Port or IV for chemotherapy?

Over the course of seventeen years, I've been through several different chemos, including Herceptin and Pamidronate monthly for years and have always declined a port. Only in the last couple of years have my veins given me trouble...trouble that I suppose could have been avoided with a port, but for me it was a personal thing. It would have made me feel even more like a cancer patient. Even now, looking back, I would have made the same decision, but like I said, for me it was a personal decision, rather than medical.

I have to agree with everything specialK said. At my second A/C treatment I had the reaction and they had to remove the IV then had a hard time putting it back. I looked at my nurse and asked for the script for placement. It was an easy procedure and the only time it bothered me was when I wore a specific bathing suit. So I got a new one! It really helped on the days when they wanted more blood than a finger stick could give and the two times I had to stay in the hospital. I recently had mine removed and that was even easier than having it placed! Did it right in the office. You'll be going through a lot the next year so make it as easy as you can. Oh and here is a bit of advice I wish I had: have it placed the day of treatment if you can. They'll leave it accessed so all that has to be done is hookup the IV. I had it done a few days before and it was still healing and the pain was awful! Also get a numbing cream. I would put it on on my way to treatment and didn't feel a thing when they accessed it.



Good luck!

Personally I love my port.  I have a severe adversion to IVs. I do okay with blood draws and injections but getting that IV tube into my veins hurts and freaks me out.  My port is so easy to get the chemo through.  I don't even use the numbing cream because the poke from the small needle is slight and quick.  My port is on my right side just under my collar bone.  It doesn't bother me at all.

Also some chemos are more dangerous going through an arm IV, which is why I got my port in the first place.  I was told ANY leakage of the chemo I was on could cause permanent damage to my arm.  I didn't want to take that risk. 

If you want more port information there is a thread call...port placement.  It details the implant procedure.

I agree it is a personal decision.  Some do okay without it but I would never have gotten through chemo without it.

I had one infusion of A/C in my hand, and then got a port.  So happy I did!  The vein in my hand that was used for just that one infusion was in rough shape for more than 6 months - a big knot and tender.  My chemo nurse sprayed numbing spray on my port before each stick (no pain at all), and I also had blood draws.  I had chemo before surgery, so my surgeon just removed my port during my lumpectomy.  Easy!  

I do have a different opinion about port placement.  I also read that you should make sure the port isn't under your bra strap, so I was very careful to show my surgeon where I wanted it.  Now that it's gone and I have a scar, I actually wish it had been placed more under my bra strap.  I'm fine in most shirts, however scoop necks and anything with narrow shoulder straps clearly show the scar.  I feel like I could have "cushioned" my port site under my bra strap while in treatment, so I could avoid the visible scar later.  But that's just me!  And it's a small thing that doesn't bother me much at all.

If I ever need chemo again (I'm hoping for never), I wouldn't hesitate to have another port placed.

Hands down, a port is the way to go.  My MO sent me right away to have a port put in - never put it to me as if there was an option to do otherwise, but I am so glad to have had it.  I had pretty significant blood count issues, and had to have several transfusions, plus 2 hospital stays, so I got a lot of mileage from my port.  That said, I had it taken out a month after my final Herceptin tx.  I am not superstitious, and it never occurred to me to keep the port "just in case".  I don't plan on needing one ever again, but if that happens, I'll just get another one.

I think any onc or his assistant is completely ignorant about the port issue, especially for a patient who is HER2+.   Where have they been studying.  Sorry, i just have to vent.  This flippant, ignorant attitude could cause you a lot of pain, vis a vis lymphadema, blown veins, etc.  I'm glad that Special K could address the issues of having a port.

I'm in the middle of taxol after my AC treatment, and I have a port on my left side. I'm not sure it's worth it as I find it very ugly and cumbersome, but I don't know what treatments would be like without it. I do recommend that if you get a port on your left side that you get a sheep-skin seatbelt cover for your car. Driving was painful to me everyday (due to seatbelt pressing against my port) until my sister found me this fantastic product. 

Placement area does play a big part in how happy you are with a port. I know my avatar pic is small but if you look at my dress (I am not the bride:) you can see that the sleeves covered very little, but they did cover my port.

Caryn

Miraclemile, ports are supposed to be good for over 10,000 sticks.

My port is actually just below skin level. Only the little scar shows. No snagging problem. I have seen people use clip-on flowers or fake jewels over their t shirt strap to cover the port. I calculated that with my little "scenic detours" on my cancer journey, I was poked in the port about 75 times. But I would have been poked over 3 times that amount if they had to stick me for each tx, transfusion,iv antibiotic, magnesium, potassium, etc. So I recommend the port. Much love

good!

I agree with Leggo 100%. 5 years for me and your 17 years and still not regretting it helps.  I just wanted to add for future Sisters researching.  I do hope all goes well with your port Hope70. I have met many people with and without ports. It is just a personal choice. Either way is good if that is what you want. xoxo

I had a very bad experience with the port , it was always clogged, never worked during my treatment , and so much pain in my chest , I think my body was rejecting , I was poked twice every time  ones in the port(was not working) and ones in the hand for the IV  for me was a pain in the butt .And on top of that when they took  it out left me with  a big  scar ( like someone stab me ) it suppose to be  the easiest thing  and it cause me  more pain than all the treatment .