Have you ever injured your Port?

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Meadow
Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
edited December 2014 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi Ladies,

I have a Port, it was surgically implanted on my right chest area back in August 2013 when I started chemo. I am finished with treatment and I am NED thank God. I do not usually notice my port, and I will get it out some time I assume, but no plans on the horizon. I know ports are so common and many of my BC sisters have one or had one, and I am wondering, can we injure the port or the connecting veins or arteries? As I am resuming my normal life and activities I sometimes find myself thinking...can I hurt myself or this bottle cap in my chest? Also, I am seeing a physical therapist for a frozen shoulder, he really torques on my shoulder and he is strong as an ox, and I do have to remind him,"my port is there". I asked him if he could hurt it and he said he did not know for sure, an honest answer i guess. Any one have info to share? Thanks and I hate the cancer but love the sisterhood. Meadow

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited November 2014

     I had mine removed two weeks after my last chemo, why don't you just get it out?

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited November 2014

    I really don't think you can "injure" your port. If it was subject to a hard knock or something you might move it slightly, but I would think that the line from your port into your blood vessel is highly unlikely to be dislodged or damaged in any normally conceivable activity.

    When I was finished treatment I asked my onc what the maintenance management was going to be, or if it could be taken out. She just said that she would arrange for it to be removed, and a couple of weeks after that, it was!

    Piece of cake compared to putting it in, I might add!

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  • WinningSoFar
    WinningSoFar Member Posts: 951
    edited November 2014

    I've had my port for more than 3 years now and with monthly flushing, it seems to be fine. Since I'm stage IV, the onc wants me to keep it. There is a risk, minor I think, of introducing infection when you keep the port in. Something to talk about with the onc.

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited November 2014

    I had my port in for about a year and a half due to chemo and Herceptin. I had no problems with it and I pretty much did everything I did before. I ran, worked out, moved things around the house and played with my rambunctious three year old. All normal activities for me. I had it taken out last week simply because I didn't want to be bothered with the flushing every month.

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited November 2014

    Thanks ladies for your input. Ruth, I haven't had it out because my onc wanted to leave it in till a year past end of treatment, which will be in December. My type of BC has a high rate of return and he was being conservative I guess. Thank you all for your responses!

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited November 2014

    If you are like me, you will be happy, happy to get rid of it!

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited November 2014

    Yes, I think its time, I am ready!

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  • annika12
    annika12 Member Posts: 433
    edited November 2014

    you can break it !!! I play soccer and have to wear a pad over it . I was also told not to have my neck manually adjusted by a chiropractor while I have it in so I would tell your PT to take it easy on the turning of neck and pulling on the arm !! Mine is coming out in 3 weeks :) If it wasn't that I can "feel" it in my neck I would keep in in for a while......it also doesn't draw blood so doesn't do me any good right now :)

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited November 2014

    I was grateful to have it for chemo, but super grateful to get rid of it....I never, ever got used to it.

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  • Nancy2581
    Nancy2581 Member Posts: 1,234
    edited November 2014

    I'm with Ruth. I am glad I have it since I am doing weekly taxol, but I can't wait to get it out. It's been a good little port so far but it's creepy and alien to me.

    Nancy

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited November 2014

    I am ready to get it out, I will ask at my check up in Jan. My PT does A-Stym tx where he drags a plastic instrument over my tissue, to treat scar tissue and a frozen shoulder from an injury which was a little bonus gift while I was in chemo last winter (had neuropathy in my feet, fell in the snow, clumsy anyway)....my port is on the same side as the frozen shoulder. He forgets it is there! Last treatment I he hit it dead on hard. Thanks for the input ladies.

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  • Lynda58
    Lynda58 Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2014

    I kept my port for about six months after my last hercepton treatment.......security blanket? The day I had it removed was like graduation day! It is always an individual choice, but I feel having my port removed was a great choice for me.....no more visits to clinic for flushings.


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