To Keep or To Remove Port

Francesca30

Hi Everyone,

I’m scheduled for my reconstruction this month and I’m still undecided whether I should have my portacath taken out. I’m about 15 months out from surgery. My breast surgeon wants me to keep it in for a few more years but my oncologist says it’s really up to me. It’s not really bothering me except when I’m in my gym clothes or swimsuit. How long did you guys keep your port?

Thanks!

DodgersGirl

My MO told me that ER+ was most likely to recur around the 2-3 year mark from surgery. I had mastectomy in Sep 2017. Saw BS in Nov 2019 who suggested removing my port. I said I wanted to think about it. Didn’t want to have it removed only to need it put in again.

I saw my MO a few days later. He said he was ok with having port removed, too.

I went home to talk it over with family. And had actually decided that odds were I wasn’t going to need the port so was going to schedule to have it removed after Christmas.

Mid December 2019, I was dx with metastatic breast cancer. Port gets used all the time now.

Odds are you won’t need it. I would wait til I was 2 years out with clean scans and blood work all in normal range (my ALP started to slowly climb starting in April 2019) and then make my decision

Spookiesmom

I’ve had mine 8 years, no plans to take it out. Now stage IV, if I fail the oral meds, will need it.

By keeping it, I have avoided a surgery, risk of infection, pain, and maybe having to need another one. And the copays

exbrnxgrl

Like spookiesmom, I’m stage IV. My port has been in for almost 9 years. I do use it for blood draws and PET scan injections. If you do decide to leave it in don’t forget to have it flushed regularly. It’s definitely a personal choice

buttonsmachine

I took mine out almost two years ago with my MO's approval, despite multiple recurrences, because I feel more physically comfortable without it. I will not be on IV treatment anytime soon, and I decided I want to live it up and not have a port while I can. For me the port felt like a ball and chain, and I got tired of bumping it, snagging it on clothes, etc..

However, the port is very convenient, and if I needed one again I'd have it put back in in a heartbeat.

exbrnxgrl

I do think comfort is a big part of one's decision making. My port is not visible and is in the recessed area where my shoulder meets my chest. No bumping, no snagging of clothing. It is very small and I almost never think about it. If it physically bothered me I probably would have had it removed

sbelizabeth

I had mine removed during my DIEP reconstruction a couple of years after my initial diagnosis. My surgeon removed it through the same incision as the DIEP, so no new scar. I was very happy for it to be gone, for several reasons. I believe it was colonized with bacteria and giving me repeated cellulitis infections, I was thoroughly fed up with reporting to my doctor's office to have it flushed every six weeks, and its presence was a constant reminder that I had needed it. Good riddance.

Cowgirl13

I had my port come out a week after my last herceptin. I didn't even know I was supposed to ask the oncologist about it and I'm sure he would have really suggested I keep it in for a few years as I am Triple Positive. I was so glad to get it out--I was always aware of it. Luckly I haven't had the need for one (cross my fingers)

smc123

I hated my port and I had my plastic surgeon take it out when I exchanged expanders for implants. I don’t recall if I discussed it with my MO. Good luck

Francesca30

Thank you so much for all your replies. I’m just wondering, if I have it removed and later on (knock on wood) will be needing it back, can they use the same vein for the new port

Kathleen26

The conventional wisdom used to be that once a vein was used for a port, it shouldn't be used again. But when I asked specifically about my current port, the surgeon said, that yes, he has used the same vein if it was in good enough condition. So it depends on the surgeon and the vein.

I've had my port for over 10 years and it's still in good condition. I've gotten it flushed every 8-10 weeks if it wasn't used for some other procedure. It has come in handy for that. My MO suggested removing it since I'm on Tamoxifen and she is worried about blood clots, but hasn't been adamant about it. If it ever got infected, or it didn't get a good return on a flush, I would get it out immediately.

Spookiesmom

I’ve heard that if it comes out, and you need another, it can’t go on the radiation side. Tissue damage or something. My second go round, rads was on the port side. I asked RO, he said it would be ok. I was concerned about scatter, it all seems ok a year later.

The first time it would have been cooked. Second time, other side, it’s ok.