Port Removal

peanut butter

dtat67 said:

Port blocked

I went in for my port flush and to see the Oncologist today only to find out that my Power Port was "clogged". I had been scheduled for a port flush 4 weeks ago but it was canceled because of the Covid-19 situation. I was told just wait until my next scheduled blood draw appointment. They could inject the heparin but couldn't draw blood. It has been 18 months since my chemo was finished. The Nurse had me wave my arms, tilted me back in the chair, move around a lot but to no avail.

I asked the Doc if I should go ahead and get it removed. He sadi that to wait until around Sept. That will be my 2 year anniversary since my NHL diagnosis and if things were cool then the likelyhood of a recurrance would be less likely.

So hoping for another 6 months of remission and then I guess I'll get removed. I had planned on keeping it for several years just in case but it is what it is. Wonder if the delay on the flush might be responsible?

Peace and Love!

Port block

I've had my port for 10 years. Only had it block once. Nurse did same thing with me. She said raise your arms and a bunch of other acrobatics. Then another nurse came eover and everything went fine. This was about a year ago. Don't know if because the nurse was new or what happened. I have heard after 5 years if no reaccurance of desease it was less likely to come back but there was no real gaurantees. What kind of lymphoma did you have?  Mine was NHL follicular. Found while having a routine yearly urology exam with an xray.

peanut butter

Ports in general

When I first started reading the post would you believe there were some people who never had a port. They got everything thru their arm veins.  The veins had to be switched or alternated after several uses some would say. I can't imagine going thru that, but to each their own I guess.

dtat67

peanut butter said:

Port block

I've had my port for 10 years. Only had it block once. Nurse did same thing with me. She said raise your arms and a bunch of other acrobatics. Then another nurse came eover and everything went fine. This was about a year ago. Don't know if because the nurse was new or what happened. I have heard after 5 years if no reaccurance of desease it was less likely to come back but there was no real gaurantees. What kind of lymphoma did you have?  Mine was NHL follicular. Found while having a routine yearly urology exam with an xray.

I had DLBCL NHL - Stage 1A

Mine was in my right sinus no lymph node involvement. 6 RCHOP Chemo and 35 IGRT Radiation. Maybe my port will work next time? I had planned to do like you and keep it indefinately. Don't get me wrong, the Doc said after 2 years it was less likely to come back but who really knows. I can say that I have been fortunate in that I have had few if any side affects that I can feel but my RBC and Hemoglobin is low (Anemic) and not as much stamina as before but I am close to 70 so my age could be a factor?

I was told to just leave after the visit and the scheduler would contact be for future appointments (because of the virus). I'll have to see if they schedule me for the normal interum port flushes? They had been scheduling every 6 weeks but the nurse said they were now saying every 3 months? Just wondering if the long time in between had caused by blockage?

peanut butter

dtat67 said:

I had DLBCL NHL - Stage 1A

Mine was in my right sinus no lymph node involvement. 6 RCHOP Chemo and 35 IGRT Radiation. Maybe my port will work next time? I had planned to do like you and keep it indefinately. Don't get me wrong, the Doc said after 2 years it was less likely to come back but who really knows. I can say that I have been fortunate in that I have had few if any side affects that I can feel but my RBC and Hemoglobin is low (Anemic) and not as much stamina as before but I am close to 70 so my age could be a factor?

I was told to just leave after the visit and the scheduler would contact be for future appointments (because of the virus). I'll have to see if they schedule me for the normal interum port flushes? They had been scheduling every 6 weeks but the nurse said they were now saying every 3 months? Just wondering if the long time in between had caused by blockage?

dtat67

I can remember a past poster named jimwins that had the same diagnosis. He stopped posting all of a sudden. He was one of the older members that used to keep the site going with his wit. I am sure he is just fine but got a little disgusted with the way the post were being handled. Said he was flagged a couple of times, but I do not know why. I am 71 years old and notice I do not have the get up and go like I used to have 10 years ago. RBC is down slightly, but Onc said still in normal range. As far as time lapse causing blockage in the port I do not know. If I remember correctly I would get my port flush every 3 months in the beginning and about a year later it went to every 2 months. I will ask the nurse next time I get my port flush and see if I can get any info. In the meantime some of the members may have info on that. There are still a few well informed posters that may jump in. (max, po, shady)

lindary

ports

I had my port put in Jan 2015. The first R-Chop treatemt was without the port. There was a hang-up with insurance. Once I got it I loved it. I hate needles. The idea of not getting stuck with a needle a gazillion times was heaven for me. I had a bunch of tests and that one round of chemo before the port. Timing was good because the vein in the left arm went into permanent hiding. Once I was in remission I had 2 years of Rituxin. About a year or so after I was done with Rituxin I had the port removed. I did miss it for a while. 

As to those not getting a port. I had a co-worker diagnosed with Multiple Myleloma around 2008. Longest remission was maybe a year. Haw many types of chemo plus 2 stem cell transplants.  remember him sayig they couldn't find veins in his arms anymore and were using his feet. 

After my first 2 chemos (remember 1 without and 1 with a port) I can't imagine how he got thorugh all of what he went through withotu a port!

ShadyGuy

lindary said:

ports

I had my port put in Jan 2015. The first R-Chop treatemt was without the port. There was a hang-up with insurance. Once I got it I loved it. I hate needles. The idea of not getting stuck with a needle a gazillion times was heaven for me. I had a bunch of tests and that one round of chemo before the port. Timing was good because the vein in the left arm went into permanent hiding. Once I was in remission I had 2 years of Rituxin. About a year or so after I was done with Rituxin I had the port removed. I did miss it for a while. 

As to those not getting a port. I had a co-worker diagnosed with Multiple Myleloma around 2008. Longest remission was maybe a year. Haw many types of chemo plus 2 stem cell transplants.  remember him sayig they couldn't find veins in his arms anymore and were using his feet. 

After my first 2 chemos (remember 1 without and 1 with a port) I can't imagine how he got thorugh all of what he went through withotu a port!

Different strokes ..

I hated my port even though it made the treatments much easier. I say yes, definitely get a port for chemo. For R, not so much. I had literally dozens of R infusions without a port with no issues. I had my last chemo (fludara et al) in June 2018 and had the port removed in August. I knew there was a risk I would need a new one but that was a chance I was willing to take. Everyone looks at it differently I guess. And of course we do not all have the same veins. Mine are large and easily found.

Gwfl

Port Removal

Went in for bloodwork and my port was clogged up....finally got it working then most recent flush, 4 weeks later,didn't work either so I decided to have it removed....go in on Monday Dec. 14 to yank it out!

Gwfl

Port Removal

Finally it's out!  Removal was delayed a week so it came out two days ago.  Did the whole hospital process that went smoothly but seemed a bit of overkill.  Hope I never have one of those again!

Dante S

I had my port put in 02/20 and taken out 5 months later 07/20...I wanted it out as soon as I was done with treatment and the scan was clear. For me, it was mainly because I wanted to go back to working out without restrictions and I also had 3 little boys under 4 at the time who would occasionally bump it. Everyone has to do what they feel is in their best interest (also while consulting with their doctor)

Dante S

ShadyGuy

I have had ports and was anxious to get rid of them. My last one I had removed at a hospital 3 weeks after my final chemo session. To some having a port is a source of comfort. But as for me I could not wait to get rid of it. I figured I could always get another one. No regrets but I realize we are all different.

Good luck!

tgyphilly

I didn't like my port in and had it taken out as soon as I was NED. This was 25 years ago, so maybe they are smaller and more discrete than they were back then.

Unless a person has problems getting blood drawn on their arms/hands, not sure why there would be any reason to keep a port in, even during the initial months after an NED scan. They can lead to blood clots (I got a nasty one in my shoulder), and can be put in and out relatively easily, so why keep it in there?

twowheels

Everyone assesses risk (and financial costs) differently.

My Onc suggested removal 6mths after treatment concluded - I waited a year.

I had no issues with port clogging/infection and would extend flushes to every 3rd month. Still glad to have it removed.

NSHL Stg 3 [CD30, PAX5 (dim) and CD15 (subset). Negative for CD3, CD20 and CD45 w/no bone marrow involvement

dschmitzer

Diagnosed with a very highly aggressive Lymphoma. Completed all chemo third week April 2022. Outcome and I'll use this word, "Cured." Portal was removed 06/21/2022 at a hospital radiology suite. By the way from the third week of April until portal was removed there was no maintenance such as flushing completed on my portal. Removal is very quick. I'm happy it is gone as visually for me it reinforces I battled cancer and won.