Pain & Swelling from Port

LW0919

I had my port placed in early February and have used it already for 4 of 6 prescribed treatments with no problems. My next treatment is this coming Thursday which would be #5, next to last one. Yesterday, I started noticing some pain around the port and last night I noticed swelling in a horizontal line going up from the port. It seems as if the swelling follows the tubing all the way up to my collar bone. It isn't excruciating but still yet painful when I raise my arm or move in certain ways. I called my MO and was referred to the surgeon who said that I could come to the ER today or see my surgeon in the AM. When I asked what could cause the change, the surgeon on call said it could be infected. Has anyone experienced an infection this far out from original insertion? I am so ready to be done with chemo and really don't want anything to cause a delay in treatment. Just wondering what would happen if it was infected?

Reality

Hello LW - sorry for your pain. I had a port for a year. When I planned my lumpectomy, my BS offered to take it out. I mistakenly told her to go ahead. Less than a year later, I was doing chemo again and had to go through the port surgery again. I recently had a fever, chills and pain at port site. My onc was concerned about infection so he put me on antibiotics. The infection cleared up. He advised me that if it did not clear up, the port would have to be removed and placed in a different area. Thank goodness I did not have to go through that surgery a third time! I honestly had more pain from port surgery than I did from the lumpectomy. Best wishes to you. You will be in my thoughts. 

Sherry

Reality

....ice packs helped me get through the pain.

LW0919

I am so sorry that you had to go through chemo again and port placement too. I saw my surgeon today and was told basically the same thing. She wants to do antibiotics by IV tomorrow if the Cipro hasn't kicked in by tomorrow afternoon. She mentioned the possibility of removal. I only have 2 treatments left so not sure what we will do. I'm not sure I want a replacement for just 2 treatments. Hopefully it won't come to that. Thanks for sharing your experience. I think I will use ice packs tonight!

Reality

Thanks, LW. I wish you the very, very best! 

melmcbee

Hi. Lw. The port can become infected just from accessing it for chemo. I hope you start feeling better. hugs

jengirl

Sorry to hear of your port causing you problems.  I too, had my port placed in Feb.  I've just finished up treatment # 9, and have 9 more to go.  I haven't experienced any problems with the port until today.  As soon as the nurse inserted the needle I felt a great deal of discomfort.  She repositioned and inserted a second time with a good blood flow, and we proceeded with the treatment. But now, it feels extremely uncomfortable.  I'm not sure if this pain is normal after the nurse poked and prodded and seemed to be trying to manipulate the port with her hands to a new position.  Anyways, it hurts now and seems to be radiating pain into my arm.  Strange.  Would love to hear other's thoughts.

Reality

jengirl - the same thing happened to me. I actually felt that it was out of place. I do not know if I was supposed to or not, but I gently massaged the area around the port. Eventually, the pain stopped. In the meantime, I asked my onc nurse for a lidocaine injection in skin over port entrance, before infusion. In fact, my NP advised me that I can ask for lidocaine before any needle is inserted anywhere. This is a strict policy at my local hospital. The lidocaine needle is small, but stings. It is worth it, though, to keep from having the port entrance pain. 

Leah_S

Reality, ask for Emla cream - it's lidocaine and prolocaine. You put it on about an hour before the port insertion so then you don't need lidocaine injections.

I've been sick recently and so far we can't seem to figure out why. Onc is concerned about a port infection even though it was about 1 1/2 weeks after the last time the port was used that I got sick. So it seems to be a vulnerable area even when it's not immediately after use.

Leah

LW0919

My infection was almost 3 weeks out from the last treatment. Definitely isn't a matter of timing! I have to go tomorrow for IV antibiotics, the Cipro doesn't seem to be doing enough to clear it up. If it comes out I can't see having another put in for 2 treatments. I dont want to go through the pain again. i think I will just take a chance on my veins blowing out!