Herceptin without port?

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2miraclesmom
2miraclesmom Member Posts: 131
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Has anyone done this? I have 5 treatments left and am having my second revision on Oct. 2. I wanted to see if anyone has ever had their last few treatments without a port. I would like to ask my doctor to see if I can have mine removed during my revision.

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  • jackboo09
    jackboo09 Member Posts: 920
    edited September 2012

    I had all my chemo (including 18 Herceptin) without a port. Ports are very uncommon here in UK. In fact in a year of tx Ive never seen one. My friend had a hickman line and had the last 2 Herceptin intravenously. No problems. Good luck

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  • slousha
    slousha Member Posts: 312
    edited September 2012

    Hi 2miraclesmom,

    I too have had 6x chemo and 17 herceptin without port. No difficulties! But be sure to be in a specified cancer center with really experienced chemo nurses. Let slowing the infusion an flushing before and at the end. It was so comfortable having the cannula set only for two hours, after plaster for 15 minutes and 3 weeks freeee!

    Best

    Usha

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  • 2miraclesmom
    2miraclesmom Member Posts: 131
    edited September 2012
    Thank you guys! I am going to call my doctor and see what they say. I would love to have it removed. Then they could use the incision to do my fat grafting with out having to make a new incision. I have so many scars already, i don't want any more. You guys know what I mean. lol Cool
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  • 2miraclesmom
    2miraclesmom Member Posts: 131
    edited September 2012

    Well I called my dr and he is fine with me having my port removed. I am so relieved! If my plastic surgeon will remove that and the fat necrosis while she is doing the fat grafting, I will be happy with the reconstruction. Having implants next year will just be icing on the cake and I will not be in such a hurry to get them. lol

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  • JeninMichigan
    JeninMichigan Member Posts: 2,974
    edited September 2012

    I have been taking Herceptin now for over 3 years without a port.   I am stage IV and will need to be on it forever but after a year with a port, I was tired of it and wanted it out.  Other than having to get an IV every three weeks, I am good with it.   So far, my veins are holding out just fine!!

    Jennifer

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  • 2miraclesmom
    2miraclesmom Member Posts: 131
    edited September 2012

    I will admit I am extremely excited to get this thing out. The only problem is the hospital is now wanting me to pay over $4000. I spoke with my insurance company and they said I don't have to pay anything. I have met my deductible along time ago. lol So hopfully the hospital will back down. I was so excited about Tuesday. 

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  • bonniebug
    bonniebug Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2012

    I had all of my treatments without a port.  I don't see why it would be a problem.

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  • 2miraclesmom
    2miraclesmom Member Posts: 131
    edited November 2012

    lol I completely forgot I posted this. I did wind up having my surgery and getting my port out. It is so nice to not have it any more. I only have 2 more treatments left and am so excited to be done, but scared at the same time. No treatment means nothing is keeping the cancer at bay.

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  • 1marmalade1
    1marmalade1 Member Posts: 308
    edited November 2012

    I, too, had all my treatments without a port.  In fact, they never even gave me that option (which I would have turned down anyways).  2miraclesmom - are they not having you take Arimidex as post-treatment?

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  • 2miraclesmom
    2miraclesmom Member Posts: 131
    edited November 2012

    No they are not. What is it?

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  • 2miraclesmom
    2miraclesmom Member Posts: 131
    edited November 2012

    Ok, I just looked it up. I am not post-menopausal and I am not early stage. This is probably why.

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  • gratitudeforlife
    gratitudeforlife Member Posts: 150
    edited December 2012

    Hi!  I had 4 of 6 FEC sessions through my port. Sadly, my port has caused me more trouble and pain than comfort/convenience. The incision never ever healed (was inserted on Sept., 4, 2012, taken out on Dec., 21, 2012). Am told that Herceptin is not hard on venous system, unlike chemo., which is quite harsh on the veins. FYI the surgeon who removed my port, when he saw the gaping hole in my chest cavity, said, "Your port was defective and every time you received chemo, minute amounts leaked, and this is why your have a hole in your chest cavity. This is totally unacceptable. The two vascular surgeons you saw should have, at the very least, done follow-up with you after they said you were not healing due to chemo and prescribed an antibiotic." Yep, these devices can leak. 

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  • 1marmalade1
    1marmalade1 Member Posts: 308
    edited January 2013

    I was scheduled for 8 chemo, 18 Herceptin tx early in 2010.  There was never any mention of having a port.  I had pretty good veins, so getting hooked up for chemo was never a problem.  However, there were a few Herceptin tx that didn't start off too well, with my vein swelling and some pain.  In the end, I am glad that I never had a port - my sister-in-law had one, and she said that having a port was the most uncomfortable part of her whole treatment.

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  • 2miraclesmom
    2miraclesmom Member Posts: 131
    edited January 2013

    I will admit the port was uncomfortable, but keeping it would have saved me alot of sticks! My last few Herceptins were painful because the nurses had a hard time finding a vein. It wasn't that my veins are bad, they were just not listening to me and looking in the wrong places. Oh and one time I was dehydrated. All that is in the past now. I am so glad I am done!

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  • SeattleMama
    SeattleMama Member Posts: 147
    edited January 2013

    I had herceptin for 4 rounds, no port. During surgery, they ported me up.  For the next round of cycles.

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  • herstrong
    herstrong Member Posts: 69
    edited January 2013

    My port just broke prior to my fifth to the last H treatment. So my surgeon removed it this week and I will be taking the rest by IV. Both my MO and BS said it's just fine to do by IV.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited January 2013

    2miraclesmom,

    You are not on an AI or Tamoxifen because you are ER-. Those drugs are only effective if you are ER+. Glad you're happy with your port removal.

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