Need some help to decide the best port to ask for

antcat

I decided I need to see the surgeon about my port, it's not getting any worse, but it's not getting better, even after 18 days of antibiotics. When I originally had my port put in, the surgeon didn't tell me of different kinds. The one I had was a portacath and I always found it to be somewhat large and bulky (in fact the chemo nurses always commented about the size). For the ladies who have ports, what type do you have? Did you ask your dr. for a specific type? I know there's something called a mediport. Any help you can give me would be appreciated as I will be seeing the dr. this week. Thank you.

Mwee

ports
My port type is pronounced (gro-shawn). I've had it for 5 1/2 years with no problems and the chemo nurses LOVE it.
(((HUGS))) Maria

AnneBehymer

I have a smart port a power
I have a smart port a power injectable port. My doctor did not give me a choses when I went in they just put it in. They did show me the post and explained how it would go in. All of my nurses coment on what a great port I have and I have never had a problem with the port. It is a great port to have because it is easy to access and seems to be doing very well in me I have had not problems with it. I have only had it for around three months so I am not sure if that is enough time to sing its praises but I do love it.

Anne

Hissy_Fitz

AnneBehymer said:

I have a smart port a power
I have a smart port a power injectable port. My doctor did not give me a choses when I went in they just put it in. They did show me the post and explained how it would go in. All of my nurses coment on what a great port I have and I have never had a problem with the port. It is a great port to have because it is easy to access and seems to be doing very well in me I have had not problems with it. I have only had it for around three months so I am not sure if that is enough time to sing its praises but I do love it.

Anne

I had the purple Power Port.
I had the purple Power Port. Two of them.

Carlene

antcat

Hissy_Fitz said:

I had the purple Power Port.
I had the purple Power Port. Two of them.

Carlene

Thank you everyone
Thank you everyone for your replies, it really helps to be informed. I've found out that a person needs to be a very active advocate in their care, regardless of whether or not doctors like it. You are all great, thanks again.

lindaprocopio

antcat said:

Thank you everyone
Thank you everyone for your replies, it really helps to be informed. I've found out that a person needs to be a very active advocate in their care, regardless of whether or not doctors like it. You are all great, thanks again.

I have the purple Power Port, too!
Initially the surgeon didn't want to give me the Power Port because it is pretty big for someone that is as boney as I am where they put it. But I have had to have PET scans every 2 months for a long time now to measure disease progression and the effectiveness of the many chemos I've tried. And the Power Port allows you to have the radioactive contrast through it for PET scans. I ruined my arm veins getting my First Line carbo/taxol without a port, so I really needed a full-service port that could handle anything. I've had it 2 years, never a problem.

Once your port is placed, be sure and wear a good supportive bra ever afterward, with the straps hiked up, to keep that 'downward pull' of the weight of your boobs (even little ones!) from pulling on your port and making you uncomfortable. I tell myself I look so PERKY with 'the girls' always hiked up to my chin. HA!

I understand that they now make a Power Port that doesn't have those 3 littls bumps on it and is slightly smaller. I'd ask about that one.

Tethys41

Vas-cath
I have a vas-cath, which is a power port without the bumps. My first port was a power port with the bumps, and they irritated my skin from the inside out and started eroding my skin. When they replaced it, they used the bumpless vaiety. It's not all that big and does not protrude horribly. Frankly, however, I don't think you get a choice of ports. I think you get what the hospital has and at best, they may stock power ports and non-power ports. But power ports are preferrable to me.

LaundryQueen

Tethys41 said:

Vas-cath
I have a vas-cath, which is a power port without the bumps. My first port was a power port with the bumps, and they irritated my skin from the inside out and started eroding my skin. When they replaced it, they used the bumpless vaiety. It's not all that big and does not protrude horribly. Frankly, however, I don't think you get a choice of ports. I think you get what the hospital has and at best, they may stock power ports and non-power ports. But power ports are preferrable to me.

Ports
I found a discussion board for oncology nurses where they were discussing ports and a bunch of them were complaining about the PowerPort. A lot of the nurses seemed to like the Smart Port.

The big deal about the PowerPort is that they can flush contrast thru it--the older ports couldn't handle the contrast for CTs/MRIs which has to be flushed thru quickly. I think the Smart Port can handle the contrast, too.

I have the PowerPort and it seems like there is a really small window between the three little bumps where the needle stick is a good one. I wish I had a port without the bumps--but then I wonder how the nurse would know where to stick the needle.

LQ

lovesanimals

LaundryQueen said:

Ports
I found a discussion board for oncology nurses where they were discussing ports and a bunch of them were complaining about the PowerPort. A lot of the nurses seemed to like the Smart Port.

The big deal about the PowerPort is that they can flush contrast thru it--the older ports couldn't handle the contrast for CTs/MRIs which has to be flushed thru quickly. I think the Smart Port can handle the contrast, too.

I have the PowerPort and it seems like there is a really small window between the three little bumps where the needle stick is a good one. I wish I had a port without the bumps--but then I wonder how the nurse would know where to stick the needle.

LQ

Power Port
I have a PowerPort with the three little bumps. I don't recall my doctor giving me a choice of the type of port but this one has served me well and I haven't had any problems with it (so far!). I was diagnosed with Stage 2b ovarian cancer a little over a year ago (September 16, 2010), just three weeks before my 50th birthday. I had surgery in October and six rounds of chemo between December 2010 and March 2011. I had the port installed after the first round when my chemo nurse had a difficult time finding a "good" vein. I'm very fortunate to be in remission currently but am keeping the port, at least for now. I have the fear that the second I have it removed, I'll find out I'll need more chemo.
-Kelly

carolenk

lovesanimals said:

Power Port
I have a PowerPort with the three little bumps. I don't recall my doctor giving me a choice of the type of port but this one has served me well and I haven't had any problems with it (so far!). I was diagnosed with Stage 2b ovarian cancer a little over a year ago (September 16, 2010), just three weeks before my 50th birthday. I had surgery in October and six rounds of chemo between December 2010 and March 2011. I had the port installed after the first round when my chemo nurse had a difficult time finding a "good" vein. I'm very fortunate to be in remission currently but am keeping the port, at least for now. I have the fear that the second I have it removed, I'll find out I'll need more chemo.
-Kelly

PowerPort
PowerPorts must be popular--I've got one, too. I wish it didn't have the little bumps on it. That kind of creeps me out a little.

Carolen

Radioactive34

carolenk said:

PowerPort
PowerPorts must be popular--I've got one, too. I wish it didn't have the little bumps on it. That kind of creeps me out a little.

Carolen

The bumbs rub on everything.
The bumbs rub on everything. I keep expecting to have something come out of the skin....like in a scifi movie. ;p

Tethys41

carolenk said:

PowerPort
PowerPorts must be popular--I've got one, too. I wish it didn't have the little bumps on it. That kind of creeps me out a little.

Carolen

Bumpless
When I had mine replaced last year, the new PowerPort had no bumps. The interventional radiologist told me that the manufaturer changed the design because a small portion of the population had problems with the bumpy version. But I know that hospitals use up their stock before changing styles. Eventually, the bumps will be history.

CindyGSD

Tethys41 said:

Bumpless
When I had mine replaced last year, the new PowerPort had no bumps. The interventional radiologist told me that the manufaturer changed the design because a small portion of the population had problems with the bumpy version. But I know that hospitals use up their stock before changing styles. Eventually, the bumps will be history.

Interesting...
I just got the powerport put in on Tuesday of last week and they said that the one they are putting in has smaller bumps then the one they showed me before surgury. They didn't mention anything about a bumpless one.

Cindy

Hissy_Fitz

Radioactive34 said:

The bumbs rub on everything.
The bumbs rub on everything. I keep expecting to have something come out of the skin....like in a scifi movie. ;p

That's exactly what happened
That's exactly what happened to me! Think Sigourney Weaver in "Alien!"

Carlene

cfont11

CindyGSD said:

Interesting...
I just got the powerport put in on Tuesday of last week and they said that the one they are putting in has smaller bumps then the one they showed me before surgury. They didn't mention anything about a bumpless one.

Cindy

Port
I had a Power Port with the 3 little bumps put in on Monday. I cannot feel or see the bumps. The doctor did not give me an option, said this is the only kind she puts in. I liked the fact that the CT contrast dye can be put through it as there are a lot of scans in my future.

Chris

azgrandma

cfont11 said:

Port
I had a Power Port with the 3 little bumps put in on Monday. I cannot feel or see the bumps. The doctor did not give me an option, said this is the only kind she puts in. I liked the fact that the CT contrast dye can be put through it as there are a lot of scans in my future.

Chris

Power port
I also had the power port and had no problems at all