Friend had collapsed lung from port implant

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mountain-gal
mountain-gal Member Posts: 13
edited February 2015 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

My friend has had a terrifying week starting her chemotherapy. Her onc ordered a port transplant plus her first round of AC chemo on the same day. She got an air bubble, but they still went ahead with the chemo and she had to have a catheter put through her back to relieve the pressure around her lungs. She has had to stay in the hospital for 4 days for followup. Her onc has said she is to continue with chemo next week. I'm concerned that she will not be strong enough plus is at risk of getting an infection from the catheter incision. I want to tell her onc what an a---- she is for putting my friend on this regimen. My friend just wants to get this over with so will not postpone the chemo. This is when discretion is the better part of valor. Heartbreak for my friend.

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  • WinningSoFar
    WinningSoFar Member Posts: 951
    edited February 2015

    I'm so sorry that your friend is going through this. And I'm sorry that you, as a good friend, are also suffering watching her suffer. I have a port but have never had any trouble with it but there will be others who will post if they have any ideas.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited February 2015

    Lungcollapse (pneumothorax) is a known ,though rare, complication of port implantation. It happens only 1% of the time. Using a port immediately after implantation is not uncommon and rarely causes a problem, so I'd be reluctant to blame her onc. The chest tube (whether it's inserted in the back, side or front of chest) is very, very uncomfortable. I was one of the few who this happened to as well.I was in hospital for a week and went home with a portable chest tube which remained in for 4 weeks. In the end, I came to love my port but it was a rough ride in the beginning. Best wishes to your friend.

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