Ports and Summertime

I had no restrictions for my port.

Yes, once the site has healed you will be able to do pretty much anything. The port will be located under the skin, usually on the left upper chest. It will be raised, so you will be able to see it and feel it through the skin, but it will be fully covered by your skin.

ETA: I stand corrected. My poor chemo brain. You will have your port on your healthy side, not your cancer side, which every that may be.

Why would you think a port would prevent you from doing anything you want to? Once the incision is healed, the skin is healed as with any surgery/incision. Sort of like a pacemaker implant as there is then 'something under the skin.

My port has been in 6+ years. I am a very active outdoor woman who swims (lakes, creeks, etc.), fishes, rides our horses, bicycles, mow several yards with my push mower and so much more.

Which side it is located on will be determined by the side of BC (according to my surgeon).

A PICC line is very different as it is external so needs a lot of care and limits what can be done.

Nothing should be sticking out of your skin.

Here's a photo from a day after the port insertion. I took this because I was documenting my reaction to the adhesive, so don't be freaked out about that. (I told them I was having reactions to adhesive, but they forgot and used normal tape.) It's yellow because it was too soon after the insertion to wash off the antiseptic. There's a dot in the middle--they test the port to be sure it works. The port is under, and protected by, your skin.

Talk to the surgeon before you have your port put in. Draw a line where your tanktops or whatever go and see if he can place it so it is not annoying and noticable. I absolutely hate hate hate where my port is. Also I was told if you don't want the scar to become pink etc then cover it with a bandaid to protect it from the sun. This was from a wound doctor who was talking about all scars not just my port scar.

My port is high on my right side, just below the collarbone. My surgeon placed it there so that it would be out of the way if I chose to have a BMX (which I did). My plastic surgeon loved having it out of the way for TE placement and reconstruction. It and the small scar below it are visible in quite a few of my clothes, but it just looks like a weird lump. Even people who don't know I have had cancer don't notice it until I point it out. I did show the surgeon where both my normal bras and my sports bras strap lie and he place the port where it wouldn't run up against either. I have had no limitations on what I can do, it is one of the easier things I have encountered with this diagnosis.

Just remembered that I was told at the time of insertion that for 2 weeks I was not to do any heavy lifting - buckin' bay, mucking stalls, toting 5 gal buckets, saddling with heavy roping saddles (my close contact and dressage saddles were okay as very light), etc. Dr also impressed this upon Hubby, who in turn impressed it upon adult Son, so I got out of all barn chores for 2 weeks. That was the only 'restriction' I can remember. He said I was the first one be had ever felt the need to be so specific with.