Made the port decision
Comments
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Loved my port
It's placed under your skin near your collarbone. So there's a lump there. Mine was done outpatient under "twilight" sedation. There was probably some pain involved but nothing I couldn't tolorate. I had the port put in on a Tuesday and had my first chemo on that Friday. My veins are terrible so there was no question for me about whether to have one put in or not.
Taking it out is easy...done in the doctor's office with numbing only. I'm sure other's will chime in with their experiences!
Good luck!
Patti0 -
Yes, it shows through your
Yes, it shows through your skin--it is inserted just under your skin on top of your rib cage, so it forms a lump there, making it easy to find for use. And yes, there is some pain involved--it is inserted under surgery. But it's not much pain, and even though you're in chemo, the pain fades pretty rapidly.
You should also know that there is some pain "getting stuck" even in the chemo port. However, I found that pain to be far less than what I usually experienced with nurses trying to find my vein in my arm or hand. In addition, because the chemo is going into a bigger vein closer to the heart, it gets diluted more rapidly, which is better for your veins. Chemo can tear up your arm veins.
Finally, think about the clothes you wear. I had just bought some V-neck blouses that I really wanted to be able to wear. So I put them on the morning of my chemo port insertion, got a permanent marker, and marked the neckline on my skin. At the hospital, I asked the surgeon doing the insertion to go "outside" of the V-drawing, explaining that I wanted to be able to wear those blouses without the chemo port showing. He was completely accommodating and understanding about my wish. So even though YOU will be able to see your chemo port when you are looking at yourself nude, no one else (well, except your DH or BF or whoever else sees you nude!) will be able to see it! Mine ended up between 3" and 4" below my collarbone.
Keep in mind that you will need to wear blouses that made the chemo port accessible for use; that's true no matter where it gets put! I wore stretchy V-necks for infusions, and it all went perfectly.
One more suggestion--ask what type of chemo port you'll be getting--a one-piece type or a two-piece type. There have been some problems with the two-piece type becoming disconnected while in your body--not a good thing, and it requires additional surgery to repair or replace it. According to my surgeon, who was trained at Johns Hopkins and is the head of the Cancer Treatment Center at the OU Medical Center, the one-piece type is much better.
Finally, after you finish chemo, ask about having the chemo port removed within a year. My surgeon told me that some recent research has correlated chemo ports being left in for more than a year with heart valve damage, so he was pretty insistent that mine be removed shortly after I finished chemo. I also like the fact that it is a more positive statement about your future--you may feel more confident that you won't need it again! Hope is always a good thing!0 -
Port
It doesn't show threw the skin,It's surgically implanted but it's a raised bump mine is a power port,Mine was painful when it was first put in,but every body's doesn't hurt so don't make your decision on other peoples.it really does come in handy though cause it eliminates all the sticks of a needle in the arm, have someone show you there's mostly everyone will have one getting chemo try to look at someones more your size cause i looked at ladies that was heavier than i was and hers looked enormous but mine is little it's off to the side so you can wear low cut shirts. MollyZ0 -
Love my port!!!mollyz said:Port
It doesn't show threw the skin,It's surgically implanted but it's a raised bump mine is a power port,Mine was painful when it was first put in,but every body's doesn't hurt so don't make your decision on other peoples.it really does come in handy though cause it eliminates all the sticks of a needle in the arm, have someone show you there's mostly everyone will have one getting chemo try to look at someones more your size cause i looked at ladies that was heavier than i was and hers looked enormous but mine is little it's off to the side so you can wear low cut shirts. MollyZ
When I was told I needed chemo I almost told the oncologist "NO!" because I am such a chicken when it comes to needles. I'd never even heard of a port ... or had a clue what it did. But after a little research and checking with folks here in the discussion group ... I realized I COULD (!!!) do chemo with a port. I had it "installed" and had almost no pain or discomfort. My doctor gave me a prescription for a EMLA (a numbing cream) to put on an hour before chemo ... and by the time of my appointment the spot was numb and I didn't feel a thing. Now that my chemo is over ... I still have the port in ... but have to go every 5-8 weeks to have it flushed ... and I'm so proud of myself because now I can go and "get stuck" without the cream. I'm a big girl now!
hugs.
teena0 -
The outline of mine
The outline of mine definately shows through my skin - it is implanted near my collarbone - as i've been undergoing reconstruction & my boobs are getting bigger the port is definately more noticeable -it's right above my left breast. My port surgery was a breeze & was tender for a day or so but not bad at all on the pain scale. Just a small poke when they accessed it for chemo. I'm having my implant exchange surgery in 2 weeks & my plastic surgeon is actually going to remove my port for me then.
You'll be glad you got a port - i felt so bad when i was in for chemo & the nurses were struggling with a patient to find a good vein.
*hugs*
Heather0 -
We're all so different!
No - you do not see 'it' - there will be a raised area that you will see when the area is exposed or feel when touched. Similar to a pace maker but smaller.
As it is surgery, there is some pain and tenderness but for me it wasn't bad at all. I was riding and giving lessons 2 days after implant with no problem - I did get out of doing chores for 2 weeks though as Hubby and Son insisted they were doning them. Mine was put in in the hospital under general.
My port was put in Aug 25, '09 and I started the first batch of Chemo (A/C) the next day. At that time all my Drs were in agreement that we would not talk about it coming out for a year. I recently went through my year out appts and we aren't discussing it being taken out for at least another 6 months. I happen to be IBC which is a somewhat rare and extremely aggressive form. Not all forms have the same protocols so only your Drs and you can know what will be 'right' for you.
Even IF you Center uses the numbing spray for port access, ask for EMLA cream (or generic form). The numbing spray workes pretty good and it is what I used through my 16 Chemos but after they were over, the Clinic that does my flushes doesn't have it so my PA gave me generic EMLA and boy does it work - no pain at all. Ports that are left in after Chemo is done do have to be flushed every 4 - 6 weeks.
Susan0 -
According to what my surgeonccincin said:Scared of....
Does it go straight to your heart? I am usually very investigative about things but since diagnosis I have stayed away from the internet!!! It's so negative!
According to what my surgeon said it does not go to your heart but to a large vein (or was it artery) near the heart. He told me which one but I don't remember.
Susan0 -
my port
I was not really given the option I was told becase of the intensity of my treatment that I needed a port. I got my power port in the last week of July, in the hospital with a general. Mine is on the left side just below my collarbone.
It was a bit tender on the incision for a couple days. I got my first chemo with the stitches still in. In my case I use Emla cream before treatment so I feel less pain when they access for treatment, but I do still feel a pinch. I also still feel a bit of pain on my skin in that area from time to time.
I also have to say that unfortunately in my case it is pretty visible, you can see the triangle shape as well as the three raised bumps. I have not lost weight with the chemo but my weight seems to have shifted or something because the more treatments the more noticable it seems to get. I have tons of v-neck tops and you can see the scar and port in almost all of my tops. Good for giving the nurse access, but not really nice looking for an evening out
I have to say though the longer I have it in the less I mind it, and my husband and I are able to joke about my "alien implant" now.
Mel0 -
I had no
problems with the port placement. It was done in a hospital with a radiologist. I have a Purple Power port. I was awake the whole time so he could talk to me. I was numbed with meds so there was no pain involved. You can see where it is under my skin but doesn't bother me at all. I have Emla cream also and put it on 1 hour before infusion. You won't regret getting it. I have bad veins and just getting blood work done every week is all my arm & hands can take. I have very good phlebotomists too. Love my Purple Power Port for infusion!
{{hugs}} Char0 -
My breast surgeon implanted
My breast surgeon implanted mine in the upper part of my arm (kinda rare...but more surgeon are doing it) My surgeon said it was safer than putting it in the chest. They do run the tubing to your heart and sometimes "on rare occations" if its in your chest they can punchure a lung vs the arm it doesnt happen. The only bad thing is if you have nodes removed on one arm they put the port on the other arm...meaning no BP or blood draws in either arm...and trust me their are idiots out there that try to. Your blood pressure has to be taken from your ankle and blood draws only thru the port.
I actually loved my port but just had it removed a few days ago.
Oh ya, you can see the outline of the port under your skin cuz it is raised a little bit...at least mine was. I think its different for everyone.0 -
No; as another person statedccincin said:Scared of....
Does it go straight to your heart? I am usually very investigative about things but since diagnosis I have stayed away from the internet!!! It's so negative!
No; as another person stated (sorry, I'm moving too fast to catch names properly!), it goes into a vein. My was directed up into a vein in my neck which then took the chemo drugs to the heart. Because the drugs are going into a major vein, they are very quickly diluted. Then the heart moves the drugs through your body very quickly. Chemo drugs injected into arm veins/any veins farther from your heart don't get transfused through your body as quickly, and those veins are more likely to clot, get irritated by the chemo drugs, and even scar, so having the port is extremely beneficial for you. Plus being stuck in the port is not nearly as painful as being stuck in a vein in your arm or hand!!! They only have to go straight in through the skin over the port; they don't have to go searching for a finicky or scarred vein.
Blessings,
Sandy0 -
Interesting; this is new tojo jo said:My breast surgeon implanted
My breast surgeon implanted mine in the upper part of my arm (kinda rare...but more surgeon are doing it) My surgeon said it was safer than putting it in the chest. They do run the tubing to your heart and sometimes "on rare occations" if its in your chest they can punchure a lung vs the arm it doesnt happen. The only bad thing is if you have nodes removed on one arm they put the port on the other arm...meaning no BP or blood draws in either arm...and trust me their are idiots out there that try to. Your blood pressure has to be taken from your ankle and blood draws only thru the port.
I actually loved my port but just had it removed a few days ago.
Oh ya, you can see the outline of the port under your skin cuz it is raised a little bit...at least mine was. I think its different for everyone.
Interesting; this is new to me. I wonder if that's related to the research showing heart damage due to the port?
Sandy0 -
My surgeon stated that myjo jo said:My breast surgeon implanted
My breast surgeon implanted mine in the upper part of my arm (kinda rare...but more surgeon are doing it) My surgeon said it was safer than putting it in the chest. They do run the tubing to your heart and sometimes "on rare occations" if its in your chest they can punchure a lung vs the arm it doesnt happen. The only bad thing is if you have nodes removed on one arm they put the port on the other arm...meaning no BP or blood draws in either arm...and trust me their are idiots out there that try to. Your blood pressure has to be taken from your ankle and blood draws only thru the port.
I actually loved my port but just had it removed a few days ago.
Oh ya, you can see the outline of the port under your skin cuz it is raised a little bit...at least mine was. I think its different for everyone.
My surgeon stated that my port went into a vein - did NOT go into the heart.0 -
Concerned about misunderstandingRague said:My surgeon stated that my
My surgeon stated that my port went into a vein - did NOT go into the heart.
I'm a little concerned that my reference to heart damage was misunderstood to mean that I was saying that the port goes into the heart. That is definitely NOT so.
The chemo port is inserted under your skin, and a small tube runs from the port into a major vein that empties into the heart. So the chemo drugs go through the tube into the vein, then are quickly sent around your body by your heart. But the chemo drugs are not dumped directly into your heart.
It sounds scarier than it really is. By being dumped into a major vein, the chemo drugs are diluted more quickly and cause less vein damage as a result. In addition, the heart action moves them through your body more quickly. Both of those things are good for you.
The reference to heart damage is related to chemo ports being left in the body for over a year, possibly two years or so, even though they aren't being used for chemotherapy. It may be that the mere presence of the port over a long period of time makes the heart work harder; I don't know because I haven't read the research. This would be a good thing to discuss with your doctor. However, it is *not* a reason to avoid a chemo port, and there are very good reasons to have a port. From what I understand, if you simply get it removed after you are finished with chemo therapy, that will prevent the problem.
Hope this clear up any misconceptions.
Sandy0 -
Rague i hope i wasnt the oneRague said:My surgeon stated that my
My surgeon stated that my port went into a vein - did NOT go into the heart.
Rague i hope i wasnt the one being missunderstood... I do agree with Lady P that the tubing is put inside your vein that runs to your heart...but its not in your heart.0 -
Quotejo jo said:My breast surgeon implanted
My breast surgeon implanted mine in the upper part of my arm (kinda rare...but more surgeon are doing it) My surgeon said it was safer than putting it in the chest. They do run the tubing to your heart and sometimes "on rare occations" if its in your chest they can punchure a lung vs the arm it doesnt happen. The only bad thing is if you have nodes removed on one arm they put the port on the other arm...meaning no BP or blood draws in either arm...and trust me their are idiots out there that try to. Your blood pressure has to be taken from your ankle and blood draws only thru the port.
I actually loved my port but just had it removed a few days ago.
Oh ya, you can see the outline of the port under your skin cuz it is raised a little bit...at least mine was. I think its different for everyone.
"THEY DO RUN THE TUBING TO YOUR HEART!"
Tubing is put in a VEIN near the heart - not into the heart.0 -
Glad we've got thatRague said:Quote
"THEY DO RUN THE TUBING TO YOUR HEART!"
Tubing is put in a VEIN near the heart - not into the heart.
Glad we've got that clarified! In sum, it's safer and easier on you!
Good luck! Sandy0 -
I was one of the 1% that hadjo jo said:Bumping
Bumping
I was one of the 1% that had a hole put in my lung. Neumothorax (spelling?) But this is extremely rare.
As much as I didn't love my port, I didn't regret having it because of vein damage. I think it's a good idea.
I also had it removed right after radiation was done. Chemo ended Oct. 14th , rads on Dec. 22nd and port removed Dec. 28th.0
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