Chemo port in the arm?

CessnaFlyer
CessnaFlyer Member Posts: 110
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Have any of you had the chemo port in your arm? I understand they can put it either in the chest or the arm. I’m having it put in my arm next Tuesday and I’m just wondering what the advantages of one over the other might be.

Comments

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
    Pic Line?
    Did they call it a PIC line?

    I have not heard of a medi port being installed in the arm - those are usually placed in the upper chest around the collarbone, so it can be threaded into a main artery.

    -Craig
  • grammadebbie
    grammadebbie Member Posts: 464
    #3
    Pick Line
    I had a pick line in my arm and I believe it went to the main artery. Mine was put in when I was in the hospital for my bowel obstruction/ resection. They used it for my Chemo and it worked fine. Lasted till I was done with chemo (10 mos). It wasn't very uncomfortable only had some trouble showering etc. Hope all goes well, will be praying for you. Please keep in touch.

    God Bless You,

    Debbie (gramma, there is another Debbie so I added gramma)
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #4
    grammadebbie said:

    Pick Line
    I had a pick line in my arm and I believe it went to the main artery. Mine was put in when I was in the hospital for my bowel obstruction/ resection. They used it for my Chemo and it worked fine. Lasted till I was done with chemo (10 mos). It wasn't very uncomfortable only had some trouble showering etc. Hope all goes well, will be praying for you. Please keep in touch.

    God Bless You,

    Debbie (gramma, there is another Debbie so I added gramma)

    I'd....
    ...think that be so uncomfortable, to have it in your arm...is it??
  • grammadebbie
    grammadebbie Member Posts: 464
    #5
    Shayenne said:

    I'd....
    ...think that be so uncomfortable, to have it in your arm...is it??

    Pick Line
    Hi Shayenne,

    My veins had all blown while in the hospital for Emergency bowel obstruction/resection so they put the pick line in to give me my meds and nutrition. I hadn't eaten anything in 10 days so they used that for nutrition. It was not to painful to have it put in. Much better than the failed IV's. It was used for my chemo and removed when completed (10 mos). It had 2 ports and kept taped down and wrapped. Had some irritation on the skin from the tape. When I showered my husband would wrap it with plastic wrap and tape to keep it dry. I always thought the port in the chest would be more painful. Hope I never have to find out. Ha

    God Bless You,

    Debbie (gramma)
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    #6
    Arm Port
    I now have my port in my arm. My first 2 were in my chest. The main benefit I've found would be to have a PowerPort placed in the chest. PowerPorts are MRI/CT compatible which means you don't have to have an IV placed for contrast. They don't recommend PowerPorts for the arm, so I have a standard port now. Did they recommend an arm port?

    Kimby
  • lesvanb
    lesvanb Member Posts: 905
    #7
    kimby said:

    Arm Port
    I now have my port in my arm. My first 2 were in my chest. The main benefit I've found would be to have a PowerPort placed in the chest. PowerPorts are MRI/CT compatible which means you don't have to have an IV placed for contrast. They don't recommend PowerPorts for the arm, so I have a standard port now. Did they recommend an arm port?

    Kimby

    Get accessed before scan
    I had (I love saying that I HAD) a Power Port and ended up with an IV in the arm for the scan because I did not get it accessed before the scan. I guess one would do this in the chemo room. Never even dreamed I had to think of this step. Well, the next scans will require an IV in the arm.

    Leslie
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #8
    kimby said:

    Arm Port
    I now have my port in my arm. My first 2 were in my chest. The main benefit I've found would be to have a PowerPort placed in the chest. PowerPorts are MRI/CT compatible which means you don't have to have an IV placed for contrast. They don't recommend PowerPorts for the arm, so I have a standard port now. Did they recommend an arm port?

    Kimby

    Ugh.... because of the size...
    I cannot wait to get my Powerport removed next Wednesday....

    Funny thing. We were going somewhere in the car and I reached up to adjust my seatbelt and felt the port in my chest. 'What in the WORLD is that lump in my chest'.... I thought. How did I forget? LOLOL
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #9
    lesvanb said:

    Get accessed before scan
    I had (I love saying that I HAD) a Power Port and ended up with an IV in the arm for the scan because I did not get it accessed before the scan. I guess one would do this in the chemo room. Never even dreamed I had to think of this step. Well, the next scans will require an IV in the arm.

    Leslie

    Debbie...
    ...I have a powerport in my left collarbone area, and it really doesn't hurt, it was sore at first, but now I don't even feel it, though it looks like a huge half-dollar is coming through my skin!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #10
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • califsue
    califsue Member Posts: 80
    #11
    My port is in my arm
    Where I am treated, they put the ports in the underside of the upper arm with only local sedation. I asked my oncologist why put it in the arm as I would prefer it in the chest. He said that to put it in the chest would require anesthesia, and therefore it is considered surgery (more money). If you put the port in the arm, it is considered a procedure (cheaper).

    That being said, my port in my arm is okay. It is easily bruised as it does stick out a bit, so I'm careful with that arm. It is accessed pretty easily, although it is still somewhat painful when they stick the needle in. I can't comment about the differences, as I've never had a port in my chest.

    Hope your port insertion goes well,
    Susan
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #12
    califsue said:

    My port is in my arm
    Where I am treated, they put the ports in the underside of the upper arm with only local sedation. I asked my oncologist why put it in the arm as I would prefer it in the chest. He said that to put it in the chest would require anesthesia, and therefore it is considered surgery (more money). If you put the port in the arm, it is considered a procedure (cheaper).

    That being said, my port in my arm is okay. It is easily bruised as it does stick out a bit, so I'm careful with that arm. It is accessed pretty easily, although it is still somewhat painful when they stick the needle in. I can't comment about the differences, as I've never had a port in my chest.

    Hope your port insertion goes well,
    Susan

    Hi Susan!
    There is a Lidocaine topical cream that you can put on your port site like an hour before you go for chemo or any kind of blood draw that will totally numb the area where you don't even feel the needle going in, please ask your doctor to prescribe it for you. It really helps me, I just glob it on thick, an hour before chemo, put some saran wrap on top of it, so I don't get it on my shirt, and Boom! they stick that needle in, and it's nothing, so really, get a prescription for it, I've felt it without the cream, and what a difference~

    On the other side, they would still have to put me under anesthesia if they were to stick a port in my arm, I hate being up for any procedure, so I'm a baby, you have to knock me out before touching me with any procedures LOL...

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

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