Port removal

I chose to keep the port for a while. I finished last September and since then it gets flushed every six weeks. I want to keep it for two years, when the risk of coming back is high. My mo is on the opposite end, he recommended removal immediately after treatment was done.

I had TCHP x 6, then had 11 more Herceptin all throughout 2018. Last Herceptin was December 26, 2018. The port was removed December 27, 2018. Yes, the next day. For me personally, I didn't need it left in "just in case". "Just in case" could be six months, four years, 15 years, never...? I had it yanked out. I can put it back if it ever becomes necessary. Until then, I needed it out to get on with my life.

To note: best day ever, getting the port removed.

Ya mine was painful the whole time. MO was sceptical, but when I had it out 4 weeks after final TPH, the surgeon noted that it had a low-grade infection and said, "no wonder it hurt!"

Ruth, why did they say wait two weeks?

I don't know why they said two weeks. I was doing dose dense chemo every two weeks so maybe they wanted to make the drugs were out of my system, or that I needed the recovery time, or that I wouldn't have any weird SE's from the last infusion ?????

Hi all!

Just found a video of a port removal on YouTube, so if you want to see a real one done, take a look below. Doesn't look too bad, but I don't think I'd want to watch it done on me...

https://youtu.be/XYwQBETUA44

Anne

In 2003 I had a DX of IDC and needed a re-excision due to unclear margins. During that surgery my port was also put in. I was supposed to be heavily sedated, I think they called it twilight sleep. but I am not sure. I went to the OR, they prepped me, put in the IV, put a drape over my head and I laid there, eyes wide open waiting for the anesthesia to kick in. It didn't, well, not as I expected. I was wide awake, felt them tugging and pulling on me, heard every word of their conversation and started to feel pain. I panicked and tried to talk but nothing came out, I tried to move and nothing. I finally held my breath as long as I could. Still no one ever looked under the drape. I held my breath several times and finally somewhere in my extreme panic mode I fell asleep. I awoke just as I was before, in a state of panic, but now in recovery. I was visibly upset, they wanted to know why, I couldn't tell them it was so traumatic. Only after I woke up screaming in the night did I confess to my husband. He told me to call the doctor in the morning. I couldn't even do that, so I wrote a letter to her and told her what happened. I listed all the things I could remember about the conversations, which really didn't seem professional, but I guess to keep alert some trivial conversation works in the OR. Anyway, she responded with a phone call and we talked about it. I told her I couldn't go through it again and since I needed my port to be taken out after my Chemo, but before my radiation, she agreed to take it out using local anesthesia.

Let me tell you, it was a snap! As bad as the experience was when it was put in, it was totally opposite and easy when it was taken out! It was weird because since it was local I could drive to and from the hospital myself. I will never forget the odd but welcome feeling of shopping in a Hallmark Store right after my port was removed. I thought how strange to be in the OR in the morning and in a store a few hours later!

I have had general anesthesia 7 times since the horrible experience and never had a repeat of that! BTW, my breast surgeon removed my gallbladder the following year and she made sure the anesthesia did what it was supposed to!

PiperKay: Ask to get that appointment moved up. It's a quick procedure and you have waited long enough. It's an outpatient thing! No downtime.I got it out 2 weeks after chemo ended. I hated the port.

I get my port removed on the 14th of this his month. Can’t wait to get this thing removedq

Thank you everyone!! I am SO looking forward to it being out and now I can see that it's going to be no big deal.

Mavericksmom, what a horrifying experience you had getting it installed! I am so sorry you had to go through that on top of everything else. I had a big emotional reaction when I was wheeled into the OR for installation which I didn't have at all with the original lumpectomy, probably because I didn't get the valium or whatever it was! Started crying on the table which made everyone stop and look at me and assure me everything was going to be OK. Luckily, everything was OK and I came out of the anesthesia with my new little friend. I'm glad I had it for the chemo but I want it out!!

MexicoHeather, I would love to move it up, but I'm just going to keep this appointment as is. Given everything else going on in my life right now, not BC related, it would be hard to find a good time.

Pommom1809, you are so excited you're thinking it's already August! But still, not too much longer!!! Yay!!!

Hello all! I just wanted to report that the port is OUT!!! Hooray! And it was a piece of cake. Took about 15 minutes total from when I walked into the exam room. Now just a couple of days with the bandage, a week or two with steri-strips, and that whole thing is history!

Thanks, ruthbru!