When / or Did you have your Port Removed after Chemo?

Laurie, I finished chemo 4 months ago, still have the port. I wanted it out ASAP, but now I am going to wait until fall. 

I, also hope I do not need it, I do want a biophosphante tx, but do not need a port for that. Going in to get it flushed is not a big deal, but still reminds you of the nightmare of chemo. 

I would guess the PS would want it out before your reconstruction. I read, not sure if this is accurate, that they do not want to put a port into skin that has had radiation, and if you get it removed and then need it again, there will be scarring on the side it was on. A oncology nurse said get it out, move on. Then she added, with your diagnosis, your future is "uncertain" but they can put another one in. It's all scary.

laurie - I still have my port.  My onc wanted me to keep it for a while since Her2+ tends to have early recurrence.  He told me in Dec. that I could remove it if I want to.  It is sub-clavian so it is up high, just below the hollow of my throat.  It is exceptionally tiny and was placed during my BMX, so I have no external scar from its placement, and you can't see it.  I have not removed it because I don't want the visible scar, and it does not bother me to go have it flushed every six weeks.  Can you have the port removed during your reconstruction surgery?  It would eliminate the need for a separate procedure.

I had my port removed within a month of finishing chemo last July, 2013.  Mine was a source of daily pain, besides the pain from the TE's so there was a huge sense of relief almost immediately.  I do not regret for a moment having it removed.  

Amy

Two weeks. My oncologist was completely supportive of it.  It didn't bother me, but I didn't want any more visits to a doc for port flushing than I needed to, and I had moved into  6 weeks of 5 day a week rads, so I was already booked for appts and was sick of having to add more.

Claire

Two weeks after the last chemo.....I had lots of problems with it and wanted it GONE.

I don't go to the Cancer Center for my flushes.  My care is through VA and though they outsourced my chemo, surgery amd rads to the local Cancer Center, sin e chemo was over I go to VA for my flushes.  So it's my PA's RN who do them.  We always have lots to chat about amd IF I have any questions she'll always get me a quick answer or call me back as soon as she can.

Though I haven't had mine removed from all I've read/heard it is a very simple in office removal.

I waited a year. This was my 2nd one, the first 15 years ago was much better placed. I love the use of it, my veins are awful, but that 2nd port was ugly, stood out like a doorbell!  But it did what it was meant to do, and when I am getting blood work done, I miss it.   Easy-in, easy-out. 

Wilsie

^ Yes!! A Volkswagen is exactly what it felt like!! And I could always feel the tube in my neck, too.  Ack. 

My PS took it out at the time of my BMX (no recon).  I had neo-adjuvant chemo and my MO said there was no need to keep it in any longer. 

My port has been in since June 2008.  I was first dx with IDC and DCIS and then while still taking Herceptin and in the midst of radiation treatments, was diagnosed with IBC.  At that time, I was switched to oral chemo drugs and continue on Tykerb to this day.  For a long time after that, my oncologist did not want me to have it removed.  We actually haven't talked about it in quite awhile but honestly, I don't know if I'll get it out for awhile.  It does not bother me at all, I have to go to the onc every 3 months or so for bloodwork anyways so getting it flushed is no big deal and I never want to go through recovery if I would ever have to have another port put in.  My port insertion surgery's recovery was horrible!  MUCH worse than my recovery from even mastectomy. 

ask if you can have it removed during recon!

i had mine removed with my double mastectomy, which meant one less incision to heal.  

it was earlier than my care team wanted it removed, but it really did annoy me, and i wanted to go into recovery with the most optimistic attitude possible - hoping to never need one again.  my health care team was supportive of my decision...  and - i was glad to have it for chemo and glad to see it go soon thereafter!

good luck!

My MO said it could come out this coming Sept, that will be a bit over 2 years in. I don't want it out. I'm looking into some non ca surgeries, this would be another. If the thing was out and ca came back, they couldn't put it in the rads side, couldn't go where it is now. Makes blood draws so much easier. I don't mind the flush either. And I guess I think of it as a good luck charm.