How To Dress with a PORT?

MaggieCat
MaggieCat Member Posts: 54
in Breast Cancer #1

Back again... The drama continues!!!

What do I need for my (future) port?  My BS is going to place it on/in my right chest area.  I have "high shoulder blades" and not much fat.... so I'm advised it will "stick out".  ( I enjoy sewing, quilting and yoga .. so an arm port wasn't the thing for me).

Now is the time to get the wardrobe ready!!!!  Hey Ladies... need some insight... might need to change my name to "Clueless in... well not Seattle"...

Maggie

Comments

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #2
    However you normally dress

    I wear the same clothes I always did.  My port has been in 5+ yrs.  It is there and easily seen/felt when 'nuddie'.  It can be somewhat seen when wearing tanktops or 'spaghetti strap' tops or swimsuits.

    According to my Surgeon, the 'leaner/thinner' we are the 'harder' for the Surgeon to implant.

    I never think about mine being there except to go to my monthly flushes.

    Thought added - during winter I normally wear a turtle neck - makes it hard for RNs to access it for infusions.  Scooped necks work better.

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    #3
    I wore my usual clothing.

    I wore my usual clothing.  When my port was going to be accessed, I wore tops with buttons.

  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 531 Member
    #4
    port

    I wear nothing different. While it was fresh and on the tender side I used a small pillow as a cushion under the seat belt strap when I rode in the car as a passenger (mine is on my right side too).

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #5
    Puffin2014 said:

    port

    I wear nothing different. While it was fresh and on the tender side I used a small pillow as a cushion under the seat belt strap when I rode in the car as a passenger (mine is on my right side too).

    After a while, our ports became part of our

    bodies - Please be careful to protect your skin, and port early on until your port becomes one with your body.  Many women here, like Rague, has had a port for years.

    Shoot, just think of your new port site - as a piece of art keeping the beast (breast cancer) at bay.  Maybe you can tell your friends it is a new body piercing -.  

    Life happens, and this is a way of fighting breast cancer - your badge of honor in your fight!  

    We are WARRIORS, fighting for Life -

    Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

    Vicki Sam

  • GlowMore
    GlowMore Member Posts: 789 Member
    #6
    VickiSam said:

    After a while, our ports became part of our

    bodies - Please be careful to protect your skin, and port early on until your port becomes one with your body.  Many women here, like Rague, has had a port for years.

    Shoot, just think of your new port site - as a piece of art keeping the beast (breast cancer) at bay.  Maybe you can tell your friends it is a new body piercing -.  

    Life happens, and this is a way of fighting breast cancer - your badge of honor in your fight!  

    We are WARRIORS, fighting for Life -

    Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

    Vicki Sam

    Damn Vicki

    I just so want to hit the "Like" Button when I read your posts....   LOL    ...........you are always so right on.......    Main thing with the port is to be sure to wear something you can stretch over or down on the days you need to use it.........otherwise not much changed for me.  It was a very small scar on my right chest under my collarbone......nothing stood out about it actually and it was a GOD SEND.... had it there from 2002 until about 2008 or 2009........had it removed because I just wanted to move on and didn't want it any longer.  My Onc was ok with the removal and he said that if we need to I could always get another one in a different location.  Gee Thanks Doc.        

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #7
    GlowMore said:

    Damn Vicki

    I just so want to hit the "Like" Button when I read your posts....   LOL    ...........you are always so right on.......    Main thing with the port is to be sure to wear something you can stretch over or down on the days you need to use it.........otherwise not much changed for me.  It was a very small scar on my right chest under my collarbone......nothing stood out about it actually and it was a GOD SEND.... had it there from 2002 until about 2008 or 2009........had it removed because I just wanted to move on and didn't want it any longer.  My Onc was ok with the removal and he said that if we need to I could always get another one in a different location.  Gee Thanks Doc.        

    GlowMore ...

    You're Funny --  Thanks for the 'like' button comment ..

     

    Vicki Sam

  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    #8
    We are PORTable!

    I have had my port about six weeks now (I think).

    When it was installed (left side) they 'painted' the area with something that looked like clear nail polish on sterroids.

    They said it would wear off on its own in a couple of weeks.

    I thought that was a bit weird but it turned out to be a good thing.

    The 'sealant' they used acted like a bandage without having to be treated like one.

    It is gone now and my port is just a bump in the road to recovery.

    You can see it when I am undressed of course, but only me and one lucky guy ever does so....   ;)

    Like the other ladies said, wear open neck shirts on treatment days.

    Otherwise go out there and strut your stuff!

     

    Zah

  • GlowMore
    GlowMore Member Posts: 789 Member
    #9
    zahalene said:

    We are PORTable!

    I have had my port about six weeks now (I think).

    When it was installed (left side) they 'painted' the area with something that looked like clear nail polish on sterroids.

    They said it would wear off on its own in a couple of weeks.

    I thought that was a bit weird but it turned out to be a good thing.

    The 'sealant' they used acted like a bandage without having to be treated like one.

    It is gone now and my port is just a bump in the road to recovery.

    You can see it when I am undressed of course, but only me and one lucky guy ever does so....   ;)

    Like the other ladies said, wear open neck shirts on treatment days.

    Otherwise go out there and strut your stuff!

     

    Zah

    Good Advice Zah**

    Very good advice Zahalene........  and just love that picture....  :)      Maggie don't worry about that Port it is a God Send when you have to use it.........  Let us know what is up Maggie as soon as you know something....prayers and hugs....

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #10
    zahalene said:

    We are PORTable!

    I have had my port about six weeks now (I think).

    When it was installed (left side) they 'painted' the area with something that looked like clear nail polish on sterroids.

    They said it would wear off on its own in a couple of weeks.

    I thought that was a bit weird but it turned out to be a good thing.

    The 'sealant' they used acted like a bandage without having to be treated like one.

    It is gone now and my port is just a bump in the road to recovery.

    You can see it when I am undressed of course, but only me and one lucky guy ever does so....   ;)

    Like the other ladies said, wear open neck shirts on treatment days.

    Otherwise go out there and strut your stuff!

     

    Zah

    I did not have anything

    I did not have anything painted over the site when it was implanted or any bandage over it.  No external sutures either - Surgeon used surgical glue to close it.  Did have 2 steri-strips across it.

    Didn't have any external sutures with UMX either - just surgical glue.  Had internal sutures though.  Had no bandages to change with it - just strapped tight.  Surgeon took it off a week post op and said to leave it 'open to the air'.  When I 'destroyed' my wrist 2 yrs ago, I didn't have any external sutures with it either - surgical glue again.  Seems to becoming more common.  I will say that the 3 incisions all healed great with only very narrow scars.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

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