I'm just amazed as to how staff handle a port

antcat

I guess I'm just a little upset and amazed as to how staff handle a port, especially when they're supposed to be oncology nurses. I've had some type of rash (or infection) for the last 2 weeks. When I first saw the oncologist, he put me on antibiotics. And, then was referred to my primary care doc, who continued the antibiotics. I was surprised the oncologist didn't say, that the port might have an infection underneath. But needless to say he didn't. My primary care doc has been trying to see if it would clear up with antibiotics. Today, I start my 3rd different antibiotic and he told me if this isn't cleared up by next week, most likely the port will have to be removed. I asked him how this could happen, as the port is only a year old, and he said it's hard to say, sometimes it could be due to mishandling. What upset me the most was that 6 months after the port was put in when the chemo nurse gave me my chemo infusion, with the needle in the port, she actually pulled the needle as she was reaching for something else and actually tilted my port. I got so nervous I thought the needle was going to pull out. I never had her again, because I made sure I wouldn't get her. It's just amazing, when these nurses start you, they put on gloves, then go around touching other things with the gloves on and then clean the area. Why don't they do that before, I just think it's a little unsanitary. Anyway, I don't know how this is going to turn out, maybe the port will have to come out and I guess a new one put in because I'm still undergoing chemo. I didn't need this now, especially since my counts have been a little low since I've been on chemo for a year.

Tethys41

Not standard procedure
Those nurses are not following standard protocol for accessing a port. No exaggeration, I've had my port accessed hundreds of times because I receive IV vitamin C and nutritional IVs at least once a week through my port, and have since August, 2009. The procedure is supposed to be sterile. The nurses need to be wearing sterile gloves, and a mask, and should not be touching ANYTHING that is not sterile until after they have accessed and covered your port. The carelessness about pulling on your port is also inexcusable. Perhaps you should mention this to your doctor.

antcat

Tethys41 said:

Not standard procedure
Those nurses are not following standard protocol for accessing a port. No exaggeration, I've had my port accessed hundreds of times because I receive IV vitamin C and nutritional IVs at least once a week through my port, and have since August, 2009. The procedure is supposed to be sterile. The nurses need to be wearing sterile gloves, and a mask, and should not be touching ANYTHING that is not sterile until after they have accessed and covered your port. The carelessness about pulling on your port is also inexcusable. Perhaps you should mention this to your doctor.

Dear Tethys41
Thank you for what you wrote. Funny thing is I did mention the particular nurse who pulled on my port to not only the doctor, and the nursing supervisor and it was like, not a big deal. I went to a cancer center because I thought if any people would be up on current trends or extra careful, it would be them, but I was wrong. I've read on this board where people have ports for years, mine was only a year old and now I have to go back to the surgeon. Thank you again.

lindaprocopio

antcat said:

Dear Tethys41
Thank you for what you wrote. Funny thing is I did mention the particular nurse who pulled on my port to not only the doctor, and the nursing supervisor and it was like, not a big deal. I went to a cancer center because I thought if any people would be up on current trends or extra careful, it would be them, but I was wrong. I've read on this board where people have ports for years, mine was only a year old and now I have to go back to the surgeon. Thank you again.

They are SUPER anal about cleanliness where I go.
The precautions to keep everything sterile are super stringent at Oncology/Hematology where I go, for accessing and de-accessing my port. I did get a glimpse of a more casual attitude when I had my port de-accessed (??? Unplugged??) at radiology once. He put a bare finger over my port while he reached for a bandaid after he de-accessed my port!! I was clearly horrified. From then on, I always make an appointment to first get my port accessed AND de-accessed at Oncology/Hematology if I'm going to have a scan or anything else done elsewhere in the hospital. Makes for a longer day, but I will take that trade-off. I've been actively using my port since 2009 with no problems (knock on wood.)

MK_4Dani

Speak up!
What you have described is a gross violation! You should speak up to the charge nurse or the head nurse/doctor in charge of the treatment area. They need to conduct a refresher course on accessing ports. This will sound morbid but your action may save life. A patient at the end of their treatments with low blood counts may not survive sepsis. I would also consider searching for a different treatment center. Since the ONC nurses are the backbone of a treatment center: if they have a cavalier attitude towards this subject I question the entire treatment center.
Just my two cents worth.
Mary

Hissy_Fitz

My first port lasted a year
My first port lasted a year to the month. Then it eroded thru the skin and had to be removed. They placed a new on on the opposite side. I only had 4 more maintenance treatments to go and could have done them IV, but elected not to. Once your veins are trashed, they are never the same, and chemo can definitely trash them.

When I called my doctor's office, and got his nurse, with my suspicions regarding the erosion, she kind of blew me off and said have him look at it on my next scheduled visit, which was a week or so off. I was actually out of town, in a tiny little town on the Texas/Mexico border, when I got up one morning and there was a dime-sized hole in my chest, with metal peeking thru. I went to the nearest (tiny) hospital and they put antibiotic cream on it and covered it with a huge, clear type of bandage, then traditional gauze, and told me to go straight home. I was worried about the TSA idiots wanting me to remove all the dressings at the airport, but they didn't.


Carlene

carolyn45

Hissy_Fitz said:

My first port lasted a year
My first port lasted a year to the month. Then it eroded thru the skin and had to be removed. They placed a new on on the opposite side. I only had 4 more maintenance treatments to go and could have done them IV, but elected not to. Once your veins are trashed, they are never the same, and chemo can definitely trash them.

When I called my doctor's office, and got his nurse, with my suspicions regarding the erosion, she kind of blew me off and said have him look at it on my next scheduled visit, which was a week or so off. I was actually out of town, in a tiny little town on the Texas/Mexico border, when I got up one morning and there was a dime-sized hole in my chest, with metal peeking thru. I went to the nearest (tiny) hospital and they put antibiotic cream on it and covered it with a huge, clear type of bandage, then traditional gauze, and told me to go straight home. I was worried about the TSA idiots wanting me to remove all the dressings at the airport, but they didn't.


Carlene

Port procedures
Whenever my port was accessed, the nurses wore masks and gloves and cautioned me to not even look at the port but to breathe in the opposite direction from it. What you have experienced is gross negligence and needs to be treated as such. Don't be afraid to scream and yell about actions that endanger you. Having cancer is dangerous enough without sloppy actions on the part of medical professionals.

antcat

carolyn45 said:

Port procedures
Whenever my port was accessed, the nurses wore masks and gloves and cautioned me to not even look at the port but to breathe in the opposite direction from it. What you have experienced is gross negligence and needs to be treated as such. Don't be afraid to scream and yell about actions that endanger you. Having cancer is dangerous enough without sloppy actions on the part of medical professionals.

thank you everyone
for you kind words. I have decided that I am going to make a change especially after this. I did try voiceing my concerns to the doctor, but it's like they don't really want to hear it. I also told his nurse and she passed it off and then I asked to directly speak to the nursing supervisor of the chemo room, but had no luck. It's enough dealing with the cancer, and I certainly didn't want the added problems of an infected port. In fact, I did read on the internet today that if the chemo nurse doesn't enter the portal the correct way with the Huber needle, the port could get infected from the actual chemotherapy being injected in.

So, until I see the surgeon, I'll just have to hope it stays the same. Thanks again.