The port

That is good news. 

I hope you heal well, and soon it will be nothing more than a little scar on your chest. 

Tru

Thats great news! 

Yeah, I left mine in there longer after it wasn't needed, as my onc said they'd given chemo's best shot with the FOLFOX, after the original colectomy. They took it out at the second liver resection, so I suppose that showed some confidence, but I don't really know, as it seemed like I was the one reminding theem that it was still there..........................................Dave

Congratulations!

Mine hurt the whole time as I'm on the thinner side and it was protruding from my collar bone.  Bet you feel liberated now.  It's a great feeling.  Congratulations.

Kim

I am happy for you and pray that you will never need another! God bless!

Hello ! Does anyone know how long a person is able to keep a port ? Or how long it is safe to have one ?  I  Am actually a stage 4 endometerial cancer survivor but I read all the forums !  I saw this about the port and was interested !   I guess Im the opposite I'm in no hurry to remove the port !  I have always had an issue with blood draws ! I'm considered a hard stick. I have always had anxiety over it most of my 59 years of life ! My port has only had a few issues, I had to go to get a port o gram to determine why they were not able to draw blood from it !  I have had my port since  July 22 2018, I ended up with a pulmonary embolism Bc of the cancer ♋️  I had to stay in the hospital for a week with an Iv of med to dissolve the pulmonary embolism in my lung ! It was seen on a ct guided biopsy (out  patient ) and then was admitted through ER, i only had the clothes on my back !  I had painful blood draws done every 5 hrs ! Which collapsed every vein I had I was black and blue,  purple from my hands to my elbows ! They couldn't even find a vein to use for iv to do a IVC filter implant and the PORT , the had to send me back to my room for a very painful procedure , they used a machine to find a large vein in my upper arm and put in a high speed catheter in which to use for IVs  and I told them any and all blood ? draws from that point on !  The very next morning the lab draw person shows up to poke me several times in my arm and top of hand !  I told her you are going to access thie catheter for labs ! If you cant do it send some body else who knows how  !  I still continue to require port access for ct scans , pet scans, mri , and even for the colonoscpy  i had sept 2019 I arrange it in advance !  Then  one time they tried to find a vein in my arm  ! I stopped them , "I HAVE A PORT ACESS IT , look at the instructions that you had for 2 weeks  !  No port acess no procedure,  they tried to say there was no one who could acess it  ! I said port acess was pre arranged! If you can't  I won't do thr procedure today and I start getting up to leave  ! Guess what ? They manage to find someone PDQ !    I have also learned from this cancer that you have to advocate for yourself !! I also have my port flushed every 6 weeks  I would have never survived chemo without it !  Sincerely Yetti 

SnapDragon2 said:

I have no idea how long you

I have no idea how long you are suppose to keep the port after chemo.  A nurse in my surgeons clinic has one.  She told me it was recommended for her to keep it 5 yrs with flushes every 6wks.  She gets it out this summer.  It might depend on type of cancer and stage, Idk.  In my case the cancer center I went to was bare min.  It was just a chemo filling station is the best way to put it.  I was ignored or brushed off and it was my surgeon who brought up removing it.  

YES, you have to be your own advocate!  Good for you!  Learn all you can and use that knowledge for the best outcome.

I think it depends on your Oncologist. 

My Oncologist wanted my port out after my first clear scan. He said it is dangerous to keep in, as it ups the chances of blood clots.  

I had mine removed promptly, and then my next scan was not so favourable, and discovered metastesis. Luckily for me, I didn't need to get the port re-installed. 

It is wonderful to be port free. Mine was never comfortable, being situated right under my bra strap.

I still have twinges in the area where it was placed, so I'll never be able to forget about it. 

Tru

22 years !  I'd be 81 if I waited till then !  I think I'd be comfortable. Removing it at my five year cancerversay !  i Was Dx June 28 of 2018. It will be 3 yr cancerversary June 28 2021 so June of 2023 is 5 years !