely address this with the surgeon. Perhaps see a different surgeon. Is your friend very skinny? I was told that it is more difficult to put the port into skinny people.
Hope this was useful.
Eva0 -
Depends on many thingsrenee616 said:my cancer was on left, had
my cancer was on left, had the mastectomy and port was installed on left, getting ready to start radiation and was wondering how long i needed to keep the port...
Talk with your DR's.
I had my last Chemo on Jan 28 2010 - 6 weeks later last Rad. My port is still in and will be til I hit the 'majik' 5 years. My Dr's have said it can come out but as I'm IBC I prefer to keep it as a 'protection' in case it's needed again. I only see my Chemo Dr and my PA now - Rads and surgeon never want to see me again - and they both agree with me keeping it. Just have to go in every 4 weeks to have flushed.
Remember that we are all different.
Susan0 -
Port
I seem to recall a while ago hearing you can have problems with infection from a port and that the chemicals dont always travel through the port properly, making the surrounding area very painful. I think your friend should be seen by a professional asap just in case something going on.0
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