When to have port removed?

Hi nsweaney43, my oncologist wanted me to keep my port for two years after the completion of chemo - in case there is a recurrence. I finally got it removed in the summer of 2015 which was a bit sooner than two years but not until a significant amount of time has passed since completion of systemic treatment. The port didn't bother me - physically or psychologically - but I had to go to the hospital and get it flushed regularly. Ultimately, whether to take it out or keep it in for now is your decision, worst case scenario they can always put it back.

I would certainly wait till your appointments in May and discuss this with your oncologist.

A port does not have to be removed ever - unless something weird happens. It does have to be flushed every 6 - 8 weeks though.

My port has been in for 6 1/2yrs and there are no plans for it to be removed. According to all my Drs it makes a lot more sense to keep it in (and maintained) "just in case". IF (according to my Surgeon), another one was needed, it would have to be placed in arm or leg - don't want that! So my little Soldier (port) stands guard with his M16 at ready to keep the Monster from raising it's ugly head again. If the Monster does try - 'Soldier' is there and ready for the battle, doesn't have to get back in another place (after some time) to wage the battle. I know that is a bit of a juvenile way of visualizing but makes 'sense' to me.

Loriekg - I don't know what you are envisioning a flush is like but it is no big deal at all. Basically nothing different than is done before and after each infusion or access (if yours is used for blood draws). It is accessed and draw back to be sure there is blood flow. Then saline is injected to clear the last heparin block. Then a new heparin block is injected to prevent clotting. This needs to be done every 6 - 8 weeks. This is basically the same thing done every time it is accessed for Chemo - check for return flow, saline to push old heparin out, Chemo/use, after use saline to flush the last of 'whatever' and then a heparin block reestablished to prevent clotting. While in active TX - flushes are just a part of the TX done - after active TX then flushes have to be done.

Does that make anything clearer?

I'm a member of the umbrella club too. In other words it's my "umbrella" and everybody knows it doesn't rain when you have your umbrella with you! LOL!

As a matter of fact, I don't let them use my left side for draws as i have had 7 operations on that side for failed implants. In an out, repeat. LOL. So for my knee replacement surgery, they were happy to use my port when they couldn't get a good IV in. So I'm thinking it should stay for a long time. I'm 4 plus years from BMX. I've had a lot f Scenic Detours on my Journey and needed IVs for more than a year past the BMX. I also just this year moved to 4 month visits with my MO. Before this it was 3 months. Guess he was being extra careful. So it's easy to get it flushed. The MO nurse flushes it and it's about 5 min. In and out.

Much love

Moonflosr912 - I like the visual of Umbrella and for most would make more sense that my little soldier makes to me. But then, most aren't 'old WACs like me. Visuals that individually make sense to each are good but do need to be personal.

Certainly not all chemos are IV but for the ones that are - it's best not to have to have another port implanted 'somewhere else' if needed.

I have great veins so it's a whole easier to just hit the vein rather than using port thus necessating a flush which requires a trained RN, not a 'blood tech'. I have only had on. blood draw via my port and that was only because I had a draw scheduled on the same day as a flush so RN just did the draw when she did the flush.

We all have different diagnosis and different recurrence risks. I think the decision to remove or not to remove should be discussed with the oncologist but ultimately, it's the patient's choice. Keeping it in just because one may recur five or ten years down the road does impact the mood, adds to the number of appointments that we already have and to the cost. Not to speak about the fact that sports, swimming, etc may be a bit more complicated than they should be. Same with travel - I had to schedule it around my flushing appointments while I had it in.

I think most oncologists recommend removing after two years if no recurrences or especially high risk.

After a couple of bouts of cellulitis my team thought my port had probably become seeded with bacteria somehow and had introduced bacteria into my system. It started when I developed a high fever and shaking chills immediately following a port flush. The risk for contamination is very low, because of the method it's placed under the skin, but any foreign object can become a focus of bacterial collection.

My port was always uncomfortable or painful. I had it out a few weeks after last chemo. I wasn't going to live in pain just in case.

I had mine out about a year after treatment. I figured I was definitely at a high risk to recur. But my port bothered me. Not only from a physical perspective (I was aware of it, it did not nessecarily hurt...) but also from an emotional perspective. I hated going to the ward to get it flushed, it was like going to see the oncologist, which always stressed me out. I can never forget but some things I really want to fade away

It is definitely a personal choice and I certainly see why people hold on to them. Good luck with your decision.

I could hardly wait to have my port removed. Strangely enough, the Chemo treatments, especially the AC made me really irritated about the port. In fact when i was in the hospital with PCP pneumonia, I refused to let them access my port for a few days, until the poking in every other vein made me relent. (It really was better that way). By the time my radiation was over I wasn't so bothered by it, but I still wanted it out. I had it removed a couple of weeks later. I don't plan on needing it again PERIOD! If I am wrong, I'll deal with it as needed.