Treatment complete - have port out - or leave in? (m)...

greenacres · December 2010

Good morning everyone! My treatment is complete as of 12/1. My Dr. says it's my choice to have my port removed. I then went out to the infusion room for my last Herceptin and the nurse suggested I might want to consider leaving it in for one year "just in case". I don't know.....I really want it out but on the other hand I am afraid of a recurrence. I was Stage 1, Grade 3, Her 2+++. I had a bilateral mammo and breast MRI and both came out clean. However, I did have a 3mm nodule in R breast, probably benign they say and I do have a lump I can feel in my cancer breast right near underarm which they say is most likely scar tissue and wasn't seen on neither exam, but told to just keep an eye on it.

What is everyone elses experience? Take it out or leave it in for a while? We are leaving on our trip to Disney World on 1/22 (delayed from last year because of cancer) and I just don't want any complications and then I can also start cutting back on my Coumadin (only taking because of the port/had a blood clot last year). I want to be done with all of this!

Thanks - Sandra

Texas357 · December 2010

I couldn't wait to get my port out -- and I had it done within a few weeks after I'd received my last infusion.

jacksnana · December 2010

Me too... I was all ready to have it taken out but at my last herceptin treatment the chemo nurse advised me also to leave it in for a year. I want to think positive! It means going back once a month to have it flushed out but that's not really a big deal. I'm anxious to see what others have done.

jacee · December 2010

I waited about 2 months after treatment until my mammogram. Once I knew it was clear, I had the port out.

sheila888 · December 2010

I had the port for over a year (my choice).

But it needs monthly maintenance if its not used like flushing with Heparin once a month.

Its really a personal choice. My DR recommended 6 months.

ruthbru · December 2010

I couldn't stand my port & got it out two weeks after my last infusion (the earliest possible time they would do it), and I was floating around in bathing suit at a water park a couple days later feeling 'normal' at last. Get it out & move on. Early stage SHOULDN'T come back (and if it would, then we would have to deal with it at that time). Best of luck! Ruth

coonie · December 2010

I had mine removed right after my last Herceptin. I could not WAIT!! It's a fairly simple procedure, so I figured if I ever needed it again (God forbid), I could always get it done. Going on 3 years of being "deported" and have no regrets

Just do what you're comfortable with. Good luck and gentle hugs!!

Oh! And congratulations on being done with treatment..................wooohoooot!!!

Paula1231 · December 2010

I am gonna get that little sucker out as soon as chemo is over. (First week of February 2011) I hate the port..I feel it at night and it is not comfortable. For me, it is like moving from the Borg Collective to the humans again!

InTwoPlaces · December 2010

Do we really need the port for the Herceptin infusions? (Every 3rd week)

Mine stick out so much and I would like to take it out after my last chemo....

Alyad · December 2010

I had mine taken out ASAP, but I did have to have the port scar revised about a year later by a PS cause the scar turned hypertrophic- PS sewed the diff layers of skin together separately and it had healed normally now.

AmyIsStrong · December 2010

I would recommend keeping it in for the Herceptin infusions. BUT once they are done - time to DEPORT!!! For me, it was the best day of my whole bc experience. It is a very quick minor procedure- I was awake & it was no problem. the surgeon took a little extra time to make a 'nice scar' b/c I told her my daughter was getting married the next month and I was wearing a strapless dress to the wedding. (I put dermablend on the scar and it was totally invisible.)

Anyway, for psychological reasons, I say take it out. IF there is a recurrance (I hope not for ANY of us!), there will be so much to deal with at that time that getting the port put back in will be just a small detail. But to have that port to live with every day for another year as a reminder.....I think that would affect you more. Just my opinion & experience. And one more thing - I find going back to the chemo room very triggering - I wuold not want to go back every 6 weeks for the flush.

I went to drop off a cookie platter to my chemo nurses right before Christmas and it really got to me. It was late afternoon and the chairs were empty, BUT STILL!!!! Could not WAIT to get out of there. Had to self-talk all the way through the parking lot, "It's all done now, you don't have to go back there any more" just to calm myself down.

clariceak · December 2010

At Stage III, some oncs encourage us to keep it in for an additional year or so. My onc said it needs to come out before 2 years due to increasing risk of complications.

It sounds like you are more than ready to move on with your life, and enjoy your trip to Disney. Don't let a nurse's comment sway you. After all they love ports - no searching for a good vein.

greenacres · December 2010

Thank you everyone! I've made my decision. I'm scheduled to have my port removed on 1/6/2011 at 1:45. They've instructed me to discontinue my Coumadin on Thursday (7 days). I then continue after my port is removed, then taper off until I no longer need it. YAY! I can't wait! Thank you for all your suggestions and comments, I appreciate the time you took to write back. Sandra

jacee · December 2010

This is just an FYI for anyone who has an AFLAC cancer policy.....they pay the same surgical benefil to remove the port as they do to install it. My port install took 4 hours in surgery and recovery, and the removal was 15 mins. in the Dr. office. AFLAC still paid the benefit both times.

ruthbru · December 2010

Yea!!!! It is a tremendous feeling physiologically AND physically to get rid of that thing!!

I can hardly drive PAST the exit to the cancer center without breaking into a cold sweat....still!!!!

NatureGrrl · December 2010

I waited a year. Although I don't consider myself superstitious, I just felt like I would be tempting the fates, so I decided to wait. And my port never bothered me, so it was no big deal to leave it. But as you've read, many can't wait to have them out. Removal was easy; I had it done under local only, but in a surgical suite. Actual removal took about 10-15 minutes and was easy. Best of luck to you!

Cowgirl13 · December 2010

Got mine out a few days after last Herceptin! no regrets.

Anonymous · February 2013

Treatment complete - have port out - or leave in? (m)...

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