Her2 positive - how long did you leave your port in?

From my first chemo treatment on 1/18/10, (I did 6 rounds of Taxotere, Carboplatin & Herceptin), till my last Herceptin infusion on 1/18/2011. I'll be in remission 2 years on May 28th.

Love,

Brandi

I had mine out 6 days after my last herceptin

I had mine taken out 3 months after my last Herceptin, which was May 2008.  My onc.suggested I have it taken out, otherwise I would have to come in for flushing every 6 weeks or so.

I never had any problems with my port, and never had to take Warfarin.  I didn't like the idea of going in every 6 weeks for a flush, just didn't want to go back to the chemo ward again after finishing treatment, so I had mine out just 3 weeks after my last Herceptin infusion.
I decided I was never going to need it again anyway :-)

Trish

one day after Herceptin finished, I didn't like the idea of my mind creating "what if" scenarios, I was done and needed to move on

Wow mmm5 - I thought I was quick

Mine was removed about two weeks after my last tx.  My onc felt there was no need to leave it in and I was glad to get it out and move on....

....should it happen that I need one again, then they'll just have to put another one in.

My onc likes her patients to leave their port in for a total of 3 years because that is the highest risk recurrence. At my treatment center they will not put a port back in the same place because there is a higher risk of clots. I get mine flushed every 3 months. I try to coordinate it with other appointments. I've had mine since Oct 4th 2010. 1.5 years down, another 1.5 years to go.

But she did say if I wanted to take it out right away it was my choice.

I had mine out shortly after finishing herceptin.  I was excited when my onc asked "when do you want it out"? If i should need chemo again I will have another placed.

K

5 days after my last Herceptin it was OUT of there. My onc told me to have it removed. Said it was of no use to me and had too many risks of leaving it in there. (blood clots, infection etc)  Told me to take it out and enjoy life. I was so happy because I hated the stupid thing. I have a thin chest so I was always bumping it. It served it's purpose but otherwise was  pain in the butt. My bra always felt uncomfortable with it, seat belts were uncomfortable. Life is good now 

I still have mine in.  Original dx of DCIS and IDC was 4/2008.  I had lots of pain recovering from my port insertion surgery so decided I didn't want to go through that again and would keep it for awhile.  Then in 6/2009 I was dx with IBC.  I have now been NED for 2-1/2 years and have been on Tykerb for 2-1/2 years.  My doc wants me to try and go off of it this summer.  I asked about taking the port out now and he says no, not now, especially since we are going to try taking you off the Tykerb.  So, it will stay in.  It doesn't bother me.  I do have to get it flushed every couple of months, but I have to go in for bloodwork every couple of months anyways, so it is no big deal. 

I, too, sometimes have trouble giving blood from my arm.  When I had my mx in Feb. 2010, they could not get an IV started on me.  Finally, my surgeon came out and said to just take me into surgery and she would put my IV in my port.  So, I was glad I still had it that day!

Had mine out within one weak after last use.  My Breast surgeon said it was a record for her to remove one so fast.  Her hospital likes to leave them in 2 years in case you need chemo again.  But, my onc said take it out and start living life again.  I like my onc.  I am now 2 and 1/2 years since dx. 

 2 months after my last herceptin I had my port removed during my stage 2 surgery.  I figured it was one less procedure if I had it removed during a planned surgery.