Port

tnt · March 2009

When do they remove ports? I went through chemo,lumpectomy and iam in radiation now.I am triple neg ,no nodes and a 4cm tumor.AC shrunk the tumor but grew back to just about the same size during taxol.Its just a bad feeling when they leave that @#$&^% thing in.

cheranthia · March 2009

Hi ddb,

I understand! I couldn't wait to get rid of mine, but this is a decision to be made with the input of your doctor. I can't speak for everyone's situation, but my oncologist said I could get my port taken out when I had my lumpectomy, which was one month after I finished chemo. Of course, if your oncologist thinks you might need additional chemo, you'd need to leave it in longer. I know people who have left theirs in, just in case. That wasn't for me, though. I try to think and behave like I will never need it again. Getting it out was part of transitioning back to "normal."

Melissa1971 · March 2009

I just asked my onc. this question yesterday because I find the port to be such a nuisance. I am currently going through chemo, already had a lumpectomy. My onc. said I could get my port removed two weeks after chemo ends. This made me SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!! This will be in mid June.

lexislove · March 2009

I had mine removed 2 weeks after I finished my treatment. Now....my treatment was Herceptin so I had to have it in for 1.5 years!!! UGGHHH....

IF you really want it out...stomp and yell at your onc. OR if your onc recommends leaving it you can question why. One thing for sure...it was a blessing to have out and not have to "feel" it. I helps with your phsyche too Smile

smithlme · March 2009

My chemo ended in August and I was getting married in October. I left it in until 2 weeks after my wedding because I wanted to be sure there were no issues having it removed. Yep....my port is in my wedding pictures!

Linda

Lifestooshort · March 2009

I had a love/hate relationship with my port. Glad I had it but couldn't wait to get rid of it. Had it removed during rads... they wheeled me from the recovery room to the rads area. I know there are some oncs that think it's taboo to remove it right away. Mine said go for it! Bless him.

Laurie

TorchSong · March 2009

I haven't had mine out yet, but the reccomendation of my med onc is 6 weeks after I finish rads...which seems forever. When I asked why so long after (it will be four months after the end of chemo), he said they want to be reasonably sure they won't need it.

Mone doesn't bother me physically too much, but I am aware of it when I touch my neck on that side (they ran the line into my neck instead of my chest because my veins are small)--I can feel the line running from the poirt into the vein. So I will be glad to have it out--as you say, Lexislove, it's a psychologcal thing!

Martha

patsfan · March 2009

I am starting chemo on Tuesday 8cycles 2 weeks apart. I'm trying to decide right now if I want to have a port or IV. I have been picked and poked at so much in the past 3 weeks that the thought of having a port put in is just not very appealing. On the other hand my left arm is not very good for IV's and this is the arm we need to use. My Doc says it's my choice. I'm afraid we will get half way through this and my veins will just not allow the IV anymore and then I'll end up having a port anyway. Any thoughts???

Gayle

TorchSong · March 2009

Patsfan, If you are tired of picks and pokes, then the port is the way to go. Yes, it's another procedure. But once you have the port, they can use it for all your IVs. It is SO much easier than having them dig around in your veins. I have had a lot of blood draws and IVs in my life, and I am so glad I got the port. It can be irritating sometimes, but it makes chemo that much easier.

Martha

MicheleS · March 2009

Well... speaking as someone who HATES her port... you should get a port. LOL! I

t makes chemo easier. It really does. With that said, when all of this is over, mine is coming out ASAP!!!

VickiG · March 2009

Get a port... yes it's another procedure, but very minor in the big scheme of things, and a HUGE gift you can give yourself. As far as how long they are left in place, it seems the general concensus is "2-3 yrs." I had trouble w/ mine ~ not the port itself, but the garden hose running from it up my neck) so when I had my mx my surgeon asked if I'd like her to take it out. When I said I thought I needed it for a couple of yrs she said something along the lines of "well, we actually like to leave them in because then we feel like you won't need them again, but if we take them out we're tempting fate & will need another one." Ah, nothing like using Murphy's Law in medical decisions lol. In my case, since it was causing difficulties, she said she felt better removing it and then just getting a new one if the need ever arose, but hoping it never did. As it turned out I did need a new one, just 4 mos later... but it was still definitely worth getting a new one ~ the sx was so minor, and it has made my life much easier.

Deb-from-Ohio · March 2009

I finished Chemo this past Tuesday and Thanked God for this port. I'm one of those whose veins roll...I've had techs stick a needle in my arm and move it all over trying to catch the vein and let me tell you, that hurts...now just one little pinch with the port and I'm done! I didn't even use the freeze spray they offer as it really doesn't hurt when they access it.............

The bad parts to my port? It shows in a lower cut blouse, I have trouble sleeping on that side and every once in awhile the day after chemo it would bother me a bit...I am ready to have it taken out, I still have to speak to my onc about this as I have heard he likes to leave them in a year after. To me it is a constant reminder (kind of like the bald head) of the cancer and I really want to forget about it.

Hugs and Prayers

Deb

tnt · March 2009

Thanks for the replies.You girls rock.It is all about wanting to move on and forget.They say i am cancer free,but when they didnt take the port out during surgery it takes some of your hope away,its like they arent to confident about it, but they want you to be.If iam going to live, what am i doing with a port in me.It is hard on the phsyche.

Tigger0503 · March 2009

I fishied chemo last May and my oncologist wanted me to keep the port for 1 year after my last treatment. It's a pain but I'll get it out when I have my reconstruction in June. Having my regular port flushes has been kind of a drag but I get to see my old friends in the chemo room who were so wonderful during my treatments. I can totally understanding wanting it out - I'm amazed so many people got there's out so fast after treatment. The norm for most of the people I've met is at least a year. Try to think of it as a medal of valor not an sign of impending doom. : )

pppinaz · April 2009

Go for the PORT. I had neoadjuvant therapy and it started so quickly after Dx that I didnt have a choice. My veins towards the end were useless. in fact when I had to have my surgeries the anesthesiologist was the only one who could get it in for the surgeries. Had port placement before 2nd round of chemo and much happier even though it was sometimes tough for them to get blood etc. It was way easier than being poked....all the time.

Port

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