Port vs. no port
Suzanne
Comments
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My vote is for a port...beachmom said:I've wondered the same
I've wondered the same thing...I thought I would ask when I went to my appointment this week. I'll let you know what the good doc has to say about it!
I would'nt want to go through this journey without it. I had 6 chemo infusions and continue to have herceptin infusions every 3 weeks until Feb 2012. I'm frightened of neddles and would'nt enjoy all of the pokes. Use of the port is quick and provides easy access. I understand it's just as easy when it's time to remove the port, which I'm looking forward to in a few months.
My thought is... it depends on the number of the infusions/injections in determining the need for a port. Again... the port has been a God send in my situation.
Mitzi ;0)0 -
I think it has to do with
I think it has to do with how many infusions the Survivor will be needing. I had six chemo infusions and a year of Herceptin. I couldn't have gone the distance without my port. Never had problems with it either.0 -
Hi Suzanne
My first go round in 2002, and refused a port, I figured 4-8 treatments, I didn't need it. But it was so hard on the veins. This time, after rads and before chemo, there was no doubt I wanted that port.
I think it is a combination of doctor, treatment and your veins.
Carol0 -
Port
I had the port put in because my veins are small and can roll. I needed eight chemo treatments along with a year of herceptin (which ends in May 2012). I don't know what I would have done without my port. Before my port, there were times when I was poked and prodded over a dozen times at the oncologist office. They decided I'd better get a port. Even when I went to have my port put in at the hospital, three different nurses tried giving me an intervenous line and could not find my vein. Finally after over half an hour they told me I needed to get a pick. Believe me you never want to get the pick. IT'S HORRIBLE.......IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE GETTING STUNG BY DOZENS OF HORNETS ALL AT ONCE --- I DID EVERYTHING TO KEEP FROM SCREAMING.....AND THAT'S THE NUMBING INJECTION BEFORE THE PICK.....I dread getting my port taken out next year as I don't want to get the pick EVER again! So hopefully, there will be a nurse there that can find my vein. At another hospital where I had three operations, the nurses found my vein immediately!0 -
I did not have a port andDwwilburn said:Ports
My doc didn't offer me an option. He just told me when to show up and get the port inserted. I didn't question it. I am glad I got it. It made the 16 chemo treatments easier. I would do it again. Am I glad it is out now? Yes!
I did not have a port and had 16 infusions. some hospitals will not give adriamycin through a regular peripheral IV. My hospital did.If the IV leaks it can cause damage into the surrounding tissue particulary with adriamycin (inflitrate) In the end, my veins were pretty worn out and I did mention a PICC. this was because I got very dehydrated and had a low potassium so I needed supplements IV and this helped to ruin my veins. To this day they have still not recovered. so I probably should have had a port but no one knew I would do as poorly as I did.
I have not seen that a PICC caused the issues you mention, so you may have been unusual.
If you get herceptin perhaps the port is advisable, not sure what the protocol is for herceptin or how it is on the veins.
I like that one DW "roundup" great way to think of it! LOL0 -
It was explained...carkris said:I did not have a port and
I did not have a port and had 16 infusions. some hospitals will not give adriamycin through a regular peripheral IV. My hospital did.If the IV leaks it can cause damage into the surrounding tissue particulary with adriamycin (inflitrate) In the end, my veins were pretty worn out and I did mention a PICC. this was because I got very dehydrated and had a low potassium so I needed supplements IV and this helped to ruin my veins. To this day they have still not recovered. so I probably should have had a port but no one knew I would do as poorly as I did.
I have not seen that a PICC caused the issues you mention, so you may have been unusual.
If you get herceptin perhaps the port is advisable, not sure what the protocol is for herceptin or how it is on the veins.
I like that one DW "roundup" great way to think of it! LOL
To me by my oncologist it has to with the amount of infusions one is expected to have..my first go round I had 4 infusions and no port, with one usable arm..good plump veins..no problem until the final infusion...4 sticks...should I have to stop my oral chemo and go back to IV i know it will involve more than 4 infusions so more than likely a port will be needed...
Hugs,Nancy0 -
Lymph nodes and portMAJW said:It was explained...
To me by my oncologist it has to with the amount of infusions one is expected to have..my first go round I had 4 infusions and no port, with one usable arm..good plump veins..no problem until the final infusion...4 sticks...should I have to stop my oral chemo and go back to IV i know it will involve more than 4 infusions so more than likely a port will be needed...
Hugs,Nancy
Since all of my lymph nodes were taken from affected side before Chemo, my breast surgeon suggested to have a port. I am glad that I did. I used it for for both Chemo infusions (6) and blood work during Chemo and radiation and after for bio markersand ect. I think it was a right decision for me since I can use only one hand for I'VE. I was told that Cytoxan can ruin the veins0 -
Damage
Some chemo drugs can damage the skin and underlying tissue so a port is used.0 -
number of treatments?tjohnson2310 said:Damage
Some chemo drugs can damage the skin and underlying tissue so a port is used.
I assume it has to do with number of treatments and whether the patient wants a port ... or not. I could not have gotten through chemo without my port. I'm a total chicken when it comes to needles. And ... I LOVE my port. I had 12 weekly treatments of taxol ... then herceptin every 3 week for the rest of the year ... so I know I couldn't have handled all of that poking and prodding. In fact ... my last herceptin was almost 2 years ago and I still have my port. I had to have and endoscopy (sp?) thing ... and they were able to use my port for the anesthetic. I know I need a colonoscopy some time in 2012 ... so I'm planning on keeping my port until then. If that comes back OK ... I will "consider" having my port removed ... but ... truthfully ... I'm in no hurry to be deported.
hugs.
teena0 -
Swear by the port
I had a port put in for the 6 rounds of chemo and year of herceptin. My veins, well, they don't exist at all. The port was the best thing! Easy access for infusions, blood work. Now, I did opt for the port to be removed as soon as treatments were over. For me, the port bump was just a constant reminder that I had cancer. I wanted it gone.
I had my port put in at the hospital, was put to sleep, woke up and there it was. To get it taken out....that is different. It was an office visit, local numbing and WIDE awake. Not painful at all but a little freaky feeling the tubing being pulled out of my vein!
Chris0 -
I had no port for the first
I had no port for the first round of infusions...on the last infusion some of the chemo leaked and you can still see the path it traveled along my arm.
This time, I've asked my doc about a port. He's ordering one, but my situation is different now. I now have lymphedema in the left side, so no poking around in there. And the right side is now at risk for lymphedema and has already had all that chemo, so no poking around in there. Plus this time will be weekly infusions and weekly blood tests, last time was every 3 weeks.
Why are you asking about ports? Is there something going on that we should know about?
Hugs,
Linda0 -
I had a port...which had to
I had a port...which had to be removed part way through chemo. It probably has a lot to do with numbers of infusions and how good the venous access is. A lot of facilities will avoid a port if at all possible because there are potential risks with it. Some argue the potential for infection and delayed chemo makes it not worth it if the access is good.0 -
Port for me!
I did not conder doing without the port for one minute. My lung collaped and I ended up back in the hospital for a few days. It is very rare that it happens, very painful. It was worth it though. I have rolling veins and had enough of needles before we even got stated!
Nana0 -
No, Linda, it was truly just a curious questionNana C. said:Port for me!
I did not conder doing without the port for one minute. My lung collaped and I ended up back in the hospital for a few days. It is very rare that it happens, very painful. It was worth it though. I have rolling veins and had enough of needles before we even got stated!
Nana
Just so I don't get in trouble for withholding information again, tho, I'm waiting for an MRI appointment. We were gone last week when the referral came in and I couldn't call until Monday. Then I hope I can put this left breast bumpy thing to rest. I will let everyone know when I get results - hoping for an appointment next week.
Suzanne0 -
Ok...just had to be sureDouble Whammy said:No, Linda, it was truly just a curious question
Just so I don't get in trouble for withholding information again, tho, I'm waiting for an MRI appointment. We were gone last week when the referral came in and I couldn't call until Monday. Then I hope I can put this left breast bumpy thing to rest. I will let everyone know when I get results - hoping for an appointment next week.
Suzanne
Ok...just had to be sure nothing new was going on. Be sure to let us know when you get the MRI and the results.
How was the trip?
Hugs,
Linda0
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