port placement

I had my port put in in the morning, under general; and my first chemo was that same day. C T H. I was sore for the first week. I was given a spray that numbed the area before the port was accessed. Didn't feel a thing. Later on, the next month I was given a script for a numbing cream. I applied it 1 hour before my appointment, worked like a charm. I had no problems with my port. It was in for one year, due to the Herceptin. I had it removed 2 weeks after my last Herceptin infusion. I had all my blood draws from it, no problem. However, when I had a test to do, like a Munga, they used a vein in my arm. It takes a specially trained tech, or nurse to access the port, and they have to have access to the special Huber needle thats used.

I had a tattoo placed over the scar. The scar will fade away over the course of a few years.

If you are getting your port right before chemo, have the infusion nurse either spray it with a numbing spray or apply ice to the port area to numb the area.    The port area is sore after placement but it gets better after a week.

If you are just beginning on your journey and find that chemo is on the horizon, please check out the Chemotherapy forum.  Here is the link to the Chemotherapy Forum-Topic- Important Chemotherapy Threads for Newbies and what the entry says below that.  This is great information and can help you get started.  Best of luck!!!

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/785189?page=1#idx_1

Moderators wrote:

In order to help condense some of these threads, we're combining all of the ever-helpful "sticky" Chemo Threads into one post for easy access for newbies.

Great tips and practical advice on the following discussion board threads:

• Tips for getting through chemotherapy
• More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo
• PORT PLACEMENT: Detailed description of process
• Head Covering Options for Hair Loss
• wig advice
• Cold Cap Users Past and Present, to Save Hair

Happy posting!

--Your Mods

Get the Emla cream (from your doc or your nurses), and put it on an hour before your port is accessed. Cover the creamed area so that it stays on your skin and doesn't soak into your shirt. I tape a baggie over the area - not so stylish, but it does the job.

Ask the nurse to spray you with lidocaine spray a few moments before being accessed, and all you'll feel is slight pressure when they are messing with you.

I'm a true weenie, and this gets me through.

I am on my second port and the first was removed 3 years ago. there is barely a scar anymore. Just a very thin line. The other port has given me a little more trouble but I think it has to do with that being the side I had my mastectomy and radiation on.

my port is 3 months old, dont even know its there anymore. visible yes. very thin tissue under my collar bone. i heard this week that some docs are putting them in the bicep area so not to be seen. also heard those who have done that r sorry. lots of pain cause our arms move so much. always research so stuff, and this is a great place for some of that. good luck girls!