how long should you keep your port

Because my BC was aggressive (ER/PR- and HER2+) my oncologist asked me to keep my port in for three years after I finished my AC (2 years after finish of herceptin) because my highest risk of recurrence was within the first 3 years after finishing chemo and she wanted to be able to start treating me immediately if I recurred.

The port was handy to have. It was used during my second mastectomy, during blood draws at my oncologist's office and was even used during my two surgeries for delayed reconstruction (TEs placement and exchange).

I had it removed right after my exchange surgery, just shy of my three year chemo anniversary.

I got my port out two weeks after my last infusion. I really hated that damn thing (although I'm glad I had it for chemo), had lots of problems with it, and was happy/happy to have it gone!

You have the same stats as me. My nurse said the earliest I could get it out was two weeks after my last chemo, and I made an appointment with my surgeon to get it out that day even before I got the okay from the oncologist. No way I was leaving it in a minute longer than absolutely necessary! My thought was if worse came to worse, I could get another one; but both physiologically and physically (my really bothered me), I needed it OUT. They can't MAKE you keep it if you don't want to!

My BS is going to take mine out when he does ny lumpectomy if ok with my MO. Mine has never worked well since day 1. I had to have a port dye study midway thru chemo. I pray I never need it again, but would definitely want a new one if I did. Mine has always been painful.

I had actually planned to keep mine a few years and my MO agreed. My port never gave me any problems. And then it started acting a little strange when chemo was done. A little red, a little painful, totally manageable but annoying. Got a round of antibiotics and no change. Got admitted (by my vascular surgeon) for IV antibiotics. While no infection showed in blood work or culture, my vascular surgeon didn't comfortable having the port used. My MO said I could get it removed. I was terrified because it felt like my insurance policy, but a couple of months after chemo and a few weeks after radiation, my port was removed with just local anesthesia. That was that. The scar is still tender, but the vein itself is back to normal. Kind of miss it when I have to get blood drawn since I'd already lost some veins to chemo before getting the port, but it's nice to not have this foreign thing in my body.