can you keep your port AND have a mastectomy/or reduction?

Absolutely. I have a port on my left side for chemo after a mastectomy on the right side.

Six months later, I had a mastectomy on my left side. The port was used during the surgery for vein access (no venal punctures).

Two years later, I has delayed reconstruction. I still had my port as my oncologist asked me to keep it for three years after finishing chemo. The port was again used during surgery to place the tissue expanders.

Same answer as kayb and Sassa. Port was put in a few days before my unilateral mastectomy. I was finished with chemo when I had my lift/implant reconstruction, but kept the port for another year for Herceptin infusions. Sometimes lab techs used it during MUGAs and other scans - depended on whether a trained tech was available. I even lucked out and had an ex-chemo nurse give me the drugs for a colonoscopy through my port.

That's interesting - I guess some plastic surgeons do it differently than mine. I had the port on my left side, same side as my breast lift. My plastic surgeon asked if he should remove the port during reconstruction (since I was done with chemo), but I told him to leave it in since I was doing Herceptin. We still went ahead with the exchange/lift.

You're right, kicks. I'm sure it was always an RN who accessed my port during scans. That's why sometimes the techs had to use an IV.

My port was close to my shoulder, about 4 inches below my clavicle.  I used it when I had a uni mx, but I had to do some fast talking and know my port--the anesthesiologist was only used to older-style ports and wasn't aware a "Power Port" can infuse a lot of fluid in a short amount of time.  I had it removed from underneath when I had my DIEP reconstruction--no new incisions!  Altogether, I had the port about 16 months.

My sister's port was much lower down, right at the top of her breast.  I think some surgeons put them low enough that the scar can be camouflaged during a reconstruction procedure.

I was glad to have it, and glad it's gone.

I had my port placed this morning. The doctor that did the procedure asked if I was planning on having a lift on my healthy breast (yes) and if I knew how the plastic surgeon was doing the lift (no). He then placed the port a little higher than usual so that it would not interfere with the lift. So, it sounds like if the port is placed too low, it could cause a problem if you later have a lift.