Port removal

bangle

the doctor surprised me at my last visit. In April of last year I had a tumor removed from my colon and a met just on the outside of the same area. 12 treatments later including 5fu pump Two positive lymph nodes after surgery of removing both I have not had a positive test. Two CT scans and tumor markers have all been negative. Doc told me I could have port removed if I wanted. It’s been 6 months since my last treatment. Not sure what to do??

Baygirl17

I am interested in what you decided to do regarding port removal and what is normal course of action? Do we just leave port in permanently or remove it after a specific length of time cancer-free?

bangle

I went with the doctor recommendation. I had it removed. It was better that way than going in and having flushed all the time. Just had a CT come back negative almost two years from surgery and over a year since last treatment. If something comes up I can have another put in place. I’m very hopeful though.

spikecjc

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/328340/port-removal

I had mine in for a year (just in case it was needed). Didn't really bother me and it was a unique conversation piece…

bangle

It was indeed a conversation piece.

PTiger

I had my port removed about 2 months after completing chemo. As another person mentioned here, there is maintenance involved if you keep it. I believe I was told that it would need to be flushed every 6 weeks. Also, I don't see any situation in which I would undergo chemo again due to quality of life issues (a personal decision).

One thing I'd like to pass along that I wish someone had told ME: Apparently after the port is out and the incision has healed, it's a good idea to massage the area frequently to minimize the formation of scar tissue. I didn't know this and have a knot of scar tissue that feels nearly as big as the damn port was!! I'm working at it now, not sure if it's helping, but can't hurt, I guess.

bangle

I’m glad you mentioned that! I almost thought they had left some in there. Much better now just a small lump. It’s been more than six months. Hope all goes well for you.

PTiger

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1720803#Comment_1720803

I'm glad YOU mentioned that yours is smaller after 6 months. Maybe it's just going to be a matter of time. It's not a real problem, not tender or anything, just annoying when wearing a seat belt in a car (I am a lab courier and drive 8 hours a day, 5 days a week).

Axel7

I am waiting for the one year post surgery mark in june, we will do a scan and if I get the all clear we will remove the port at that time. I currently play ice hockey with my port so it is not slowing me down. I did the chemo first then radiation then surgery. the port came in handy post surgery for the infusion treatment.

bibliophile

My port has been in for two years in August. My doctor still says he would leave it in for now "just in case". What is he not telling me? 😳

Arx001

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723073#Comment_1723073

I wouldn’t be worried unless he tells you to. It’s the style of your doctor I guess. Two years is the time most people remove because the recurral rates are rather low by then.

PTiger

bibliophile, can I suggest that you talk to your doctor about "what he's not telling you"? Getting that info straight from the horse's mouth seems like the best way, to me.

Arx001

I am planning to have my port removed soon around like 7 months after the last chemo. My doctor suggested a two year waiting period but also mentioned I could have it removed anytime. An oncology chief nurse suggested that I keep it at least for one year.

I think it makes sense it have it removed early (before two years) if you are doing fine and especially if you will do swing-movement sports like tennis, golf, swimming etc. Doing these will also give you morale. I’d love to start golf soon so it would also be a morale boost for me too.

The only problem so far is that the gastroenterology and the surgery departments would not share the same operation room or move me from one another while under anesthesia. I wanted to have a colonoscopy and then port removal or vice versa under the same anesthesia but they both refuse to link these two operations.

PTiger

I wanted to clarify my post of a few minutes ago, where I suggested to bibliophile that they ask their doctor about "what they're not telling them." If you have good reason to believe your doc is not telling you something, if you have a history of your doc being less than open and fully honest with you, then that's something else, and maybe needs a different kind of answer and consideration.

Regarding the comment about wanting port removal and colonoscopy done at the same time: I can think of a few reasons for that. One, the potential risk of contamination—the port removal will of course involve an open wound, and one that leads directly into the central circulation, no less. Yes, it will be sutured and covered, but nevertheless, I understand the medical facility's reluctance to potentially expose the patient to infection from having that procedure done in the same room as a colo.

Another reason I could see would be the difference in type of anesthesia. In my experience, the port removal was done under a local only, while colonoscopies involve a deeper anesthesia. My brother, in Canada, said that he was awake during his colo, however, so I guess that can vary and might not be a factor in your situation.

And another is as you say, simply that different services in the hospital have dedicated ORs, personnel and so on. That may be right or wrong, but it is definitely the way it is. They don't transfer patients from one service to another unless there is an emergency situation that would require it. Routine procedures are performed in the routine way.

Is there a particular reason you have for wanting to make only one trip? Minimizing time off of work? Difficulty in getting a ride? Cost savings? I can offer a little info in the "finding a ride" area if that's the trouble; maybe others can offer help if it's something else.

bibliophile

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723084#Comment_1723084

Yeah. I try not to overthink it. It has been 18 months since conclusion of chemo. I did have to have a tiny lung met removed in March, so even though no chemo, those lung nodules were probably why he was being cautious on port removal for the preceding year. Thanks.

bibliophile

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1723085#Comment_1723085

Yes, I think part of the issue is that my original oncologist quit practice suddenly in January so I have been transitioning to a new oncologist, so that just makes things a little more fuzzy. I am happy with my care, though, so it's all good. And my implanted port doesn't have any limitations on activities; I still play tennis. Just hoping for my day when things are good enough to get my port removed, I guess. 😊

mak1970

kinda glad this post got moved up because I had questions. My last treatment was October 2024. No one told me I needed to have it flushed, is there anyone who just never did this? Mine has been “uncomfortable” since it was put in so I cannot wait to have it taken out- it has been skin conditions and pain. It may be a mental thing- it was the biggest part of all I went through that has been challenging. I had hoped like Arx001 they could do it when I went under for something else. Now, the insurance and my primary care have decided I do not need another colonoscopy for five years so I guess there is nothing else I need to be sedated for.

bibliophile

I still see my oncologist often enough that it is flushed at least every 12 weeks from blood draws even though I am not doing chemo. The only time I have ever gone longer than that between visits, they asked me to come in and just have a nurse run some saline through it. I think the general wisdom is to keep problems with clotting in the tubing from happening so that it is not usable when you need it, but if you are still using it, even just for routine blood draws during office visits, your doctor may not have needed to have you do additional flushes. Might also depend on what kind of port you have. I don't know if there are differences. Congrats on graduating from yearly colonoscopies (or maybe that is just my good luck 😊)!