Chemo. Muga scan, port o cath...

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Laurais50
Laurais50 Member Posts: 71
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After


Hi I am Laura had surgery March 19th had a mastectomy of right breast, I also started reconstruction with a TE put in.

I am up to 420cc of saline. It's been almost 10 weeks since surgery. My cancer is dcis. Estrogen receptor was positive, progesterone neg

Her2/neu was neg for over expression. No nodes affected. They want me to get a muga scan for my heart still and we are still waiting for the oncotype.

If I do chemo I also want to do a portacath. But for all that I'm waiting for and since its been 10 weeks. I can't decide to get chemo. The Dr wants to start asap now, without the port and says I can do it later...And the PS won't do any work on me once the chemo starts, and the TE is making me miserable. Please help at this point I don't even know if I want chemo....Any feed back? Thank you

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  • lgoldie
    lgoldie Member Posts: 120
    edited May 2014

    Get the port a cath!     No problems and makes all we do easy


     

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  • Laurais50
    Laurais50 Member Posts: 71
    edited May 2014


    Thank you lgoldie, I'm just trippin about If I should get the chemo or not after 10 weeks. just got an appt. for next Thurs. for port a cath.

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  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited May 2014

    laura, how big was the DCIS?  What was the Grade? If your Doctor is pushing for chemo, I'm betting it is grade 3 which is a more aggressive grade. Or if your DCIS was fairly large. Ask your Doc why he is recommending chemo. You are getting close to the end of the most optimal time for chemo so call and get your info. Then make your decision. Yes there are side effects to chemo but there are benefits. And yes you may have to wait for reconstruction but if you don't get more comfortable with your TE, ask P'S to remove a bit of fill til you finish chemo. (If uou choose to get chemo)And remember putting off a decision is the same as making a decision to NOT do something.  Good luck and ugh love.  

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  • BigT16
    BigT16 Member Posts: 100
    edited May 2014


    Laura-I  had a right MX with TE since September 2013 and still have my TE.  My cancer was triple positive.  I found the TE uncomfortable and painful more so after fillings.  My PS continued to fill my TE during chemo as long as my white blood cells were good.  My PS would not do the exchange untill chemo sessions were once a month.  I'm hoping to have reconstruction completed this summer.

    I do have a port and it's much easier that having IVs started every chemo session.  I've been thought 7 months of chem at this point.  I'm not sure what chem drugs you may get.  I've been through 4 rounds of Adrianmycin/Cycophosimide, 12 weeks of weekly Taxol/Hercetin and currenly on 6 months of monthly Herceptin.

    As far as the Muga scan, It's used as a baseline for the heart prior and repeated after chemo.  Chemo can cause some heart problems, but rare. If you don't want the nuclear medicine scan ask for an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).  I had both and it's not a big deal.

    What is comes down to, it's your body and your choice.

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  • Laurais50
    Laurais50 Member Posts: 71
    edited May 2014

    Thank you Moonflwr912  yes it was grade 3 and thank you for your feedback. I'm seeing PS on tues didn't even

    think of removing some of the saline. I will try talking to Dr, on Monday.

     Hugzzzzz

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited May 2014

    Not understanding why you would have a port implanted before you decide if you will do chemo?  If you don't do chemo then you will have put your body through an unnecessary surgery.  It is not a  major surgery but still a surgery.  Also, if you don't do chemo then until it is removed, it has to be flushed every 4 - 8 weeks.   If you have it put in, not used, removed and then GoForbid you wind up needing chemo in the future - that area can't be used again.  I am a firm believer in getting a port for chemo as it makes it much easier/safer for infusions.  If you are one who has veins that are hard to hit - port so much easier, if you have great vein (like me), then it protects them.   After surgery, the surgery side arm should not be used for BPs or blood draws, so that only leaves one arm to use with a UMX.  (Have you seen an LE Therapist yet?  If not should for education and baseline measurements just in case you do developed LE in the future and to know what to be watching for.)  Of course, leg/foot can be used for BP and draws but not as convent.  My port's been in since Aug 24, '09.

     I've never had a Muga scan before or after my neoadjuvant (4 DD A/C) and adjuvant (12 Taxol) chemo - just an EKG before.  I have had 2 EKGs since ending chemo and rads but were unrelated to DX/TX but hospital protocol before any/other surgeries (cataracts/ wrist).  We are each unique and our Drs are also different in what the want done based on their experiences and with knowing what we bring/don't bring with us health wise before BC.

    I know nothing at all about recon - it was not an option for me for at least a year.  I had initially figured I wanted to do it but changed my mind in that year.  I had no limitation as to what I could do and any elective surgery can come with problems (though doesn't usually) - so why take a chance?  Just my thoughts and what was right for me - but not for all.  We each have to do what is 'right' for us.

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