port

Bstrange
Bstrange Member Posts: 87
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
They are saying I may want to get a port, if I need more chemo after the next one. I have not had one, I've known people that do and some hurt and some don't. Can you wear the strap tees with built in bra or does it show? How much trouble are they to keep clean? Is it fragile?
Barbara

I get my latest CA tomorrow will update.
God Bless You.
B

Comments

  • green50
    green50 Member Posts: 312
    #2
    I have had one 6 years
    HI Barb I have had one 6 years and it doesnt bother me. It On my right about 2 inches below collar bone above right breast. The nurses clean it out with the syringe (sp?) when you have chemo and if you dont have chemo then they clean it out every 6 to 8 weeks. They just put the syringe In your needle that is for you chemo. It may hurt for a second just like any needle, the port needle not the syringe, but mine is in a location doesnt bother me. Yes it may show with spaghetti straps or a lower shirt but most part I wear things that it doesn't. Different people are built different of course and I am not sure if your surgeon would put in the same exact spot. It was a blessing for me because my veins would roll and "explode" so after first year I got one and glad I did. My dad's was put on different side and he had problems laying for radiation etc. He is cured though and had his out. Hope this helps and I Pray you don't need one for chemo.
    Prayers and Hugs
    Sandy
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #3
    port
    I would die without my port, not sure why they don't give people one right away. I have terrible veins, always have, and a port is easy and pretty pain free. They are not fragile, you don't to anything to keep it clean. It's under your skin and yes you can wear what you like. Some things you can see the bump and for me a bulls eye bruise from being poked so much, but no big deal.

    Also now the ports are power ports so they can use them for a ct scan and other things. Mine is an older version but still glad to have it.

    We'll be watching for your latest ca report.. I get mine drawn today. Hugs Bonnie
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #4
    port
    Barb,

    I had my port put in two weeks after hysterectomy and one week before I started chemo. It is on my left side a couple inches below my collar bone. I am small and so it shows very well. It has never bothered me and they use it when I have my blood work, but not for everything I have had done. It is very convenient. My veins are small and some are not straight, and some roll, etc.

    And I too have it flushed now since I do not get my blood work every 4 weeks. And you can go swimming without worrying about it.

    Acually now I almost forget it is there. But in the beginning I was aware of it all the time.

    Looking forward to your update today.

    Love,
    libby☺
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #5
    LPack said:

    port
    Barb,

    I had my port put in two weeks after hysterectomy and one week before I started chemo. It is on my left side a couple inches below my collar bone. I am small and so it shows very well. It has never bothered me and they use it when I have my blood work, but not for everything I have had done. It is very convenient. My veins are small and some are not straight, and some roll, etc.

    And I too have it flushed now since I do not get my blood work every 4 weeks. And you can go swimming without worrying about it.

    Acually now I almost forget it is there. But in the beginning I was aware of it all the time.

    Looking forward to your update today.

    Love,
    libby☺

    I wish now that I'd gotten a port!
    I got my 6th round (LAST ROUND) of chemo today, and have a HUGE goose-egg gooney on BOTH hands where they TRIED to insert the chemo needle on 1 hand, and successfully inserted the chemo needle into the other hand. Because my platelets are so low, the stick and insertion sites had some internal bleeding, thus the big bruising. I was told to ice it for 24 hours then warm compresses the next day. And I was told that my veins are just about all shot now and I will need a port if I have a recurrance. I pity the poor technician who will have to find a vein to do my CT-scan in 2 weeks. But now my white count and platelets are too low to put a port in. If I had it to do over, I would have gotten the port from the beginning.

    But at least I got all my scheduled taxol/carboplatin chemo rounds in, although it took 4 weeks longer due to delays and required 2 blood transfusions to get them all in me. 8 weeks of radiation next after I recover from this. And I have to get Neulasta tomorrow for the 1st time, and come in every 7 days for blood work for the next month until my counts climb. Oncologist said he really 'pushed the limits of safety' letting me get this last round of chemo in today, even though he cut it to 80% of what I usually get. He's going to monitor me like crazy to assure we did the right thing even though my counts were WAAAAAY below the cut-off numbers.

    Enjoy the ease of your port and think of me getting jabbed again and again in search of a good vein! HA! You made the right decision.
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #6
    Port
    I love my port too. Barbara it is a button place under the skin with a line into a major neck vein also under the skin. There is nothing to clean. They stick the needle into the button thru the skin. Very easy. Yes there is a one inch scar and it will show with the strap tees, but in not troublesome. I think of mine as a medal of honor!! Ha. Saundra
  • ladyjogger31
    ladyjogger31 Member Posts: 289
    #7
    Port
    Hi Barb,
    I love my port. I had it put in about 4 weeks after my surgery. I have really bad veins, they call them rolling veins. Keep us posted on your ct scan.
    Hugs and Prayers, Terry
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #8
    port
    Barb - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my port. Cannot imagine having to have chemo or all the blood work done without the benefit of it. Mine is on my right side and I am large busted so I don't wear small t-tops but I do where scoop neck shirts/sweaters all the time and it does show. I don't care. Mine sticks out just a little bit and always looks a little bruised - but it's awesome. Nothing to clean. The port itself is like a self healing piece of rubber inside a little metal circle that is connected with a catheter into your vein. You get it flushed every 4-6 weeks when not getting chemo or weekly blood work. I just pop in to the chemo nurses and they flush it for me. Insurance has never been a problem in that respect either.

    Best of luck!
    Kris
  • JanQ
    JanQ Member Posts: 236
    #9
    port
    Barb, When I was first dx and began chemo I said no port. I just thought it would be a constant reminder. When I came out of remission they put a port in. It really isn't that noticeable. Now I know what the doctors were talking about. I wouldn't have it any other way.
    Now that I am on an oral chemo when I go in each month my nurse flushes my port. It really isn't a big deal to me.
    God Bless and good luck with whatever decision you make.

    Jan
  • NancyC
    NancyC Member Posts: 10
    #10
    JanQ said:

    port
    Barb, When I was first dx and began chemo I said no port. I just thought it would be a constant reminder. When I came out of remission they put a port in. It really isn't that noticeable. Now I know what the doctors were talking about. I wouldn't have it any other way.
    Now that I am on an oral chemo when I go in each month my nurse flushes my port. It really isn't a big deal to me.
    God Bless and good luck with whatever decision you make.

    Jan

    Port
    I went 1 1/2 years through chemo without a port. My first oncologist didn't even discuss mention to me. I switched docs,and my new Onc nurse said I needed on and had me scheduled. (I have small, rolling veins and it was getting harder to access my veins). The port was put in last June and I love it! I did receive a power port which I understood was fairly new at the time(try and get this one). The power port allows access for blood draw before chemo and when receiving chemo the same day. Also my hospital uses it for scans, etc. You need to let them know that you have the port and ask if they can us it. Labcorp technicials are not trained to use ports, so I just go to my docs office now for cbc draws on my non-treatment weeks. I have had no problems with the port. My port is on my right side about 2 1/2 inches below my collar bone. My skin is thin so you can see the three bumps on the port. The nurses have no issue findng my port! I have to be careful of what I wear sometimes (no spagetthi straps). You will love your port.

    Let us know how it goes.

    Take care,

    Nancy
  • rasunshine
    rasunshine Member Posts: 28 Member
    #11
    My vanity issue
    B,I had my portal port put in last year. In 2006 I had a different port. This time my surgeon put it right above the left breast.I had the first one removed.....as far as I was concerneed I was free and clean...and the port also did not fit my lifestyle. I am on a lake all summer and with every suit it showed. So he laughed and respected my wishes and lowered it.It sits so that my bra covers it. I love it, except for the fact that my neoprene vest and the port did not get along.I finally let the port win. I did find sitting on the sunning deck, sipping Mojitos and reading a great novel was A ok. I got plenty of vitamim D, tanned my bald head and had a wonderful time in God's great world of Love.
    As Red Skelton would say"and may God Bless"

    Let the sun shine in,
    RASUNSHINE
  • christianchickcher
    christianchickcher Member Posts: 26
    #12
    Ports
    I am having two ports put in tomorrow. One in my upper right chest and one in my right abdomen. Share any info you like so I know what to expect. I will be having IP chemo.
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #13
    christianchickcher said:

    Ports
    I am having two ports put in tomorrow. One in my upper right chest and one in my right abdomen. Share any info you like so I know what to expect. I will be having IP chemo.

    IP Chemo
    It seems IP Chemo is the norm now but be prepared. It is not fun. I only made it through 2 actual rounds because of problems with my port (kept getting infected)and the Cisplatin is a wicked drug. In my case anyway. I could not handle it. So I did 6 rounds of Taxotere IV, 2 rounds IP of Cisplatin and then 4 rounds of Carboplatin IV. But they say ANY amount of chemo you can get in you IP will increase your survival rate up to 16 months. So in that respect it is worth it.

    Good luck! And let us know how it goes. Also, welcome to the board!

    Kris
  • christianchickcher
    christianchickcher Member Posts: 26
    #14
    kris43 said:

    IP Chemo
    It seems IP Chemo is the norm now but be prepared. It is not fun. I only made it through 2 actual rounds because of problems with my port (kept getting infected)and the Cisplatin is a wicked drug. In my case anyway. I could not handle it. So I did 6 rounds of Taxotere IV, 2 rounds IP of Cisplatin and then 4 rounds of Carboplatin IV. But they say ANY amount of chemo you can get in you IP will increase your survival rate up to 16 months. So in that respect it is worth it.

    Good luck! And let us know how it goes. Also, welcome to the board!

    Kris

    Bruising
    Did anyone else bruise up after port placement? Should I contact my surgeon. The lower one seems swollen also.
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #15
    christianchickcher said:

    Bruising
    Did anyone else bruise up after port placement? Should I contact my surgeon. The lower one seems swollen also.

    yes
    I was sore and bruised for awhile afterwards. Can't remember how long, but if you are worried it never hurts to contact your Dr. Hugs Bonnie
  • 1trublonde
    1trublonde Member Posts: 18
    #16
    christianchickcher said:

    Bruising
    Did anyone else bruise up after port placement? Should I contact my surgeon. The lower one seems swollen also.

    Yes, bruising is par for the course....When you damage and area, or have some sort of minor invasive procedure you will see bruising. Just like if you fell and say lacerated your knee, bruising from the fall and then the cut... So when we get our ports, the docs have to make the opening and then there is some pressure while they are positioning it, hence some of the bruising. Mine went all the way down into my boob while it was healing...looked yellow, blue and green. No one told me this, I just kind of figured it out.

    I got my port out on Friday 4/10/09. For me this was a joy. I wouldn't have been without one (no cancer patient on chemo should be) but I was relieved to have it gone. It used to bother me when I slept on my right side, felt pokey, but way better than having an iv sited every time I got chemo.!!!! I am now praying I don't need one back....ever!!!!!!!

    So, we should ALWAYS ask for one, I bet most docs would opt for one if they were in our position!!! Chemo is just plain nasty and ruins our veins so I say 'spread the word' about them. Wearing what ever you want is ok, even spaghetti straps. Yes it may show, and people may ask you what it is (if you don't mind) and in turn you may help someone else by sharing this small piece of information.

    I have to access these ports at times as part of my job , it feels odd now knowing what they are like, but in the long run they REALLY do help. Don't forget to ask for a numbing cream prior to it being accessed, this may cut down on some of the minor discomfort. That being said, sometimes the speed with which you get the needle placed outweighs the time it takes for the cream to work well (approx 30-45 mins)....

    Hope this helps.....:0 Love to you all, Jules xooxoxo

    ps you might want to ignore this, I was rattling on about my chest area port near my right clavicle. I was very lucky not to have an IP port.
  • green50
    green50 Member Posts: 312
    #17
    1trublonde said:

    Yes, bruising is par for the course....When you damage and area, or have some sort of minor invasive procedure you will see bruising. Just like if you fell and say lacerated your knee, bruising from the fall and then the cut... So when we get our ports, the docs have to make the opening and then there is some pressure while they are positioning it, hence some of the bruising. Mine went all the way down into my boob while it was healing...looked yellow, blue and green. No one told me this, I just kind of figured it out.

    I got my port out on Friday 4/10/09. For me this was a joy. I wouldn't have been without one (no cancer patient on chemo should be) but I was relieved to have it gone. It used to bother me when I slept on my right side, felt pokey, but way better than having an iv sited every time I got chemo.!!!! I am now praying I don't need one back....ever!!!!!!!

    So, we should ALWAYS ask for one, I bet most docs would opt for one if they were in our position!!! Chemo is just plain nasty and ruins our veins so I say 'spread the word' about them. Wearing what ever you want is ok, even spaghetti straps. Yes it may show, and people may ask you what it is (if you don't mind) and in turn you may help someone else by sharing this small piece of information.

    I have to access these ports at times as part of my job , it feels odd now knowing what they are like, but in the long run they REALLY do help. Don't forget to ask for a numbing cream prior to it being accessed, this may cut down on some of the minor discomfort. That being said, sometimes the speed with which you get the needle placed outweighs the time it takes for the cream to work well (approx 30-45 mins)....

    Hope this helps.....:0 Love to you all, Jules xooxoxo

    ps you might want to ignore this, I was rattling on about my chest area port near my right clavicle. I was very lucky not to have an IP port.

    Bruising happens also watch out for the sun
    I know this doesnt have to do with ports which I have had 6 years but anyway I went to an auction outside the second time I had chemo. Oh Lord I forgot my sun block and even tho I sat in shade a lot, my left arm got burnt bad. Several skin layers. Chemo as a lot of you probably know absorbs the sun more into your skin. I was hurting for a while. So with summer coming up please wear your sunblock especially if you are having treatments.
    Prayers and Hugs
    Sandy

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