port

Options
mydogspot
mydogspot Member Posts: 25
edited October 2016 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

For those of you who have had ports, were you able to have it removed right away after you finished chemo or did they make you wait to see if you would need more chemo? If you've had it removed, did you have to be put under to have it removed or did they use local anesthetic? I can't wait to get this stoopid thing out!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Sheri64
    Sheri64 Member Posts: 113
    edited October 2016

    I ended chemo in March and had mine removed in July. I wanted to wait until I was done with rads because that was a daily thing. I wasn't put under they just numbed the area.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Brenaj
    Brenaj Member Posts: 18
    edited October 2016

    My MO is leaving the decision up to me as to when to have it out. I finished my last Herceptin treatment last Wednesday and still deciding on the removal. The nurse said it is much easier to remove, like previous poster stated, they just numb the area.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited October 2016

    My port has been in since Aug. 25, 2009 and there it is staying! My choice - along with my Dr's approval.

    I visualize things sort of from a 'child's eye'. So - my port is a little soldier who is standing guard with rifle at ready to keep the 'Monster' from trying to attack. But if the 'Monster' does attack, then soldier is there ready for the battle.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Nfullblume
    Nfullblume Member Posts: 171
    edited October 2016

    I just had a conversation with a nurse this morning. The surgeon putting in the port wants me to leave it in for 5 years. I think I'll be arguing that one! I can see a year after chemo, but No more.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nye1980
    nye1980 Member Posts: 69
    edited October 2016

    My MO left it up to me. At first I thought I would get it out immediately after chemo, but am now planning to leave it in a year. It doesn't bother me to have it in.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mydogspot
    mydogspot Member Posts: 25
    edited October 2016

    thanks everyone for your responses. Mine hurts and makes me feel like I am choking. I had to have one chemo session thru my hand because it got blocked. If I have to go through this again I am just doing my hand again if they will let me. The port has been bad news from day 1.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2016

    Mine never stopped being painful. I had it removed the earliest my BS and MO agreed to, about a month after last chemo. BS asked if I wanted to keep it in and I asked, why? He said, in case you need it again (I am HER- and did not need Herceptin). I asked, do you see anything to suggest I'd have a recurrence anytime soon? He said no, and out it came (office procedure with local). I wasn't watching, but even with the anesthetic, I could tell immediately when he got the canula out because I immediately felt physically relieved.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Janetanned
    Janetanned Member Posts: 532
    edited October 2016

    My MO suggested that I have it taken out a few months after radiation. I was so relieved to hear her suggest that! It reassured me that my MO felt pretty confident that I would not need it anytime soon. She warned me that if I kept it I would need to have it flushed on a regular basis. She didn't think it was worth the trouble. I agreed.

    The surgeon who removed it gave me the option to have anesthesia or just a local when having it removed. I went with the local and had no difficulty with the procedure.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited October 2016

    I had my port out 3 days after I finished her croton. Didn't ask my once I just did it. I couldn't wait to get it out.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Numb
    Numb Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2016

    I had my port out 4 days after my chemo finished because I had a slight swelling on my collarbone just over my sternum and they said it was due to the port so they took it out. The swelling is still there but I had an ultrasound and a ct scan on it and they said it was nothing and could take 6 months to disappear. I would say you can have the port out whenever you want it out, it is your decisio at the end of the day.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited October 2016

    It seems it boils down to whether it bothers you or is painful. I'm in a very different position, but I haven't used mine for three years, yet keep it in because I don't even notice it. If I weren't stage IV, I would have taken it out, but since it doesn't hurt and is in an area where it can't be seen, in it stays

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories