No Port

I had 4 rounds of tc and did not have a port, which is not uncommon.

Well, that is a hard one. I had a port for 4 rounds of AC. I didn't know if I wanted one or not, but asked one of the nurses at the clinic who was a friend of mine. She said 'Yes, get one.' Her thought was that chemo drugs can be very hard on your veins, and if you blow out the veins in your 'good' arm, you will be in trouble because we are at a lifetime risk for lymphedema in the other arm & should never get IVs, blood draws etc. from it. So having two bad arms would be very bad! I do know that Adriamycin is a 'harsher' drug on the veins than the taxols, but myself, I'd lean toward getting one. 

i got my first round of chemo, red devil was one, yesterday with no port.  I don't want one.  The head of nursing didn't recommend I get one if not needed because it causes infection, it moves, etc.  She had an experience check my veins who said I had pretty good veins.  I'm really afraid of the port.

Getting a port is both a personal decision and a medical one. However, most ports are placed without problems. Risk of infection is low and most don't move. If you are having no problem with your port, you are less likely to post about it than those who are having problems. Many ports these days, are power injectable meaning infusions can go in, nuclear trace materials (for scans) can be injected and blood can be drawn from the port. If you've had lymph nodes removed, on one or both sides, you are saving your veins. I've had my port for almost three years and am currently only using it for scans and blood draws . Most of the time, I forget it's there. They are not scary or awful, rather, very useful.

I had my mediport inserted on Thursday, I was awake for the whole thing, done under a local and a little sedation, in my experience on the other side of this question, being a nurse, mediports are wonderful tools, especially when patients become dehydrated and veins are difficult to find, I'm glad I got it in, am still a tad sore, they have to create a small pocket in your chest wall for it to sit under the skin, but it will hopefully save me in the long run, and we all know this can be a long run

I'd like to add that any invasive procedure carries some risks. If you know the risks and the historical percentage of occurrence, then you can make an informed decision. For instance, the risk of lung puncture during port installation is about 1%. That's quite low, but someone will be in that 1%. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't get a port because of this unlikely possibility. The same goes for infection etc.  Also, discuss where it will be placed prior to the procedure. I have a little hollow between my shoulder and upper chest. My port is in that little dip and is only visible if I am wearing strapless or very thin straps.

ps: I was in the 1% club and had a punctured lung. Long story, not fun but still love my port.

I was just browsing and came across your post. I then started reading the responses. And for what this is worth..... I do not have a port but a PICC line. For the purposes of my response let's just say they serve the same purpose so let's say they are equivable ( except that mine has been in my arm since June and is a royal pain in the "a".  I so wish I had done the port instead of the picc).

Anyway to get back on topic. I agree with all posts that having a port/picc is not needed if treatment proceeds without a glitch. But if anything goes amiss and additional bloodwork and ivs are required, I personally would never want to compromise my good arm with all of that extra jabbing. It is a difficult decision and certainly a gamble because none of us can foresee the future and what is in it for us. I would go for the port but I tend to take things " just in case". I hate my picc line because it is so limiting but other than that I was so grateful to have it each time the nurses needed to access me. It was just so easy for me and for them. 

Let us know what you end up deciding. Chrissy

madedirer, 

Not sure if I am correct on this, but I think A/C is the chemo that is SO bad for your veins. That is why the nurses put on the extra protective gear. My SIL went through all the chemo, no port. 

I had my port for about 10 months. MO said yank it if I want. I had it removed shorty after. My chest is bony where it sat, such a distressing reminder. 

I had TC and was very happy to have a port.  I mentioned on another thread I have crappy veins to start with so a port was mandatory and I'm really happy I got it.  Even blood draws were a breeze with the port...now...sans-port I can expect a struggle finding a vein that willing gives blood. Most of the time they blow or disappear deep into my arm. I agree with Kicks, I don't think there's any chemo that's easy on veins. 

Good luck - 

Amy