Port Infection

nye1980

I have an implanted port that was placed after my second of six rounds of TAC. I finished chemotherapy on November 7 and had my port flushed on December 5. A few days ago I noticed very slight redness and warmth ABOVE the port site, on the catheter. No pain. I went back to my vascular surgeon pretty much immediately and he said it could be an infection or just friction, causing fluid build-up. I was given antibiotics to be taken three times a day for ten days. The site is still red and I feel some tenderness along the catheter on my chest, stopping under my collarbone. No increased redness or swelling. The port site itself is perfectly fine. I go back to my surgeon on Sunday, same day as I have my six-month scans. He said that the worst case scenario would be to remove the port, which I don't want to do! I had planned to keep it in for a year or so just because it felt like "tempting fate" to remove it. Anyone have similar issues with their port? I've never had trouble with it, fortunately.

Also, since I've just finished radiation on my right side, I can't carry a bag on that shoulder. So I usually have it on the side of my port and there's definitely some rubbing. But shouldn't it be improving?