Port Question

Mamasj

I was just wondering how long after you aredonewith treatment,do mostpeoplekeeptheir ports?The onlyones who willacessmy port,arethe onocogy nurses. Just wondering!
May God Bless
Sue

livesstrong

I finished treatment in Nov.'06 and had my port removed Jan. '07. My ocn wanted to wait due to my low resistenece from chemo, he didn't want me to get any infections while I was in the hospital.

Valerie

Anonymous

Some people have it taken out as soon as possible after the end of chemo, like within one month. I was very superstitious about mine and my onc said that I could keep it as long as I wanted. I kept it for another 8 months and then took the plunge. Somehow I felt that as soon as it was removed, my cancer would come back and I'd need it. Like I was jinxing myself for getting rid of it and daring to be hopeful. It's now been 15 months since removal and so far-so good!

Marin

glaveg

I had mine taken out about a month after chemo. Often ports are sites of infection because they have to be flushed. My onc and surgeon wanted mine out because of that fact.

Anonymous

Post deleted by Chemosabi1

SheriH

I had mine for 2 years. No real reason, just didn't get it out. It didn't bother me or anything. I was able to use it a couple of times when I was hospitalized for some other issues, so did come in handy. Glad it's gone now, though.

JoanofArdmore

I got mine out the very next month after chemo, before I started rads, after I finished my scans.
My onc said "why not keep it for a few months?"
It bodda'd me.I couldnt sleep comfortably on that side.I didnt like the little drum under my skin.

I whined to my rads on about it, at our first meeting.
He said "GET IT OUT!! You dont need it!! Tell Steve(my onc) I want it out!!"
My man
I still have it.I told my surgeon I wanted to make an earring out of it.
He says I am the craziest patient he ever had.He said NO ONE has ever asked for their port.
But I felt sorry for my poor port.
It served me well.It was a good port.(Violin music)
Just because I didnt enjoy having a foreign body under my skin is no reason for the poor thing to be trashed!

So now it lives in a medical jar, in med strength peroxide, and is shown proudly to various friends.

Jaybird627

I had mine out about 4 months after chemo. I wanted it out sooner but I'd been waiting to have my last 2 Taxol tx but didn't have them so by then it was time to start rads and my rad onc wanted me to wait as he didn't want me healing from surgery while doing rads (and it had to be dug out - yeowch!) so I did but I had it out as soon as I could after rads! What a nightmare it was all around - a punctured lung upon insertion and difficulty with removal!

Jaybird

simeon

I had mine removed two months after treatment ended. I was anxious to have it out.

Anonymous

I finished chemo one year ago somethime this month and I still have my port. I'd been having it flushed every 6 weeks but got behind this time. Not really sure why I still have it but it doesn't bother me. I have a new onc though for my next appt. so I imagine she'll have it taken out.

pals
cheri

Jorf

I had mine out a month after chemo when I had my mastectomy. I kept thinking, "maybe I should leave it in in case I get an infection or something" and thought, 'that's silly why would I set myself up for that???" So, I got an infection and was in house with IV antibiotics for 4 days. Would have been soooo much easier with the port!!!

Oh well.

Now I've got a nasty scar where the port was. A year later (today! OMG, it was today!) it still itches and gets tight tho it's flatter than it was.

JoanofArdmore

jorf!Happy Freedom Anniversary!!

I had my port put in after my 2nd chemo.(the adriea escaped my vein.My onc instructed me not to return w/out a port.)
So the incision never healed properly.

So I have a scar that looks like a little explosion took place.

(In essence, I wish I cared!)After 3 and 1/2 years, my scars are ghoss.Pale, not raised.Even my li'l explosion.

Again, Happy Anniversary!
joan

Jorf

So here's a great chemo brain story. I posted that and then I was writing in my journal - long involved piece about my upcoming martial arts test and then about this story I'd heard on the radio about how our atoms are 100% completely replaced over the course of a year and how much has changed this year and musing on how people with cancer change so much - because chemo causes our atoms to turnover quicker - and writing about how it's been a year today (yesterday now) since my maste.... OOPS!! IT WASN'T!

Last year this week looked like this for me: preliminary black belt test, 50th birthday, mastectomy. In that order. The test was the 29th, birthday the 1st, mast the 4th. Ah well.

Yes, it's been quite a year!!!

tee hee

Chelee

Marin's post sounds like me. When I was done with trt...including my year of herceptin everyone told me to get it removed...no need to keep it. I was AFRAID I would jinx things and "IT" would come back again. But I FINALLY had it removed about 2 weeks ago. I had it in four months after my final herceptin.

Chelee

mk24

my onc wanted me to keep it in well after my chemo ended. Finally, after a year I saw the other doctor in the practice and he asked me why it was still in. Anyway, I was VERY GLAD to finally have it removed.

janet11

As soon as I was told that I couldn't continue with herceptin, I asked "then I can get rid of my port?" And was told ok. When I called my surgeon to schedule it, there was a few days delay while they called my onc to confirm that it was ok (actually, I was glad that they COMMUNICATED!!!)

It's been out for almost 3 weeks now, and I keep putting my hand over that side of my chest feeling how "non porty" it is (*laugh*).

I wanted it out. Instead of a jinx, it felt like I was taking over my life again. Even though I had been back to work and life was pretty normal, the port was my last remaining sign that I was a cancer patient. Now I'm not. now I've HAD cancer. And maybe I will again. But for now, it's in my PAST. Yippee.

denise1962

Hi Ladies
I am 6 mos 1 mo out from my last herceptin. I had a bilateral mast. My questions is has anyone had to have a port reinserted due to a reoccurance? The onocologist gives me a 80% reoccurance rate within the next 5 years. I would like to get the port removed as I have to drive 2 hrs each way for a flush and I would rather not due that.
Thanks
Denise

iodine

Have you no alternative for a flush? I would think you could at least get orders to have it done at the local health dept. Or how about at the office of one of the local home health care agencies? Even if you have to pay them out of pocket, it would likely be cheaper than the gas to go round trip.

threadbear

Janet11- good to hear from you. I was on the herceptin board when we both had drops in our MUGA- I see that you had to stop getting it. I stopped also, with only 4 more treatments left. I'm having a hysterectomy on Aug. 13, and called to ask my surgeon if he could take out my port when I have that surgery. I've not heard back yet, so I assume the answer will be "No". I'm anxious to get mine out!

Laura

Mamasj

Thanks for all of the replies. My Onocologist said I should wait 6months after treatment, but that I should talk to my surgeon and get his input.
May God Bless
Sue

denise1962

Hi Dotti
At this point I don't have an alternative. The local health clinic would flush, but they have to order 20+ neddles and they don't know how they would bill the insurance. Each neddle cost 20.00+. Their is no health dept or any thing like that out here. Live in the boonies!
Denise

KariLynn

Are there any doctors? Any RN should be able to flush it. Maybe in a town that's a little closer?

iodine

Actually it takes a little training to flush it. $20 each!!! Hell, here we go again with over charging.
How about your doc providing the supplies to do it locally?
Can't hurt to ask??? Then they can charge the ins co.
Or, as suggested above, a town closer?

abbyglp

Hi, I have 12 weeks left of my herceptin tx's. I have had 2 staff infections in my port over the last year. For the last 3 months I have had a flush feeling up into my head when I get an infusion, and I have had a dull ear ache with a lot of drainage in my ear, It permenantly stays full of fluid. I went and had it checked and the doctors have told me I have fluid behind my ear drum and one doctor told me to take claritin, I did, then I was told to take prednisone and my onc said no, just let it drain on its own, then another doctor put me on a z pack. still no let up. I said this is 3 months mabe it is my port. So today I had blood drawn again and a dye study, the tech asked me alot about how it was feeling, I told him about the rush I get that goes to my head and even when I bend down to pick something up. He said everything looked o.k. but if there was a blood clot at the top of the port that would cause the fluid to go to my head, He was going to talk to my onc about an ultra sound and sent me home. Now I am sitting here saying to myself if this could be a blood clot then why did they send me home and not check it today. No blood clot is good, so now I am sitting here worrying about this, what if it goes to my brain. I wish he never told me this bit of information, and when is he going to speak to my onc., has anyone had blood clots form around there port? and how do they disolve it?.I think if this is the cause of all my head and ear problems this is coming out way before my 12weeks of tx are finished.Any info would be appreciated.
hugs abby

iodine

I don't have an ans to your question, but I suggest you call your onc and ask him/her. I agree with you about clots not being good and would want assurance from my doc.

janet11

Hey Laura, have you heard yet if they'll remove the port during the hyst surgery? That would be great, getting both over at once!

Janet