how long should you keep your port

Tshltn

I finished my last chemo Jan 5. I questioned my onc and he said Flushing my port every 3 months was normal when not being used. It was also suggested that I keep my port 1-2 years; the reason was that if the port is removed the vein that the port is in now would not be able to be used again if I needed.

Sassa

Because my BC was aggressive (ER/PR- and HER2+) my oncologist asked me to keep my port in for three years after I finished my AC (2 years after finish of herceptin) because my highest risk of recurrence was within the first 3 years after finishing chemo and she wanted to be able to start treating me immediately if I recurred.

The port was handy to have. It was used during my second mastectomy, during blood draws at my oncologist's office and was even used during my two surgeries for delayed reconstruction (TEs placement and exchange).

I had it removed right after my exchange surgery, just shy of my three year chemo anniversary.

GwennyMD

My MO wanted me to keep the port in for a year after chemo. Since my port was never used for blood draws nor during any of my reconstruction surgeries, it was only used for the 8 chemo infusions. I had to get it flushed every 6 weeks. It was irritating and sometimes painful. I kept it for a little longer than a year so that I could have it taken out during a breast revision surgery instead of having a separate procedure.

ruthbru

I got my port out two weeks after my last infusion. I really hated that damn thing (although I'm glad I had it for chemo), had lots of problems with it, and was happy/happy to have it gone!

Bmac16

Has anyone any recent updates on port removal? I know people who had them taken out straight after chemo. This week the nurse told me my MO likes to keep them in for a year or two. That really depresses me as mine is so uncomfortable and a constant reminder. Is he expecting a recurrence? This with pesky slightly eleven tumor markers will prevent me from "moving on

ruthbru

You have the same stats as me. My nurse said the earliest I could get it out was two weeks after my last chemo, and I made an appointment with my surgeon to get it out that day even before I got the okay from the oncologist. No way I was leaving it in a minute longer than absolutely necessary! My thought was if worse came to worse, I could get another one; but both physiologically and physically (my really bothered me), I needed it OUT. They can't MAKE you keep it if you don't want to!

Nancy2581

My onc said the same thing as Ruthbru. I could get my port out 2 weeks after last chemo. So glad - that thing felt like I had an alien inside me.

Nancy

ML1209

My BS is going to take mine out when he does ny lumpectomy if ok with my MO. Mine has never worked well since day 1. I had to have a port dye study midway thru chemo. I pray I never need it again, but would definitely want a new one if I did. Mine has always been painful.

ruthbru

I'm glad I had one so that I didn't blow out my veins; but it was definitely the most creepy, awful part of the experience for me. Some people have no trouble at all, but I envisioned myself going insane and cutting it out with a fingernail scissor (which may be why they so quickly agreed to let me ditch it ).

nye1980

I had actually planned to keep mine a few years and my MO agreed. My port never gave me any problems. And then it started acting a little strange when chemo was done. A little red, a little painful, totally manageable but annoying. Got a round of antibiotics and no change. Got admitted (by my vascular surgeon) for IV antibiotics. While no infection showed in blood work or culture, my vascular surgeon didn't comfortable having the port used. My MO said I could get it removed. I was terrified because it felt like my insurance policy, but a couple of months after chemo and a few weeks after radiation, my port was removed with just local anesthesia. That was that. The scar is still tender, but the vein itself is back to normal. Kind of miss it when I have to get blood drawn since I'd already lost some veins to chemo before getting the port, but it's nice to not have this foreign thing in my body.