Does a port preserve your veins?

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dancingdiva
dancingdiva Member Posts: 475
edited December 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I've had a port since the beginning of treatment ...15 treatments ago. I'm having a CT scan done this week and they can't use the port, they have to use a vein. Am wondering if my veins will collapse, etc. due to all the chemo or if using the port preserved my veins , and they won't have problems accessing a vein.

Hate needles....

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited December 2014

    The port really helps preserve your veins. That's why many people do it. I wouldn't think they would have a problem accessing your veins. Good luck with your scan!

    Liz


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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited December 2014

    Dancing, I most likely will not explain this correctly, but here goes.

    All your chemo, for those 15 tx, skipped your arm veins & went straight into a ? ( vein or artery close to your heart ).

    Your veins have not had to endure any of it. so, you should be good. Back not too long ago, most folks had all the chemo in there arms. I was happy to have a functioning port, also happy when they removed it, 11 months later.

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited December 2014

    strictly from personal experience but the port should have helped your veins and they should be easy to access. I used a port for chemo and Herceptin but never used it for blood draws since it was more convenient to go to a lab close to my house (I didn't need to get by blood work done at the hospital, any lab was fine as long as it was done within certain parameters). I also had an MRI with dye right before my last chemo treatment and they used a vein.

    I found for me that being very hydrated and warm helped the staff get a vein. If you don't have any restrictions on eating and drinking before your scan, I would suggest lots of water.

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  • Janetanned
    Janetanned Member Posts: 532
    edited December 2014


    I second the hydration suggestion!  I have difficult veins.  The more hydrated I am, the easier my veins were to access.  I chose a port for this reason. 

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  • dancingdiva
    dancingdiva Member Posts: 475
    edited December 2014

    yay! Very happy to hear that. I will drink lots. Thank you ladies!! For calming me down.

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  • NineTwelve
    NineTwelve Member Posts: 569
    edited December 2014

    I was curious about why they didn't use my port for the contrasting material. It's because the port can never rinse clean after, and it will show up on every future scan as a black line.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited December 2014

    ninetwelve,

    Ports, power ports, are routinely used for the contrast and nuclear trace materials used with scans.that's what they were designed for. Sometimes they may not be used if a nurse, trained to access a port, is not available. The techs cannot access ports. Prior to my scans, I am always asked if I will need port access (and I always say yes!)

    Yes, if your port has been used for chemo, your veins should be fine. That's one of the reasons why people get ports.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited December 2014

    I've used my port for both PET and heart scans. But, because the breast MRI requires me to be chest down, and my port would be in an uncomfortable position, I use my veins for MRIs. I haven't had problems with either situation.

    I've grown to love my power port, and will need it for some more herceptin infusions. But, I'm wondering if I should ever have it taken out. If I get it out, it will seem like I have absolute confidence that I'll never suffer a recurrence. If I leave it in, though, maybe it will seem like I'm paranoid about recurrence......

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  • dancingdiva
    dancingdiva Member Posts: 475
    edited December 2014

    know what u mean...can ports be placed in the same place?

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

    My power port was used for nuclear infusion before some scans. It has been used for anesthesia for surgeries. According to what I was told power ports can be used for any input or drawer - ports that are not classified as power ports can not be though.

    I have great veins so I wanted to protect them. My routine blood draws are always done from elbow vein as it's so much easier to just have the Tech hit it than to have an RN have to come to flush it before the draw and then re-establish the heparin in it after. It takes an RN, NP, PA, or MD to access a port.

    My port has been in over 5 yrs and I intend to keep it forever. I am not 'paranoid' that I will have a recurrance or mets, however, I'm IBC and the odds of making it to 5 yrs are between 25% - 45% which I did. I visualize it somewhat a bit 'childishly' but I 'see' it as an armed 'Lil Soldier' standing sentry duty to keep the Monster away, but IF the Monster should attack it is there and ready to fight. All I have to do is go in once a month for my PA's RN to flush it. If it is removed and another is needed, it woild mean another surgery to implant another. Also it would have to go somewhere else. Can't be reimplanted on the same side or on the mast. side.

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