Hello all, would you please help me with your pros and cons of IV versus Venous Port

Susiemaccancer

Hello my fellow lady warriors! Hoping you are doing well. I just wanted to check back in and let you know that I was happy with your guidance and my decision to install the chemo port. It wasn't the easiest installation, I thought my pain threshold was higher than it actually is! But, after three days, I was okay, glad to have that behind me.

My second infusion seemed to go much better with the port. I put the lidocaine on the port area 30 minutes before my blood draw, so it wasn't very painful and then the subsequent infusion step was a no brainer.

I just wanted thank you all for your feedback with all these pop up decisions that we have to face during an extremely stressful time. I am very grateful to have this safety net and your tried and true guidance.

All the Best Regards, Susie

bibliophile

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1724803#Comment_1724803

Glad to hear that all went well and you are happy with your decision. Wishing you the best on the rest of your infusions! ❤️

AnneN

Hi Susie:

I'm visiting from the Ovarian discussion board - I had endometroid ovarian cancer, sort of a two-for-one, but ovarian was primary. I did opt for a port, and still have it in, on my MD's recommendation to keep it in for a year for potential recurrence. I finished carboplatin/paclitaxol 9 months ago. A port does make the chemo days easier, but if I had it to do again, I am not sure if I would have gone the port route. My first chemo round was with an arm port because the permanent one was not healed enough. My port is on my left chest with the tube part going up into my neck. It makes using things like a seatbelt, cross body purse, etc, a bit uncomfortable. I need to have it flushed post-chemo every 6-8 weeks, which is annoying. I am looking forward to having it taken out when I hit my one-year-post chemo NED anniversary. I hope this helps.

Good luck with your treatment!

Anne

Susiemaccancer

Hi there Anne, thank you for coming over and sharing your experience. As you know, our boots on the ground, real life experiences are priceless when faced with these challenging forks in the road!

I did have the chemo port installed last month, right side. Although a more painful experience than I imagined, it is just a memory now, thankfully. At this point, I am satisfied with my choice. Hoping that after the next 4 chemo infusions, I will still be satisfied.

In hindsight, I believe, at this point, my decision was a good one.

After my first Sept infusion, I developed a soreness at the infusion site on my right forearm. It took about a week afterwards to develop and I showed my gyno-onc doc during my first follow up after first chemo. She said "ok, apply warm compress" and "it should resolve within a few weeks". Fast forward to my 2nd Oct chemo infusion that was using my port; that same right forearm area showed increased swelling, a raised vein at my wrist and was more painful to the touch. I then insisted on a ultrasound (Venous Upper Duplex Limited) which revealed the superficial clot that was the cause of that soreness. So, this clot had been brewing since Sept 16th and I really didn't know it until the Oct 17th u/sound, although I knew something wasn't right, I didn't know it was a clot. In addition to twice daily warm compresses, I am now taking a 325mg daily aspirin and the doc just prescribed Cephalexin antibiotic 500mg for the next 7 days. I have always been skeptical of taking antibiotics for any reason, wishing to keep a healthy gut, but at this point, I am follwing doc's orders.

I know that this message is a long one, but I wanted to document the stages in the hopes of helping those who may have questions or concerns and can learn through my experience here. There are many off-road obstacles that we are faced with when we are just trying to focus and concentrate on killing this cancer. The body has other ideas, unfortunately.

If you don't mind my asking, now that you have finished your chemotherapy, "CONGRATULATIONS!!, do you have any residual side effects, other than port pain/annoyances. I thank you for coming over and sharing, and I wish you continued good health!!! That is the best outcome!!! Warm regards, Susie

anne609

Hi Susie

Just wondering how you are doing. I had my second Keytruda infusion — seems strange to only have blood work and an infusion every 6 weeks. So far, no significant side effects.

Hoping that your side effects have ebbed a bit and that your port is less uncomfortable.

Best, Anne

Susiemaccancer

Hi there Anne, nice to hear from you😊

I am glad that your recent immunotherapy went well. It is always great to hear good news!

Yes, I am at day 18 after 2nd chemo session; so some issues have resolved but this neuropathy (now turned from tingling to itchiness) must be something that I will need to deal with. During my discussion with the PA in my Onc office, while discussing this neuropathy last week, the PA mentioned that if it persists, they may reduce my chemo level. At that point, I shrugged and she said everyone reacts the same way: no one wants to reduce these cancer-killing drugs if they can help it. I will see how it goes as I progress through these sessions. Apparently the test is: if you find it unbearable to walk barefoot on a tile/hard surface floor, then adjustments may be needed. I am not there yet. And I'm still working on getting rid of the superficial blood clot on my right forearm.

My next session is in 3 days so I am making the most of this time, understandably😊

Thank you for checking in to say Hi and share your latest news. It is great having a fellow warrior out there!.

Enjoy this weekend, Warm Regards, Susie

MJS19

I had major neuropathy after my second chemo. My gyn/onc was concerned and was considering switching me off the gold standard drugs. Fortunately, acupuncture has been a wonderful solution for me. Ask your care team what they think.

Good luck!

Susiemaccancer

Hi MJS19, so glad to receive your message! And as always, thank you for sharing your experiences, as they are the truest form of getting to the bottom of a lot of these side symptoms that can turn on you.

I would say that I had major neuropathy after the first chemo. And with that first session, every ache and pain, and there were many, seemed to be major. Although we kind of know what to expect, until it hits and you have your own specific reaction, it then becomes real. After my 2nd session, it was a different neuropathy reaction; not so many electric shocks going from thighs to toes, but that numbness in the toes and then 2 weeks later, this darn itchiness.

I thank you for your recommendation for acupuncture. My former general practitioner switched to an acupuncture practice. I liked her, so I am so glad you recommended this, because I will ask my onc doc for a referral at my next meeting with her on Nov 4th, if not before.

I remember your very very helpful post in August, as you and I have very similar pathologies, when I was beginning this journey and all I can say is that your guidance was extremely helpful to a newbie facing down these difficult decisions. I thank you very much for that!

Hoping that this post finds you feeling well and that the Autumn colors are pretty where you are. We still have some color that gets amplified on these remaining sunny days. Warm regards, Susie