urgent response please!!!

vchildbeloved
vchildbeloved Member Posts: 133
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello everyone. This is Valerie; stage 3 colon cancer; 1 node positive out of 18. Completed chemo in on Dec. 4th. Had cat scan and bloodwork done and got results back Jan. 13. All the results were very good. Dr. said that I could get port taken out. Well, this is my dilema. Had a colonoscopy on Jan 27th, one polop removed, and Dr. said he saw another spot that he wanted to do biopsy on. He said that he did not think that it was cancer. He was the one that originally found my cancer. The problem is that I want get the resutls of the biopsies until next week sometime, and I'm scheduled to get my port removed on Monday. I need some adice on whether I should wait until I get test results back before getting the port removed. I called my oncologist on Friday but did not get a hold of him in time to ask.

Thanks so much for your great advice in the past.

Comments

  • dixchi
    dixchi Member Posts: 431
    #2
    Port
    My suggestion would be to delay the port removal; would be a shame if it was removed and then
    needed to be installed again in a short span of a few months. I ended treatment on Dec. 8
    and go back to oncologist Feb. 17 for review of CT scan and bloodwork and there has been no
    mention of removing the port yet. I would not want to go through getting intalled again.
    There are some on this site who have had theirs in for a year. Maybe they would also added
    their thoughts.
    Barbara
  • beachinmom
    beachinmom Member Posts: 73
    #3
    Won't hurt to wait....
    I would think I would wait....just in case. What kind of spot did the gi see? Did he give you anymore info to base your decision on?

    I would think port removal surgeries are not hard to schedule because they are so short. Many people wait months, or even years after chemo to remove. Just make sure to get it flushed every 6 weeks. But, yes, my opinion would be to wait.
  • sheri22
    sheri22 Member Posts: 273
    #4
    port
    I also have a port I have had for 3 yrs I left it in just in case Thank God I did because
    but to get it removed is just another surgery easier to just leave in til your sure
  • keepnthefaith
    keepnthefaith Member Posts: 36
    #5
    I am also Stage 3 -
    I am also Stage 3 - completed chemo in December and January CT scan and bloodwork were all good. My oncologist said that he would not recommend having my port removed for one year and that I would only need to have it flushed every 3 months which is when I will be having lab work done anyway. If I were you with the new developments with the colon, I would postpone having the port removed.
  • changing2
    changing2 Member Posts: 118
    #6
    Leave it in
    My MD said the same, leave it in for 1 year at least and I was a stage 3 as well.It can't hurt!
  • MoonDragon
    MoonDragon Member Posts: 183
    #7
    I would say to leave it in
    I would say to leave it in also just to make sure.

    I've chosen to leave my port in indefinitely because my veins are so bad, the port is literally a godsend!

    :)

    Jorie
  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #8
    port
    I had my mediport removed as soon as they could. I wanted this reminder of my cancer to be taken out.
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #9
    wait
    Hi, I would wait on getting your port removed. I'm surprised your oncologist said you could get it taken out so soon. My oncologist said he usually waits six months or even longer sometimes to remove anyone's port, unless they insist on removing before then or are having problems with it. I hear it doesn't hurt at all to get it removed, but I know it definitely was not fun having it put in. I was mad at my doctor when he didn't want to remove my port after I finshed chemo and was called NED. I soooo wanted that thing taken out of my chest!
    But, three and a half months later, I had a recurrence in my lungs and had to go back on chemo, so I'm glad I didn't have it taken out.
    NOT that you'll end up needing it, but it may be better to wait a bit to be safe than sorry.
    Best wishes to you and I'm certainly hoping to hear from you that they find this spot isn't cancerous!

    Lisa

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