Flipping port-a-cath

Donna M
Donna M Member Posts: 25
edited March 2014 in Anal Cancer #1
I am one month, 2 weeks post treatment and now I have another problem. My port-a-cath keeps flipping over. Does anyone else have this problem? When will they take this thing out?

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Hi Donna--
    I've never heard of this happening. I would suggest calling your doctor and letting them know about this. As for having it taken out, there seems to be a variety of opinions by doctors as to when. I was 3 months post-treatment when I had mine taken out.
  • duckyann
    duckyann Member Posts: 159
    #3
    mp327 said:

    Hi Donna--
    I've never heard of this happening. I would suggest calling your doctor and letting them know about this. As for having it taken out, there seems to be a variety of opinions by doctors as to when. I was 3 months post-treatment when I had mine taken out.

    Hi Donna,
    I also have never
    Hi Donna,

    I also have never heard of this happening. I am 17 months out and I still have my port. Hopefully I will be getting it out after my appt. in January.
  • Donna M
    Donna M Member Posts: 25
    #4
    mp327 said:

    Hi Donna--
    I've never heard of this happening. I would suggest calling your doctor and letting them know about this. As for having it taken out, there seems to be a variety of opinions by doctors as to when. I was 3 months post-treatment when I had mine taken out.

    flipping port a cath
    LOL, my med oncologist knows that it's flipping, They just turn it back, but it HURTS when they do that. I would LOVE to get this thing out for Christmas.
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #5
    Donna M said:

    flipping port a cath
    LOL, my med oncologist knows that it's flipping, They just turn it back, but it HURTS when they do that. I would LOVE to get this thing out for Christmas.

    Hi Donna--
    I'm glad to hear this is not a serious problem, but sorry it hurts when they readjust the thing. I had a port and I can imagine that is not very pleasant. Mine came out on 12/08/08, so my holidays were a bit brighter that year. Here's hoping that you get yours out before Christmas too!
  • nonichol
    nonichol Member Posts: 170
    #6
    Donna M said:

    flipping port a cath
    LOL, my med oncologist knows that it's flipping, They just turn it back, but it HURTS when they do that. I would LOVE to get this thing out for Christmas.

    ouch
    Ouch, that sounds terrible. I hope you get it out too, as your Christmas present.
  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #7
    port
    just curious, where were you treated???? i had a picc line and they took it out the day that i got off my chemo. per my request. then within 2 days, i got so ill that i had to go to er and then had to have one million IV's placed in my veins which kept blowing all my veins. so better not to take any thing out too soon.
  • z810840b
    z810840b Member Posts: 207 Member
    #8
    port or pic line
    I don't understand why a port is necessary.I had a pic line and it worked perfectly.A pic line can be in for six months.It is much less invasive.I originally went to Sloan Kettering and they automatically wanted to put in a port.My oncologist said it was over kill and not needed for two rounds of chemo.I am now 27 months NED. Good Luck alyse
  • Donna M
    Donna M Member Posts: 25
    #9
    z810840b said:

    port or pic line
    I don't understand why a port is necessary.I had a pic line and it worked perfectly.A pic line can be in for six months.It is much less invasive.I originally went to Sloan Kettering and they automatically wanted to put in a port.My oncologist said it was over kill and not needed for two rounds of chemo.I am now 27 months NED. Good Luck alyse

    Port
    I had the port put in because at first I was on my own with no support and as a nurse I knew that I would eventually forget to flush the PICC line. A port doesn't need frequent flushing. I am almost 3 months post treatment and have decided to have the port removed. It is now causing pain in my left arm from pressing on a nerve when I lie down. I am SO done with this port!
  • grandma2selena
    grandma2selena Member Posts: 199
    #10
    Port
    I am with the others, I have never heard of a port flipping over. Sorry you are going through this. Mine road right on my collar bone and was very painful, if I ever have to go through this again I will have a pic instead. I had my port removed right after I had my first scan after all my treatment was finished. I could have kept it in but I just told my doctor NO WAY it is coming out. I will get another one if needed.
  • KatieS
    KatieS Member Posts: 5
    #11
    Flipping Port a cath
    I just came across your post from last year. I hope by now you got an answer. I just learned yesterday from my onco nurse that a loose or broken stitch(there are usually 3-4 stitches on the back of the port that fasten it the chest muscle) can cause this problem. Your onco should check on this because a shifting port can cause the catheter line to kink which in turn can cause problems with blood return and chemo delivery. I need to have a scan done to find out what is causing my port of 2-1/2 yrs to be blocked even after 2 treatments of cathflow (Activase). Mine is not flipping but the nurse told me she had a patient with that problem.

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