Port removal or not?

Deblc · February 2015

I have one more herceptin then I'm done, yippee!!!! . But my MO wants me to keep the port in for two years "just in case". I said, that's not very optimistic!!! She said, well, that's the window for when it usually recurs, if it does. So I asked her what % of her patients have to come back, and she said, she's not to going to tell me, because I worry too much !!! I told her again, that doesn't sound good!!

Did anyone keep their port in after treatment was finished, and for how long? Alternately, did you ever remove yours, and have to put it back in, and did you have any problems doing so?

I REALLY want to take mine out !!!!!!!!

sewingnut · February 2015

I asked my Onc about that. She said I could have it out when ever I wanted. It came out 2 days after my last Herceptin. If you want to keep it you have to have it flushed every month. I didn't want to be bothered. I was also told I could have it put back in if needed.

Nancy2581 · February 2015

hi Deblc - I don't have answers but wanted to say I had my port out Jan 21st. I finished chemo Dec. 30th. My MO said to take it out because it's not needed anymore. I hope she's right. I don't think they can put a port back in in the same spot though.

Nancy

I think your MO is just being really cautious. I didn't do herceptin so maybe that has something to do with it.

Spookiesmom · February 2015

My port has been in 2 1/2 years. I don't want it out. It's another surgery, co pay, recovery, hassle. If it came out, and I needed another, I don't know where it would go. Can't go on the rad side. Yeah, it's a PITA going for a flush, , but they do my blood draws from it too, no vein sticks. Just my 2 cents

Denise-G · February 2015

My Onc was of the opinion - get that out of there as quickly as you can! He believes it helpsyou mentally as well. I AGREE!! Mine came out FAST after Herceptin. But everyone is different. I've talked to women who have had their ports in for 10 years!

AmyQ · February 2015

I got mine out at the first possible moment. I am not a statistic and choose not to carry the daily reminder with me. I like having a small scar and not the bump which caused me pain. Good luck with your decision.

Amy

PS I am still NED almost two years post dx

FairyDogMother · February 2015

My last chemo was January 23, 2014. I still have my port. I don't bleed for anyone. I'm now seeing my MO every 6 months. She let me decided, since I don't stick well. I will keep it. I have to get it flushed but I don't mind.

I had TC chemo.

M0mmyof3 · February 2015

Mine wants me to keep mine if I ever get off the Herceptin and Perjeta. Should that ever occur, I'm telling her I want it out!

MinusTwo · February 2015

My original MO retired but he was neutral about me keeping the port. His only argument was about foreign objects in our bodies. My last Herceptin was the end of Sept 2014. New MO wants me to get it out for "mental health/moving on" reasons. Ya know, I do understand the psychology. I moved on after the first time & really did put BC behind me This time after recurrence it's harder. Like FairyDog - I don't stick well. Also I've never had problems w/the port so I'm keeping it for now & just getting it flushed every 6-8 weeks. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Deblc · February 2015

Thanks everybody. I think I am leaning towards getting it out, after speaking with the doctor who put it in. He says there should be no problem with putting it back in again if I ever need to. MinusTwo, I am so sorry to hear about the recurrence. Do I understand you to mean that you had a port in the first time, and kept it in ?

MinusTwo · February 2015

Deb - nope - the first time with DCIS the mastectomy surgery Feb 2011 "took care of everything". Serial nodes came back clean & margins were more than safe. So all I had was reconstruction surgery - no chemo & no rads. The port was put in Feb 2013 with the chest wall recurrence since I turned up HER2+ and knew there was a year of Herceptin infusions after chemo, ALND surgery & radiation.

I had blood work yesterday w/my port flush. White & Red cells are FINALLY over the bottom low of the standard range. Hemoglogin & Hematocrit are still a little under but not critical. I think I'll start back on my supplements and give it another 3 months.

Deblc · February 2015

MinusTwo: glad to hear you're recovering from the treatment. It's all such a crap shoot, I for one am never sure what decision to make. Just hoping and praying that I will never need the port again.

MinusTwo · February 2015

Thanks Deb for your kind words. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your hope is realized - never need the port again!!

Deblc · February 2015

Ditto...for you and everybody else suffering through this !!!

Deblc · February 2015

Not sure if you've all seen my post in the Advocacy forum re signing a petition requesting that at least 50% of fundraising dollars go towards a cure. I am re-posting it below. PLEASE sign the petition and pass it on through social media etc. It is at 2,000 signatures now, and 5,000 are needed before it can be presented to the charities. THANK YOU!

* Some of you might be familiar with Ann Silberman's great blog "Breast cancer...but doctor I hate pink", which has chronicled her journey from diagnosis to metastasis. (She also has a Facebook page under the same name). I know many of us share her concern that Pinktober madness does not necessarily help towards BC research for a cure. She has started a change.org petition requesting that more fundraising dollars be allocated to finding a cure, rather than just raising awareness. I am posting the link here, hoping that we all can support this cause, by signing the petition and sharing on social media.

https://www.change.org/p/keep-a-breast-foundation-...;

Port removal or not?

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