Which treatment is better? Port or IV?

I am going to get a PICC line.   Recent TEs with fills ongoing and I was worried about the interference.  A Port or PICC is smart at our age, especially if like me you are down an available arm due to mastectomy.  You can't get a PICC site wet though so a port is more convenient.

hi blinds23,

I'm triple positive and as Cowgirl13 mentioned, I also get Herceptin every three weeks for a year. I'm 31 and I have a three year old at home, she was 2 and a half when I started chemo. She would have grabbed at a PICC line. The nice thing with the port is that it's pretty much part of me and I can do what ever I want. Shower, swim, you name it. I don't have to worry about getting it caught on something or getting it wet (once it's healed). Having it accessed is easier than IV, there is no need to look for and find a vein. Once the needle is in, you don't feel it like you do with a IV needle.

I wear tank tops all the time in the summer, and mostly scoop or v-neck shirts in the winter and my port shows. I can understand why you might be self conscious about it, I was a little when I first got it but It got to the point where it was too hot last summer and decided I was going to wear what was comfortable for me. All you see once the incision is healed is a small bump on my upper chest. I've never had anyone make comments about it, nor have it had anyone stare at it. I really don't notice it anymore, it's just there.

Hope my experience helps provide some insight for when you make your decision. All the best with the upcoming treatments.

Edited to add: chunky necklaces or scarfs are a great way to camouflage the port while still wearing tank tops

Definitely get a port. As others have said, you will want to protect your veins; if you blow them out with an IV, you will have trouble the rest of your life. I would definitely do a port over a PICCA line. DH had one after a surgery, and they are very 'touchy' to care for. With a port, it is just there & you can go about your life. (I ended up getting more V-neck tees when I had one, because mine did show in scoop tops, and I was self-conscious about it).

It's a completely personal decision. Some will insist it's medically necessary. I have been through six chemos and four years of herceptin and have never had a port or any trouble with my veins. The only difficulty I had was the dye for a CT scan, which went interstital and caused me a lot of grief and from what I've been told ports can't be used for that anyway. It was later determined that it was due to the tech's incompetence. I chose not to get a port because I really didn't want to look like, or be constantly reminded of the fact that I'm a cancer patient. It's probably best to get ALL your options from your medical team. Neither way is without it's risk of complications.....and it certainly has a lot to do with how competent your IV administrator is. Good luck to you, whatever you decide.