Newbie: better port placement : Surgeon or Interventional radiologist ?? and is is bad?? Like do I

mq316mq316
mq316mq316 Member Posts: 16
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi brand new  here and hoping for advice. I was asked if an Interventional Radiologist can place my chemo port since my surgeon can't do it that week. I hear that  could almost be better if they are doing them daily ??? I am so scared . I see so many stories of really bad pain with these?? any info ?? I would appreciate it . THANK YOU !!

PS Breast cancer ( they never gave me a stage yet  but its in two locations in my right breast  one  4 cm and the other smaller and in my lymphnodes too. )  Supposed to have chemo first then surgery then radiation .....

Comments

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #2
    Surgeon

    My port was implanted by my Surgeon the day efore first infusion.  It was not bad at all.  It did get me out of doing 2 weeks of barn chores as Dr told Hubby I shouldn't be lifting anything 'heavy' for 2 weeks at least, so he and Son took over.  I was back riding and teaching 2 days later with no pain issues.  It was 'tender', didn't take even OTC tylenol.  My Surgeon did give me a script for oxy as a 'just in case' which Hubby insisted on getting it filled and made me take one because he 'didn't want me to 'hurt'. I wasn't but humored him and took  one but when he WOKE me at midnight to take another, I flattly refused.

    Stageing can be predicted but it takes the path. from surgery to determine what it really is.  Before that it is a guess, though often 'right on' but not necessarily so.  You didn't mention your DX type (ALL BC is not the same) - the TX plans are different for the different types (IDC/ILC/IBC).  Neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemo is the SOP for IBC, but is becoming more common with other types too, some times. Do you know your ER/PR/HER2 sttus?

    It is great to do all you can to educate yourself and know what you MIGHT experience, but be very careful with a lot of what you find with the quack "Dr Google"!  Certainly some do have less than ideal experiences and it can be easier to 'buy into' those but it is far from 'gloom and doom' for most of us, though certainly not 'perfect'.  Remember also, though the vast majority of us who post in any of the BC sites are exactly who we post  ourselves as, this is after all the internet and anyone can portray themself in any way they want.  The 'BAD' stories are more 'play'/remembered, than the ones that aren't!

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #3
    Port

    I had one put in by a surgeon in 1994, then I went on hormonal therapy for 18 1/2 years.  Ran out of options for Hormonal therapy so I needed a port 2013 for chemo by a surgeon again.  The one put in during 2013 is a power port which can be used with dye for a ct scan.  

    Truly it is not a real painful procedure. 

    Best wishes to you,

    Doris

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #4
    Minimal pain with my power

    Minimal pain with my power port, which was placed by a surgeon in about May 2012.  It is still working great and I rarely think about it. Good luck!

  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #5
    Port

    I was so grateful for my purple power port!  I don't remember much pain, just a bit of soreness for a couple of weeks.  My surgeon placed my port.  When you need it accessed, ask for EMLA cream - it is a lidocaine cream that you apply an hour before you need to use your port and it makes everything painless.  

  • mq316mq316
    mq316mq316 Member Posts: 16
    #6
    THANK YOU :):)

    Thank you All for getting back to me so fast ...... I am pretty scared ... so any info makes things a lot easier for me Smile

     

  • mq316mq316
    mq316mq316 Member Posts: 16
    #7
    Rague said:

    Surgeon

    My port was implanted by my Surgeon the day efore first infusion.  It was not bad at all.  It did get me out of doing 2 weeks of barn chores as Dr told Hubby I shouldn't be lifting anything 'heavy' for 2 weeks at least, so he and Son took over.  I was back riding and teaching 2 days later with no pain issues.  It was 'tender', didn't take even OTC tylenol.  My Surgeon did give me a script for oxy as a 'just in case' which Hubby insisted on getting it filled and made me take one because he 'didn't want me to 'hurt'. I wasn't but humored him and took  one but when he WOKE me at midnight to take another, I flattly refused.

    Stageing can be predicted but it takes the path. from surgery to determine what it really is.  Before that it is a guess, though often 'right on' but not necessarily so.  You didn't mention your DX type (ALL BC is not the same) - the TX plans are different for the different types (IDC/ILC/IBC).  Neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemo is the SOP for IBC, but is becoming more common with other types too, some times. Do you know your ER/PR/HER2 sttus?

    It is great to do all you can to educate yourself and know what you MIGHT experience, but be very careful with a lot of what you find with the quack "Dr Google"!  Certainly some do have less than ideal experiences and it can be easier to 'buy into' those but it is far from 'gloom and doom' for most of us, though certainly not 'perfect'.  Remember also, though the vast majority of us who post in any of the BC sites are exactly who we post  ourselves as, this is after all the internet and anyone can portray themself in any way they want.  The 'BAD' stories are more 'play'/remembered, than the ones that aren't!

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

    :):)

    I am kind of on my own so heavy lifting will have to wait I guess ::)  I am er+ pr+ her2- and invasive ductal carcinoma for the big one at 3 oclock in my left breast ... but they founbd another spot seperate from this one in the muscle at 2 o clock far back from this one ... could be a node could be an issue ....:(  they are doing the chemo first to shrink it and to see if chemo is working for me A and C  ... they may then decide to add T for the next 3 months or do the surgery then add the T ... all so so so scary ... I am trying to be brave but I feel like I did as a child at the dentist .. I want to hide behind the sink .... and not come out

  • mq316mq316
    mq316mq316 Member Posts: 16
    #8
    SIROD said:

    Port

    I had one put in by a surgeon in 1994, then I went on hormonal therapy for 18 1/2 years.  Ran out of options for Hormonal therapy so I needed a port 2013 for chemo by a surgeon again.  The one put in during 2013 is a power port which can be used with dye for a ct scan.  

    Truly it is not a real painful procedure. 

    Best wishes to you,

    Doris

    thank you for the reply

    I need to keep hearing its not that bad so I can convince myself its not that bad too :) thank you

  • mq316mq316
    mq316mq316 Member Posts: 16
    #9
    CypressCynthia said:

    Minimal pain with my power

    Minimal pain with my power port, which was placed by a surgeon in about May 2012.  It is still working great and I rarely think about it. Good luck!

    THANK YOU :):)

    Thank you for telling me :):) the more I hear its ok and not awful the more I believe it and the more I will tell myself its ok uts ok ... hey I had a MUGA scan done 77% over all but right ventricle 41% when 40 is lowest PRE TREATMENT is this normal ?? I keep asking but its like I can't get the info I need

  • mq316mq316
    mq316mq316 Member Posts: 16
    #10
    lynn1950 said:

    Port

    I was so grateful for my purple power port!  I don't remember much pain, just a bit of soreness for a couple of weeks.  My surgeon placed my port.  When you need it accessed, ask for EMLA cream - it is a lidocaine cream that you apply an hour before you need to use your port and it makes everything painless.  

    Thank you

    WILL ASK ASAP for the CREAM ..... thank you :) I am glad everyone is saying it isn't horrible I saw such stories of pain and I am scared

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    #11
    Had my port put in by my

    Had my port put in by my surgeon.  It was put in about 10 days before it was used.  It really is not all that bad getting it put in -- or having it taken out.

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #12
    mq316mq316 said:

    Thank you

    WILL ASK ASAP for the CREAM ..... thank you :) I am glad everyone is saying it isn't horrible I saw such stories of pain and I am scared

    The Center I went to had

    The Center I went to had numbing spray they used before infusions.  After I was no longer doing infusions, I have had EMLA since to use with my flushes.  My port has never caused me any issues in the almost 5  yrs it's been in.

    As I said before - at times it can be easy  to lock into the negative that some dwell in rather than the positive that most of us LIVE in.

     

  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #13
    I had a port put in while had

    I had a port put in while had mastectomy, no problems.  Some times when used it could be a little 'rough' inserting the tube to access the meds.  Honestly nothing to worry about.  It was my breast surgeon who did the procedure.

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #14
    Mine was put in by surgeons PA!
    Made me nervous when surgeon toold me PA was going it. I asked if he was capable, he laughed and said he has done almost all of them at that hosp for over 5 years.
    It took twice as long becuz the admitting nursr did the iv, when I got into OR, PA noticed the nurse forgot to star the 2 hr antibiotic infusion. So I was wheeled into hallway fir 2 1/2 ;hours while the antibiotic was administered, then had to wait for him in surgery.
    It seemed like I was in there forever, it was less than 30 minutes. First used either the next day or day after that. Alittle discomfort that Tylenal took care of, then a little discomfort for a couple of weeks.
    Hope yours goes as well. I love my power port, only wish I would have had it the first time around.
    Carol
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #15
    mq316mq316 said:

    THANK YOU :):)

    Thank you for telling me :):) the more I hear its ok and not awful the more I believe it and the more I will tell myself its ok uts ok ... hey I had a MUGA scan done 77% over all but right ventricle 41% when 40 is lowest PRE TREATMENT is this normal ?? I keep asking but its like I can't get the info I need

    I know that 77% overall is an

    I know that 77% overall is an awesome number for a MUGA, so congrats on that!  Mine got down to 51% on taxotere, herceptin, perjeta, but has climbed back up to 62%.

    I don't know the answer to your right ventricle, but I do remember my onc telling me that the reason they do a MUGA as opposed to a cardiac echo is the chemo that I was on mainly affected the left ventricle.  In fact, I didn't think that the MUGA tested your right ventricle?  I just get the one overall percentage as a result.  Ask your onc as I am really not sure.  Sorry!!!

  • GlowMore
    GlowMore Member Posts: 789 Member
    #16
    Port O Cath

    Had my Port placed by the Surgeon who did my Lumpectomy in 2002.    It is surgery of course...but it was very easy and no problem.... I went in AM to hospital and came home that afternoon.  Having a Port is so much better for you when you have Chemo.  They used a Freezing Spray each time...but you do need to ask for it.   I had the Port in my right chest wall for about 6 years and then had it taken out.   My Oncologist said that if I ever needed another one they could place another. and, for me it was psychologically better to think I would not need it again.   Not having a Port means the infusions are given thru your veins and if a vein collapses that is where I have heard the horror stories of pain.  The port never gave me a single minute of pain....but as I said...it was placed by my Surgeon.   I know you are afraid.......sending hugs and prayers.  

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #17
    GlowMore said:

    Port O Cath

    Had my Port placed by the Surgeon who did my Lumpectomy in 2002.    It is surgery of course...but it was very easy and no problem.... I went in AM to hospital and came home that afternoon.  Having a Port is so much better for you when you have Chemo.  They used a Freezing Spray each time...but you do need to ask for it.   I had the Port in my right chest wall for about 6 years and then had it taken out.   My Oncologist said that if I ever needed another one they could place another. and, for me it was psychologically better to think I would not need it again.   Not having a Port means the infusions are given thru your veins and if a vein collapses that is where I have heard the horror stories of pain.  The port never gave me a single minute of pain....but as I said...it was placed by my Surgeon.   I know you are afraid.......sending hugs and prayers.  

    Spray or cream

    Some Centers have and use the numbing spray and some don't so EMLA cream is used.  My Center had the numbing apray for use and I used it throughout my 16 infusion.  In the years since for my monthly pprt flushes, I've had the EMLA (generic version) to use.  In my opinion the spray is quicker as it's sprayed on and immediately accessed while for the cream to work it has to be put up to an hour before access.  Again, my experiences have been that while the spray definately does 'numb' the area to some degree but still felt a slight prick most times but with the cream, the only sensation is a slight push.  I had my port accessed once for a CAT scan and surprise of surprises the hospital did not have any numbing spray and it HURT big time to access it.  Another thing to remember with the cream is to cover the area with a small piece of Saran wrap after you put it on to prevent clothes rubbing it off or getting on clothes.

    My power port has been in almost 5 yrs and I have no intention of having it taken out.    Keeping it in is a very positive 'thing' for me as I visualize it as my 'Little Soldier' standing guard so that the Monster will not raise it's ugly head BUT IF Monster should try to attack again, Soldier is there and ready for battle.  Perhaps IF I weren't IBC, I might feel differently but to me it's something I have and want to keep for 'security'  I would not ant to have to have another one implanted when there is a perfectly good one there that all I have to do is get the monthly flushes which I like doing as it lets me see my PA's RN often and can talk with her personally if I have any concerns.    Of course, we all 'see' things differently.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

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