Port Removal Question

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tlundy
tlundy Member Posts: 142
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

At my last visit with my onc the subject of removing my port was discussed.  We went over the pros and cons, and he didn't really give me a firm opinion himself - said he would let me decide.   I am torn between wanting to have it removed because I am physically and emotionally aware of it, but on the other hand feel like I am "tempting the fates" to have it removed so soon after treatment.  I know there is no pat answer, just wanted to get your opinions, experiences, feedback.

Thanks!

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited April 2011

    I finished chemo in April 2010 but had to leave my port in until I finished Herceptin in January 2011.  My onc wanted me to "leave it in for a couple years" since I'm "high risk for recurrance" but when I expressed how much I hated the thing, he agreed to my getting it out.  I just did my first stage of reconstruction a few weeks ago and my angel of a PS not only took it out while she was in there, but tidied up the ugly, sunken scar that I had had there before while she was at it.  I know how you feel about jinxing things, though.  That bothered me a bit, too, but now I'm so happy to have it gone!

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  • Latte
    Latte Member Posts: 1,072
    edited April 2011

    mine stopped working during chemo, and they operated twice to fix it, but told me i needed to get it out as soon as chemo was finished because it was giving me problems. they said they can always put one in again if i need it in the future. i don't think you'tre tempting fate - if the cancer returns it will do so whether or not you still have your port, and you can always get a new one. I think that removing the port is one more thing that will help you move on with your life, instead of waiting for the  other shoe to drop...

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited April 2011

    i had my port removed 5 months ater i finshed chemo.. my surgeon told me to leave it in for at least a year or so.....my onc really didn't have an opinion.  after an all clear on scans...after everything was finished...i decided to have them take it out.  i felt like i was "living on the edge" lol having it taken out but i was sick of it and beleived if i didn't need it....to take it out. they can always put a new one in. 

    so far so good*

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2011

    I went through the same emotional process you are going through unfortunate I became Stage 4 and the decision was made for me.  Another thing to think about that might help your decision.  They have to be flushed every 6 weeks so you will need to continue that with appointments. 

    Also, I am on my third port.  When I had the last one replaced, I talked to two different surgeons.  The ports can last for a long time but many don't.  I was a little upset that my first one lasted only two years but the surgeon thought that was a pretty good life for a port.  Just some additional food for thought.

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  • Celtic_Spirit
    Celtic_Spirit Member Posts: 748
    edited April 2011

    I finished chemo in Sept. 2008. My onc said I could get my port out at any time. I had initially scheduled my oophorectomy for early Dec. 2008, and my gyn oncologist was going to remove it while I was under. Unfortunately, I developed a staph infection in the port in late Nov., and the infectuous disease doc said to get it out, like, YESTERDAY! My breast surgeon squeezed me in for the removal just two hours before he was due at the airport!

    I was glad to have mine out. It was a constant reminder of cancer, and I sort of felt like I was tempting fate by leaving it in.

    One word of advice: if you can...and if it's possible...have some sort of anesthesia when you have it removed. I only had a local because of the urgency/surgeon leaving town. The local anesthesia injection in my chest hurt like *&$!@#, and I have a high pain tolerance. I also didn't enjoy smelling my blood and flesh being cauterized. However, some people say the removal doesn't bother them at all when just using a local. Good luck either way!

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  • tlundy
    tlundy Member Posts: 142
    edited April 2011

    Celtic_Spirit:

    I like your way of looking at tempting the fates much better Smile.  A good example of how I need to be reframing my thoughts towards the positive!

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited April 2011

    I left mine in for 1.5 years, thinking there was a good chance I would needing it again in the future.  Then my onc said it should be removed by end of 2 years, because it was likely to cause problems.  Plus it is such a hassle to have it flushed at my local hospital.

    I had it removed, along with my ovaries in February.  I strongly disliked the "conscious sedation" process when it was placed, and so I thought while I was under general anthesthia I might as well have it removed.

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  • steffief
    steffief Member Posts: 30
    edited April 2011

    I just had mine removed this past Tuesday. Piece of cake. I had it in since January 2008. Finished chemo July 2008. Needed it for Zometa but after my scans/tests 2 weeks ago were all clear I wanted it taken out.  I will still be getting Zometa every 3 months indefinitely but they can use a vein for that! I was told if I kept it in I would have to have it flushed once a month. I asked if I could keep it once they took it out so they put it in a urine sample jar and sent it home with me, ha ha. I figured I paid for it, why not. Best wishes to everyone.

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  • elmcity69
    elmcity69 Member Posts: 998
    edited May 2011

    i just had mine removed during my preventive MX 5 weeks ago; when i asked my onc about it, he promptly replied, "the chance of you needing it again anytime soon is very, very low, so go for it!" wow....all that positive energy of his fired me up!

    i feel happy it's gone. mine was placed very deep, and the onc nurses had a devil of a time with it, although they were pros.

    my surgeon seemed dubious, but then again, he also took pains to tell me, "you're one of those who should take Herceptin forever." uh, thanks.

    anyway, good luck and go with your intuition! conscious sedation all the way, though...who wants to be awake for that?

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  • tlundy
    tlundy Member Posts: 142
    edited May 2011

    Once I make my decision I will definitely be taking everyone's advice on the sedation - we have to be awake for enough that we'd probably rather sleep through!  Elmcity69, funny that you mention that about the surgeon.  Mine had the same approach in terms of agreeing to my let me decide while reminding me about the chance of recurrrence, as if I needed reminding!

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited May 2011

    I ahd my port removed 3 weeks post chemo at the suggestion of my onc....I figure, G-d forbid, I ever have to have chemo again, I can have another post put in.....I was happy to have mine out as I had 2 infections in it during chemo.....and it was in my arm and too noticable....

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  • NancyD
    NancyD Member Posts: 3,562
    edited May 2011

    I wanted mine out, out, out, but my onc said to leave it in for a year post-treatment. The biggest problem for me was having to go every six weeks to get it flushed. It meant taking a day off from work for a ten minute procedure. When I worked it out with my boss to take a "work-at-home" day instead of a vacation day, I didn't mind it so much. Still, once it was finally removed, I felt like I had been released!

    The way I look at it is, if you are going to stay with the same onc, I would follow their advice so they don't chalk you up as a "difficult" patient.

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  • faithfulheart
    faithfulheart Member Posts: 544
    edited May 2011

    I'm right where you are, ready to get the port out. I was dx in oct 2009, so in may it will be a year since last chemo, I'm with Celtic, I feel like I'm waiting around for it to come back. Plus it is a constent reminder, and its ugly and I hate it, and so on and so on!! LOL I think it will in power you and me to have it out, do you ladie's feel that way! My onc just said, i understand, lets take it out, your not going to need it. However if you do, you just put it back in.

    Go for It!!!!

    Stephanie

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  • gillyone
    gillyone Member Posts: 1,727
    edited May 2011

    I kept mine in for a few months after chemo. I didn't mind going every month to get it flushed. I enjoyed going and chatting with the onc nurses and whoever I knew still getting chemo. As a TN it was a bit of a shock going from chemo and rads and all those appointments to suddenly being told see you in 3 months. It sounded like such a long time "on my own". So keeping the port and getting it flushed helped wean me off appointments!

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  • Ellie1959
    Ellie1959 Member Posts: 316
    edited May 2011
    I got mine out a couple of months after chemo- and I missed it! I had a sterile pneumonia and was put on antibiotics and they stung! And, chemo made my veins really shi$#y - I've had about 13 surgeries in all - probably 8 recons - so lots of sticking!Cry
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  • InTwoPlaces
    InTwoPlaces Member Posts: 354
    edited May 2011

    I will have my port out next week, even though I will have Herceptin for the rest of the year. I'm only a month out of chemo, but I want to be able to put on nice tops during the summer. I'm pretty thin so the port shows a lot.

    I'm so happy my Dr's and my Onco nurse agreed on that it was ok to take it out! Laughing

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  • 116
    116 Member Posts: 108
    edited December 2012
    Funny how we can see things differently than others at times, You see I thought I would be "Tempting Fate" by leaving the port in, and had it removed almost immediately after chemo. My surgeon even questioned why I was having it removed, and I responded, "Because I am never going to need it again!" So far so good :)
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  • grdnslve
    grdnslve Member Posts: 310
    edited May 2011

    couldn't wait to get de-ported.  had mine out as soon as they could schedule it.  just didn't want to feel like a patient anymore.

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited May 2011

    Didn't hesitate and my onc didn't either.  Just said OK you can schedule your port removal anytime after your last tx!  Not sorry to see it go AT ALL!

    SHaron

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  • amlg1
    amlg1 Member Posts: 596
    edited May 2011

    Love that De-ported.I see my onco Monday,and I was going to see what she says.Actually she told me to  I can get it out after my last Herceptin which was last Aug.Some of the onc nurses said I should leave it .I still can't decide.

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  • elmcity69
    elmcity69 Member Posts: 998
    edited May 2011

    i love that - "de-ported!" yes, deported from Cancerland, I'm going to say....

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  • AnacortesGirl
    AnacortesGirl Member Posts: 1,758
    edited May 2011

    Still have mine in.  Last chemo was last August.  The flushes are no problem for me -- my workplace doesn't have issues with the appointments.  I guess I'm willing to have it there because I'm so thin. I had problems with the first port; it finally worked a hole through my skin and it was in the way of bras.  The second port was located in a different spot and I was given the smallest that they have.  I just don't mind it -- and I can't let go in the back of my mind that it's going to be needed again.  Probably a poor way to look at it but we gotta do what is comfortable for us as individuals.

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