How is it when taking your port out?

EissetB
EissetB Member Posts: 133
in Colorectal Cancer #1

This coming Tuesday will be my last infusion on folfox 5fu. Then they'll take the pump out on Thursday. I had a blood test last Friday, and so I had a chance to talk to My onc. My onc told me I will have the schedule lined up...first is my port, I will finally get rid of it in 3 weeks after my last infusion!! I asked her why? Are you not going to do the CT Scan first to make sure if I am cleared from cancer? She smiled, and hugged me, then said "You are NED." She added that the main reason of having me on chemo was to kill any floating cancer cell that might had escaped during the surgery. She said that was the reason why I had to be on chemo for 6 months. Let me tell you, I cried!! I cannot believed it!! I was already NED then, but my doctor didn't tell me!! I could have say no to chemo if they told me I was NED after the surgery. But I guess my surgeon cares so much that he wanted to make sure there was no cancer cells float around my body after the surgery. I thank God for not letting me down, and for always giving me hope, and for not losing my faith in Him as my Healer. 

God bless us all!!

Eisset

Comments

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #2
    Port removal

    Mine was pretty easy, though I fretted for days before hand, because it was done under a local. 

    I ended up having tons of shots to get the area numb, but it really didn't hurt at all. A big of tugging and pulling and then it was out. The worst part for me was having an allervic reaction to the tape they stuck over the wound. 

    It was so good to get that thing out of my chest. 

    Good luck when you have it done, and CONGRATUALTIONS on being NED.  

    Tru

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    edited October 2017 #3
    Congratulations

    Getting your port out is a big deal as far as the final process of your journey through this terrible ordeal and should be a great relief.  It shouldn't hurt at all as they numb the area really good.  While they were doing mine, they talked to me the whole time to make sure that everything was good for me.  If your oncologist tells you that you are good to have it out - then that is awesome.  Mine was taken out one month after finishing, but had the CT scan first.  You are going to feel so much relief after that is gone.  It's time to celebrate.  Don't worry about the removal as you will do fine.  Keep us updated on how it went.

    Kim

  • EissetB
    EissetB Member Posts: 133
    edited October 2017 #4
    Thank you, Kim and Sue (Tru).

    Thank you, Kim and Sue (Tru). Yes, I am excited about getting my port out and could hardly wait for that day. I have one more question left though...Are they not going to knock me out when they pull it out of my chest? Honestly, I would rather be under anesthesia than a shot of that numbness solution. Hopefully they'll give me an option when that day comes. God is good!!! I love you all.

    Eisset

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #5
    EissetB said:

    Thank you, Kim and Sue (Tru).

    Thank you, Kim and Sue (Tru). Yes, I am excited about getting my port out and could hardly wait for that day. I have one more question left though...Are they not going to knock me out when they pull it out of my chest? Honestly, I would rather be under anesthesia than a shot of that numbness solution. Hopefully they'll give me an option when that day comes. God is good!!! I love you all.

    Eisset

    Sometimes they sedate you

    But I had my ports in and out under local alone, and it was no problem.  Ask for mild sedation if you'd like.  Actually, when I had my port out, the dr wanted an IV in place for sedation, but the oxaliplatin had wrecked my veins so badly that the pain from the  presence of the IV had me in tears, and they had to pull the IV they had placed before my port removal.  (Note - very rare side effect is painful veins.)  The dr could only use the local numbing on me, and that was fine.  (Side note:  for about a year after chemo, I would use a lidocaine patch over a vein if I had a blood draw or CT scan, as I couldn't tolerate the presence of an IV or a needle.  The poke wasn't the issue; the physical presence of anything in my vein was.)

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #6
    EissetB said:

    Thank you, Kim and Sue (Tru).

    Thank you, Kim and Sue (Tru). Yes, I am excited about getting my port out and could hardly wait for that day. I have one more question left though...Are they not going to knock me out when they pull it out of my chest? Honestly, I would rather be under anesthesia than a shot of that numbness solution. Hopefully they'll give me an option when that day comes. God is good!!! I love you all.

    Eisset

    Insist and pay

    I had a friend who insisted the Doctor knock her out. Of course, she then had to pay an arm and a leg for the medication and procedure. 

    Like I said, I was REALLY fretting it. I hate needles! I asked the surgeon if he would talk to me, or at least pay attention to my continous chatter (which is what I do when I am nervous) and he did.  They used a very fine needle to administer the local (numbing medicine) and it didn't hurt at all, even though he had to work to get it out, because it had tissue growing around it. 

    If you've got money to spare, you can ask for sedation, but I think you'd do just fine. 

    Good luck!

    Tru

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #7
    Port removal

    I don't remember the process of taking out the port,  But being NED and not needing it anymore was wonderful.  I'm so happy for you.  May you be NED forevermore!!!

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #8
    EissetB said:

    Thank you, Kim and Sue (Tru).

    Thank you, Kim and Sue (Tru). Yes, I am excited about getting my port out and could hardly wait for that day. I have one more question left though...Are they not going to knock me out when they pull it out of my chest? Honestly, I would rather be under anesthesia than a shot of that numbness solution. Hopefully they'll give me an option when that day comes. God is good!!! I love you all.

    Eisset

    It Really Depends

    It really depends on the doctor.  Some put you out while others don't.  Mine port was inserted with twilight medication, but it doesn't work on me so when they were going to take it out they decided not to give me the twilight medicine and then was able to go home much sooner as recovery is faster.  Either way you'll do fine.

    Kim

  • EissetB
    EissetB Member Posts: 133
    #9
    Thank you all!!

    Thank you all for the replies. This helps me decide whether I will take sedation or not. I have mix emotion about the whole deal. It's a wonderful moment for me and for my family. God bless us all

    Eisset

  • marbleotis
    marbleotis Member Posts: 720 Member
    #10
    Port Out was a good thing

    I had the port put in while in the hospital so I had it removed in the hospital.  Some doctors remove in the office - which I found odd.

    Anyway, removing that port was one of the best days because it meant that the port served me well but it was time to say bye-bye port.

    I will be 6 years NED in Jan 2018.

  • EissetB
    EissetB Member Posts: 133
    #11
    Thanks for sharing your

    Thanks for sharing your experiences on port removal. Just a while ago, I had a phone call from my surgeons clinic. My original surgeon just retired, and so I will have a new surgeon to take care of my port removal which will be on Nov. 9th. No sedation required, they said...just lubricant or whatever will make it go numbed. I am excited but so nervous. God bless us all

    Eisset

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    edited October 2017 #12
    EissetB said:

    Thanks for sharing your

    Thanks for sharing your experiences on port removal. Just a while ago, I had a phone call from my surgeons clinic. My original surgeon just retired, and so I will have a new surgeon to take care of my port removal which will be on Nov. 9th. No sedation required, they said...just lubricant or whatever will make it go numbed. I am excited but so nervous. God bless us all

    Eisset

    Awesome

    That's what happened with me - no sedation and you get to go home right after and that is the best part.  Didn't feel a thing but elation because it was coming out and knew that was the best thing to the end of my journey through this whole ordeal.  You won't care about no sedation, you are just wanting it out and being awake to be freed from that part.  Wonderful.  It was easy peasy Smile

    Hugs!  Kim

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    edited October 2017 #13
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Awesome

    That's what happened with me - no sedation and you get to go home right after and that is the best part.  Didn't feel a thing but elation because it was coming out and knew that was the best thing to the end of my journey through this whole ordeal.  You won't care about no sedation, you are just wanting it out and being awake to be freed from that part.  Wonderful.  It was easy peasy Smile

    Hugs!  Kim

    I didn't go home after my port removal

    I WENT TO THE JEWLERS.   

    Yeah! I bought a celebratory bracelet, that I wear almost every day now. 

    Time to celebrate, El.image

    Tru

  • EissetB
    EissetB Member Posts: 133
    #14
    Thank you

    Thanks, Annabelle!! Your advice, comments, inputs, and sharing experiences make this forum a second-home. Everyone are helpful and kind. It made me feel good to know people like you all <3 God bless us all!! Hugs to all!!!

    Eisset

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