Port question

rleepac

I just found out they plan to do my port the same day as my first chemo treatment. Will I be able to work the next day? My job is not physically demanding but does require a keen mind.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

GG27

The port won't give you an issue, the sedation is very light. I carried on a conversation with the Dr & nurses the entire time. Spent almost no time at all in recovery, tho they still won't let you drive home, you must have someone with you. GG

Holeinone

rleepac, we react to chemo differently. The day after the infusion I felt pretty good, but weird. I had to take steroids before A/C & the day after. About evening time the next day, the fog of side effects would start. Taxol was much easier for me.

Really hard to say, what type of chemo are you starting with? Mine treatments were aggressive, stage 3.

rleepac

I'm doing 4 rounds of AC followed by 12 weekly Taxol/Herceptin/Perjeta.

I know that chemo may or may not knock me on my butt. I just didn't know about the port and if there would be any pain or issues why I couldn't work the next day. I guess I'll just see how it goes. I've put my boss on alert and cleared my schedule at work just in case!

WinningSoFar

dear rleepac,

I'll bet you'll be fine the day after chemo. Probably better than you'll be 4 days after chemo. You'll notice a cycle of when you feel good and when you feel less good.

rleepac

ok. Thanks winningsofar! I'm thinking positive

SpecialK

rleepac - I am thinking you are asking more about the port install causing an issue than the chemo, correct?  You may experience some tightness in your chest, and stiffness in your neck, but both should dissipate and you can also take some OTC pain meds.  Ask that they access your port at the install and leave it accessed for chemo if you are having it done same day - that way they are not sticking your newly installed port right afterward.  Watch for signs of infection - this is a drawback of starting chemo so quickly after the port is put in - your healing may be inhibited, and it might be a good idea to have a prophylactic antiobiotic for this first round. Good luck!

Astarte

Yes, you could go to work after, but I wouldn't unless you have a desk job. It's sore for a few days, then fine.

NatsFan

Excellent advice from SpecialK. They use a needle to test the port at the very end of the insertion process - they can just leave it there with lots of packing around it, then your MO can use the already-placed needle for your chemo. Leaving the needle in place when they insert the port is called "packing it off". I had my port installed the day before my first chemo, and my oncologist told me to be sure to tell the surgeon to "pack it off". The surgeon knew exactly what that meant and was glad to do it. As SpecialK says, it save you from having to get stuck in your port insertion site that same day.

Kicks

It is not unusual to have a port placed the day before or day of first infusion. Mine was implanted the day before. The only thing I really remember being told after surgery was no heavy lifting for 2 weeks so I got out of barn chores - Hubby and Son did all. I was back riding the next day and giving lessons - just not 'lugging' bales/water buckets or mucking.

We all have different issues with anesthesia, and not all Drs will do.it the same. My port was put in in OR at the local hospital. I was totally knocked out, however, I am hard to keep 'out'. I woke up in OR in time to see my Surgeon walking out the door. I was sent straight to Discharge - never to Recovery. Surgeon talked to Hubby and told him I'd be in Recovery for a couple of yrs so he headed to the truck to go do morning chores but had not gotten out is the parking lot before Discharge called him to come back and get me.

The only time I had a needle left in my port was not something I was happy about at all. My Rads wanted a new CT which was done at the hospital just a door from the CCC. The hospital radiology section had no clue what to do so called to the CCC who told them to just have me walk over there and they would handle it. It was not 'fun' to walk over with a needle sticking out.

Neoadjuvant A/C was easy for me, adjuvant Taxol was not - but we are each so unique and there is no "One Size Fits All".

rleepac

Thanks! Yes SpecialK, I was asking more about the port placement than the chemo. My MO had originally said the port would go in this week and then chemo would start next Thur. Now his office is saying they usually do the port the same day and just have them leave the needle in. I'm ok with that but my husband doesn't like it...he thinks I will need a few days to recover from the port before chemo and I'm trying to comfort him about doing it the same day. Why do we feel the need to comfort others?!? Uggghhh...I'm sure it will be fine. Sounds like it's rather standard to do it the same day or day before so I'll just roll with it.

Meadow

rleepac, I like your "roll with it" attitude, I'm thinking you will do just fine! Thinking of you as it all gets going.

Beachbum1023

Hi rleepac, I had my port done on Wednesday afternoon, and worked 10 hours on Thursday. I actually worked every day until Tuesday for chemo, and worked 1/2 day after chemo. The port placement was no big deal, very easy and no pain. Once it's in it is ready to go. Take Care.

rleepac

awesome...thanks beachbum

GrammyR

SpecialK - is right on the mark. Yes , ask them to put needle access in tbe same day of the procedure while your still numbed up. The skin around it could be sore the next day. Mine was put in a week or so before hand and was bruised a little.

As far as chemo mine hit me around day 4-5, I was fine right after each dose and did work for the most part . Just had to take off a day when the Neulasta shot kicked in.

GG27

And I forgot to mention. I had my port insertion one day & then the next day I had my infusion. No problem, especially if they will leave the needle in. You shouldn't have any problems (except maybe with the husband! GG

rleepac

thanks GrammyR - appreciate the info

You're right GG...right now my husband is my biggest problem! He loves me and I know he just wants what's best. Unfortunately, in this case I think what he feels is best is just the opposite.

Checota

well sounds like your pretty much on the same routine I was on, had the port put in morning had first AC infusion same day 2 hours later. AC treatment was hard...I worked on the second week of AC but not on the week of treatment, the taxol I found the every other week schedule was much easier to tolerate and I worked everyday except infusion day of course.

Trvler

I was told they like to have 4 to 5 days in between, but sometimes I think they tell you that stuff because it's easier on THEIR schedule. From what I read here, it doesn't seem to make much of a difference.

sbelizabeth

Rleepac, I had my port placed on a Monday morning, with strong, "knock-out" sedation (diprivan) and went to work the next morning at 0700. I work at a desk, no hard labor, but like you I need a sharp mind. I was truly fine. I started my chemo a couple of weeks later.

My son, who is a radiologist and sometimes does port placements, asked if mine was painful. I said, not at all, because I slept all the way through it! He was surprised. Apparently where he works they don't have an anesthesiologist around for port placements and just use mild sedation.

Blessings to you as you navigate through this journey.