Picc line for chemo

OG56

Hi, just had line put in for chemo tomorrow and 5 minutes before they were to put the PICC line in my nurse comes to speak to me and says well your oncologist didn't know about this and so nobody talked to you about it but since you had a bilateral mastectomy and I will just say here that I had just my Sentinel node on the left side and that is the side I had to choose obviously.I'm supposed to start chemo tomorrow and I had 5 minutes to make a decision and it's too late for port because my breasts are done and I don't want them to ruin all of that work so has anybody used a PICC Line for their chemo with or without issues thanks I'd appreciate any input. I am hwving 4 treatments one every 3 weeks. Tthis does not feel good at all but then neither do most ports.

MinusTwo

OG - a port definitely does not cause problems with implants. I had one put in for recurrence 16 months after completion of my reconstruction. However it sounds like that information is too late to help. A PICC line should be fine, it's jut more work keeping them clean & flushing them.

sheila888

OG56....with my first diagnosis I had to have a port heavy duty chemo plus her+

Second primary I only needed 4 chemo every 3 weeks oncologist said I didn't need one.

It worked out fine....maybe you should ask why a port is necessary.

Good luck to you. This chemo regimen I had was very doable I did not get sick.

Hugs

OG56

I did athe PIC line, thanks for the help!!

bravepoint

OG56, I have had a PICC line in since early October. You get used to it being there after about 2 weeks. Showering is a pain. I wrap my arm in plastic wrap, then a sleeve with elastics top and bottom. I go weekly to have it cleaned and flushed at a clinic. I will say that I'm looking forward to having it removed in 6 weeks!

Gail

MinusTwo

If you use Glad Press N Seal and wrap all around your arm, no water will get inside. I showered after surgery with drains by wrapping this around my mid section.

OG56

Thank you my infusion center gave me long gloves

Kicks

asThere are other sites than just the upper chest that ports can be placed if needed. They aren't quite as unobtrusive but are 'do-able'. That is why I have chosen to keep my port in just in case it's ever needed. To have another one implanted would mean another surgery and for a new port to be in a less than idea place. So I get it flushed every 8 weeks and look at it in a bit of a 'childish' way. I visualize it as a little soldier standing guard to keep the Monster from trying to return BUT if it does decide to try to 'attack' - he's there with rifle at ready for the battle if needed.

PICC line - I would not have agreed to one. They take quite a bit of care and have a high potential for infections. No, I never had one but back when Laetril was 'the cure for all cancer', a friend of mine's younger brother was taken to Mexico by their parents for the 'great cure'. It didn't work obviously. By the time they got him back to Shands, a PICC line was used to try the best they could. Dealing with the PICC was not easy at all and infections did happen even with scrupulous care.

If you need more long/shoulder length 'exam' gloves than they gave you, they can be gotten in boxes, like wrist length disposable gloves, in feed stores, vet supply stores, large animal clinics, or on line if you live in a city where there are no horses, cattle or other animals.

MinusTwo

Kicks - I was prepared to keep my Port forever. Like you, I felt it was the guardian at the gate. I never had a bit or discomfort & it didn't show around my clothes. Also I didn't have to deal with sticks that would aggravate the LE in my arms. Unfortunately after 4 years the darn thing would no longer draw. They could still infuse contrast for testing, but could no longer draw blood. Interventional Radiology found there was a 'flap' that closed when they tried to draw back. So sadly I scheduled my BS & parted with it after making sure all my scans were current.

JJ62

PICC lines do take some babysitting. If I had to do it again I might wear a cover or sleeve. There are many commercially available. I stayed quite active throughout treatment and sometimes did and extra wrap with a tensor bandage just to keep it protected.

Kicks

MT - Yeah - I have no 'discomfort' or 'showing' from my port either - well maybe in a swimsuit the edge could 'show' if looked for but so what.

Basically after chemo my port has not been used (except for flushes). I did have 1 blood draw done but that was because the draw was ordered the same day as flush so the RN doing the flush just did the draw at the same time. I had a UMX so one arm is not involved with my LE and I have great veins so it's a lot easier and quicker (for me) to just do blood draws from vein than to access port.

Once port was used for contrast - basically it was a 'teaching' at the hospital but was more like a 'Keystone Kops' activity. Don't ever want to go through that again.

Have had port used for a surgery - long story but there were some big issues with a gentleman and getting an IV established and getting him into surgery so they felt it would be a good idea to go ahead and easily access my port so I could be ready for my cafaract surgery on time.

Like I said I have 'great' veins so for me it's easier to just 'hit' them than using port. BUT my 'Little Soldier' (I was Army) is standing guard to keep a Monster away but ready for a battle if ever needed.

bravepoint

I haven't had any problems with infections with my PICC. It is covered with a "sleeve". The weather is freezing here so I am in long sleeves all the time anyways. It hasn't restricted me too much in my daily activities and I'm pretty active. Showering is the toughest thing esp the prep if you are alone. I will be doing the happy dance when it comes out though! I'm hoping that will be right after my last chemo in 5 weeks.

OG56

I noticed yesterday that mine started to be sore at the entry area and with all of the tape and optisight over it makes it harder to tell if it's getting red. Is yours sore? I keep mine covered with tube socks I found @ Walmart.

bravepoint

OG56,

Mine took a few weeks to settle in which the Homecare nurse told me was normal. It was sore for sure sore (1 out 10 on the pain scale) for about a week. I did have some blood around the insertion site which during week2 which worried me but again I was assured it was normal. They cleaned it up at my dressing change and never came back. If the whole clear around the entry point is filled with blood then that is a different story. See someone right away if that happens! I keep mine covered with a stretchy gauze sleeve but make a point of checking that all is well daily.

Gail

Lafish

Hi OG56,

Tube socks! Wish I would have thought of that, great idea!

Hey Bravepoint, just wanted to let you know that I asked my MO for the order to remove my PICC at my last Pre-chemo appt, so right after the last one they removed it, if I hadn't had the order in my hand I would have had to go back in. I see you are in the ottawa area as well, hear we are in for snow, hope you don't have any appointments on Monday.

LAF

argynis

Not sure if this is done a lot in the US, but you can also have your port implanted in your forearm. The silicone tube goes through the Brachial/Basilic vein to the heart. Implantation was completely painless.

I did this as my veins had already suffered during my first chemo a few years back (I had no port) and I did not want another scar on my chest. The port I have is called Vital-Port and it is a little smaller than the ports that get used for the chest. Here is a picture on how it looks like:

bravepoint

Hi Lafish,

I am in North Gower so not far from Merrickville. No appointments for me Monday. I'm going to Winchester DH for weekly Taxol treatments on Fridays. I do plan to ask my MO for orders to remove my PICC on March 17th right after my last chemo! It'll be awesome to have a normal shower again!

Gail

OG56

Argynis that is one cool port!!! Thanks for the input ladies