Port Removal

ThinkingPositive

How long did it take before anyone with a port had it removed after chemo?

Oncearunneralwaysarunner

it was about 6 weeks after my last Herceptin treatment for me but the delay was mostly due to scheduling issues. My MO was fine with me getting it out as soon as possible, we even talked about having it out before the end of Herceptin but kept it in for simplicity

Spookiesmom

Your call. Mines been in almost 3 years, I don't want it out

Nomatterwhat

I had my port taken out two weeks after chemo and two weeks before radiation started.  I hated that thing the day it went in and I couldn't wait for it to come out.  I begged my BS to take it out and finally told my RO I was not doing rads until the port came out.  So, they got together and I had my port taken out in the morning and had my simulation done that afternoon. 

Jenwith4kids

I had mine out as soon as it was possible to do so. I couldn't wait!

ruthbru

Two weeks after my last chemo (which was the very earliest they would do it). I hated that damn thing too and set up the appointment with the surgeon myself even before I got the okay from my oncologist!

ThinkingPositive

So I just had mine port removal re-scheduled for next Wednesday. Originally was supposed to be tomorrow, but my daughter was working tonight and tomorrow night, so she will be sleeping during the day and wouldn't be able to take me. When I called to reschedule the girl explained to me that it was being done in the Radiology Department and I would be receiving a local...as in I am awake???? Anyone else have their port taken out awake?? Just a little bit nervous about this.

debiann

I have two more herceptin tx and then it comes out during stage two of my recon, which I didn't schedule yet, but MO said it could be as soon as 10 days after last herceptin Can't wait!

ruthbru

I know I wasn't knocked all the way under, but was given some sort of drug intravenously that made me not care what they did....maybe it's the same thing they give for a colonoscopy because I was alert again immediately afterwards. I can only vaguely remember some tugging.

dltnhm

Thinking Positive.

Others have reported having it done that way. I chose to be out. You might want to call back and ask what, if any, your options are. Some have described a local, some a twilight type sleep, and others going under. My port installation and removal were done in the Intervention Radiology Department of the hospital - but the procedures took place in an OR there.

kcat2013

Thinkingpositive, I had my port out with only a local. I was really really nervous about only having a local and nothing else. But thankfully it wasn't bad. It was uncomfortable for a few minutes, tugging, pressure but no pain. And one of the nurses kept me talking the whole time so I couldn't think about what the Dr was doing to me! I think the whole thing took about 20 minutes. Hope yours goes well!

Kendra

RV6gal

I had mine put in with a local only. No pain just pressure and a little tugging like Kendra mentioned. I heard it comes out way easier so I'm thinking it should go well.

Wendy

CurlyG23

Thinking Positive,

I was shocked, after five months of chemo was over (on a Wednesday) they called the very NEXT day to schedule it to be removed...they wanted to do it Friday...2 days later! I would have said "hell yes!" but needed a sitter for my baby so I got it out the following Wednesday, so a week later. Don't worry, it is very similar to the placement surgery...pretty quick. I got a local & was awake for everything, but they gave me a sedative that made me a little relaxed/sleepy. I didn't ask for it, bit it was nice.

You MAY have the option to be knocked out should you really feel the need for it? I too had it removed through interventional radiology. The girl next to me in the pre-op was really freaking out for some reason (though she said she didn't for the first placement surgery). She really wanted to be knocked out, so they called an anesthesiologist for her...this delayed her start time. However, they asked her a lot of info re: her med history & made it sound like she would get to be knocked out. They wheeled me away to my surgery room before I could find out what the outcome was.... Best of luck!

ThinkingPositive

Thanks all for the info. I had the twilght sleep for putting the port in, don't remember a thing, it was about 5 hours from start to finish as I guess you go to recovery for a while. When they called me to schedule it being removed she said local, I would be awake. I am concerned about the part that is in the neck...I assume they numb that area as well since there is a tube in your vein in the neck... when she explained it to me she didn't mention any lidocaine needles in the neck,,,just the port area. They also gave me the option of being put out but the procedure would take longer. Not sure if I can handle it coming out being awake.