praise for the chemo port!

blackswampboy
blackswampboy Member Posts: 341
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
that clever device has saved me from vast amounts of pain, mess, and complication.
whoever invented it, genius!

better health to everybody, cheers.

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
    plus one
    I had seven sticks the week before they put mine in. Just got it out a month ago. I am with you on this one. Having it was a godsend. Heres to not needing it again!
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #3
    PORT
    Hi blackswampboy,

    You know they rolled out the choices PICC or PORT and I opted for the PICC. As it turned out, the PICC site itched the entire time I had it in (drove me crazy). It was handy for the infusion of the Erbitux, but was hit or miss on the blood samples.

    Also, who ever invented that huge Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy machine was on the ball. I am glad it never collapsed on me.

    Best,

    Matt
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    I agree on the port....
    it is a handy little bugger, guarenteed to give whatever is required....be it chemo infusion, or somebody wants some blood...one poke is all it ever takes.

    p
  • blackswampboy
    blackswampboy Member Posts: 341
    #5
    CivilMatt said:

    PORT
    Hi blackswampboy,

    You know they rolled out the choices PICC or PORT and I opted for the PICC. As it turned out, the PICC site itched the entire time I had it in (drove me crazy). It was handy for the infusion of the Erbitux, but was hit or miss on the blood samples.

    Also, who ever invented that huge Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy machine was on the ball. I am glad it never collapsed on me.

    Best,

    Matt

    aha
    no, didn't know there was a choice. glad they didn't offer one to me, too many options for my brain.
    guess I'm talking about the PORT, if that's the kind with rubber bump for the needle. as far as I'm concerned, they can just leave it there indefinitely, and take as many blood samples as they want. ;-)
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #6
    Port
    At first when my onco told me I was getting a port ..I thought oh no...but I have small veins that roll..and my port which I still have..is a godsend. I watched people during chemo treatments that had a difficult time with the onco nurses trying to find a vein, I'd wince and say a silent thank you..and wonder why they didn't have they didn't have an option to get a port. My only issue is remembering to make an appoitnment every 6 weeks to get it flushed.

    Linda
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
    DePorted - Two Plus Years...
    Linda, I was finally de-ported after having the port for nearly 2 1/2 years.

    My onco likes to leave it in place for two years, I presume just incase.

    Here's a photo of mine, I still have it, LOL...

    PowerPort

    JG
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #8
    Skiffin16 said:

    DePorted - Two Plus Years...
    Linda, I was finally de-ported after having the port for nearly 2 1/2 years.

    My onco likes to leave it in place for two years, I presume just incase.

    Here's a photo of mine, I still have it, LOL...

    PowerPort

    JG

    Jeeez..once again, left out??
    I declare ...I never knew what you all were talking about when you said port ...I had Erbitux only and I never had a port????? I had radaitiona and Erbitux at the same time ...was to have 6 tx of Erbitux one time a week (never got the last one due to all the reactions to Erbitux) ....but I never had a port or was even told about one ...

    ..go figure. :)

    Best,

    Tim
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #9
    Skiffin16 said:

    DePorted - Two Plus Years...
    Linda, I was finally de-ported after having the port for nearly 2 1/2 years.

    My onco likes to leave it in place for two years, I presume just incase.

    Here's a photo of mine, I still have it, LOL...

    PowerPort

    JG

    Deported ;)
    My one onco nurse said to leave it in for that timeframe also.
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #10
    osmotar said:

    Deported ;)
    My one onco nurse said to leave it in for that timeframe also.

    Hohne
    I had what is called a Hohne put in. On the last day of Tx my ONC pulled it out in her office...didn't feel it. As far as I know it served the same purpose as port but not quite the risk.
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #11
    hwt said:

    Hohne
    I had what is called a Hohne put in. On the last day of Tx my ONC pulled it out in her office...didn't feel it. As far as I know it served the same purpose as port but not quite the risk.

    Power Port
    Can't agree more about the plus with the Port. Had mine for well over a year, and only had it taken out when I did due to the monthly flushings. My tx involved carrying two pumps at the same time, so it was a given; however, when I got sick in week #6 and had to be hospitalized for 4 nights- thank you, Port, for being there. Got the antibiotics and Morph put into me via the Port, and am very thankful I had it.

    kcass
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #12
    hwt said:

    Hohne
    I had what is called a Hohne put in. On the last day of Tx my ONC pulled it out in her office...didn't feel it. As far as I know it served the same purpose as port but not quite the risk.

    Risk - Port...
    What risk are you referring, I never have really heard of any risk... No more so than anything else I presume with having something implanted or any other surgery.

    JG
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #13
    Skiffin16 said:

    Risk - Port...
    What risk are you referring, I never have really heard of any risk... No more so than anything else I presume with having something implanted or any other surgery.

    JG

    Hohn vs. port
    First I spelled it wrong, it was a Hohn external catheter. I sometimes called it a Hohn "port" and that was wrong too. Actually, I was not given the choice of a port or Hohn and with all the info being thrown at me, maybe I was mistaken about a difference in risks. I know the port is under the skin and the Hohn is external. I think the port is surgically removed and I know ONC just pulled mine out in her office, no pain, no stitches, closed up in a day or two. I did have to stop in the lab once a week to have them clean and bandage around the Hohn. For some reason, I thought the risk was where the port was inserted internally vs. where the Hohn went but I could be way off base. There was allot coming down the pipeline in the way of info at that time. Thanks, John, I didn't mean to add confusion.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #14
    hwt said:

    Hohn vs. port
    First I spelled it wrong, it was a Hohn external catheter. I sometimes called it a Hohn "port" and that was wrong too. Actually, I was not given the choice of a port or Hohn and with all the info being thrown at me, maybe I was mistaken about a difference in risks. I know the port is under the skin and the Hohn is external. I think the port is surgically removed and I know ONC just pulled mine out in her office, no pain, no stitches, closed up in a day or two. I did have to stop in the lab once a week to have them clean and bandage around the Hohn. For some reason, I thought the risk was where the port was inserted internally vs. where the Hohn went but I could be way off base. There was allot coming down the pipeline in the way of info at that time. Thanks, John, I didn't mean to add confusion.

    Out Patient - MD Office Removal
    No problem....

    The port is (or mine was) surgically implanted...just under the skin and just below (lower) the collar bone.

    Other than flushing every 6 - 8 weeks post Tx, that's the only maintenance.

    It was removed with a small incision at the MD's office and a few dissolving stitches.

    JG

Discussion Boards