My Port

I didn't have chemo Lewannah
I didn't have chemo Lewannah and I am sorry that you have to go through this.


Wishing you good luck!

Hugs, Megan

None of us WANT this 'journey'!
The day I got my port in was (in some ways) the first day I was really fighting something that I shouldn't have to fight. Ihe next day I started A/C.

There is no known cancer for at least 4 generations in my family but I'm IBC. It's very aggressive with (as far as I know) no genetic causation.

You have taken a very BIG step - you CAN do what you have to. Trying to understand "WHY" isn't going do to much - it happened - it's time to FIGHT - and FIGHT you can!

Are you wondering about the
Are you wondering about the whole "port" thing, or about the whole "cancer" thing? Thry are two fdifferent things. You probably won't leave the cancer thing. One you are diagnosed, you learn to live with it. The port is another different thing. Yopu can learn to love it, as I have.

I suffer from needle-mania. If I see s health care person approaching me wiht a needle, I go into a defensive mode. I push, I shove, I curse, I absolutely don't let someone push a needle into me. But the port is different. I have Emala cream, which I apply a couple hours before my port will be accessed. It numbs the skin, and I don't feel anything but a bit of pressure. It is a world of differenc from having my veins accessed by the other way. Also I have heard that accessing veins through the arm can cause the vein to eventually collapse, and I certainly don't want that to happen.

A port can make all the difference to comfort when going through chnemo. My opinion is that I highly recommend it. It feels a bit funny when you are showering, but well worth it. I feels like someone taped a quarter to your chest. Nothing more. don't br afraid of it. If you are a needle-maniac like me, you wil welsome it. I know a 3X breast cancer survivor that has a permanent port. Make friends with your port when it is put in. I will be your friend.

Surgery for port
I get my port in tommorow...Do it hurt...

sohardbnme said:

Surgery for port
I get my port in tommorow...Do it hurt...

Good luck to all tomorrow!
Hurt - no - tender - yes for me.

I got out of mucking stalls for 2 weeks so that was nice but I could have done it if I had to but would have been have been slower and picked up less on each fork for several days. I rode 2 days after but I did ride the mellowist of our horses. Also gave the riding lessons I had been doing. Hubby made me take the 'script pain pills at noon after we picked them up and then at 6 pm but when he woke me up at midnight to take another one that was it. I did take one of the 'good' pills the next days before I went to chemo as wasn't sure what to expect and figured it was better to have already taken one - didn't need it.

Yes - it was tender. Remember that the skin had been cut fairly deep so it will be tender. Also we all have different pain tolerances and the expertise of our surgeons is not the same. Mine was put in last Aug 25 and will be seeing both my Chemo and Rads Dr. on Aug 30 - will see then if it comes out or not - personally I want it to stay so IF it's needed it's already there - pretty sure Dr. T is going to be happy with that. It's a bit inconvient to have to have it flushed every 4 weeks but not bad - easier than having it taken out and then perhaps have to have it re-implanted.

Susan

Heatherbelle said:

sohardbnme - me Too!!!
Hey we're in this together -I'm getting my port put in tomorrow too! Best of luck to you, I'll be thinking of you! I just hate the "no eating or drinking ANYthing past midnight" part -and my surgery isn't until 2:45 Monday afternoon.
Hope it all goes well with you1 We'll do this together tomorrow
*hugs*
Heather

Hugs...
Heather,

Good Luck tommorow...I will update tommorow...

cahjah75 said:

Good luck to you and Heather
tomorrow. I get my port in early Friday morning. I was told they just put you out and you don't remember a thing. My sister didn't have any problems with her port. (She called it her button.) My problem is I'm having a needle biopsy next Tuesday and chemo starts the following Tuesday. It's so comforting to know that we're all in this together. What a great support group!
Char

No doesn't hurt
Make sure you sleep on your back for a few nights. For about a week I had a problem accepting something foreign in my body, but now it doesn't bother me. It was a great help while in chemo.
Good luck ladies