I get my port removed FRIDAY!!!!

Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
I get my port removed FRIDAY!!!!
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    The wretched thing was inserted on Halloween day two years ago.  I remember repeating the phrase, "Stupid cancer, stupid cancer, stupid cancer," the whole morning.  I was so angry, so very angry

    at cancer for taking away my Halloween.  The sweet time where I dress up my then 15 month old son like a duck so that everyone can tell me how precious a boy I was blessed with.  How dare cancer take that away from me?! 


    I truly felt that after a diagnosis of cancer, it was ok for me to feel a little selfish and be mad that was already starting to take control of my life. 

    My hubby, being the devoted and loving man that he is, rented a wheelchair on Halloween two years ago so that he could push my son and I around the neighborhood that night and show the neighbors my son in his ducky costume.  My poor son was squished into that costume, because we bought it in such a hurry and couldn't shop around for something that would fit him.  He looks just as sad in those pictures as I do, only for very different reasons! 

    I can't WAIT to get this blasted mediport removed from my body.  My best friend is a nurse and always says that people should be born with ports already in place.  I say, "forget you, lady!  I hate my port!  Get this thing out of me!!!!!" 

    Friday will be one of those surgeries that I walk into the hospital with a giant grin on my face....kind of like I did on the day of the reconstruction exchange surgery.  

    This feels like a rite of passage.  It feels victorious! 

    Of course, there is always that little monster of fear lurking in that place where the mediport once was.  What if I will need it again some day?  The stupid thing was like a security blanket for me.  Having it told me I was safe.  It's like the way I cried after chemo was over, or on the last day of radiation.  Those treatments told me I was protected from the beast we call cancer.  

    I have a love-hate relationship with this port, and I will LOVE to get rid of it!  

    Goodbye, dear port!  Leave me alone forever! 

    Love and prayers, Deb

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited October 2007

    Congrats on getting your med-port removed. My mom developed an infection 2 months after hers was put in and it had to be removed. She had to get her last 2 chemo treatments in her 'good' arm. She learned who at the onco office was the best at putting in her IV and requested her specifically. They work out of 3 offices in the surrounding towns and she changed the location of her last chemo so the good one would put in the IV.

    Sheila

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2008

    Hurray! 

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  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited October 2007

    Dear Deb--CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    Yes, having your port removed truely is a victory!Your onc is pronouncing you unneeding of it!I am SO glad for you!

    I hated my poor port too.It did me nothing but good, in that it worked perfectly.But I couldnt sleep comfortably on that side.

    So yes, I can imagine how jubilant you will be friday.Imagine me there grinning big-time with you!

    Dont like to go here, but ports CAN always be installed if needed again.They wont be!

    My port was installed a week before Halloween 4 years ago.I had already had 2 A/C infusions.I refused a port, initially.Changed my tune when adriemycin escaped my vein at my 2nd tx.Nasty.

    When I went to get my port, I had already lost quite a bit of hair.I was wearing a beret (OR cap) from SCRUBS.It was a big, blousy beret, black with red roses.My surgeon saw me and said "Trick or treat!"I  pretty sure I had gotten the trick afterwards.It felt as though he had installed it right inside my pectoral muscle.Ow!

    Your husband is a PRINCE, Deb!

    And what is your son being this year? ENJOY!!!Laughing

    Best wishes from j

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    Congratulations, Deb.  You deserve to have that thing taken out.  I also had one and was very glad I did.  It certainly served it's purpose.  I was afraid to have it removed for the obvious reasons...scared of you-know-what.

    Happy Halloween (soon)

    Shirley

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  • Nancy101
    Nancy101 Member Posts: 59
    edited October 2007

    Congratulations!  You have earned it to have that thing removed.  I can't wait until next spring when I can get mine removed. 

    After your surgery, I hope you celebrate.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    Thanks, ladies!  Daniel (my baby boy) is going to be the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, and I will be Dorothy and my hubby will be the Tin Man.  We are such a nerdy family.....last year we were Bob the Builder, Bob the Builder's Dad, and Wendy.  We are the family that wears matching shirts on holidays, too.  My poor hubby hates it but I love it! 

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  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited October 2007

    You guys have real joie de vie! You're an adorable family!

    (Your hubby is just SAYING that!)

    Enjoy!

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  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited October 2007

    Congrats! I am so happy for you. Having that port removed really confirms that you are really "moving beyond cancer".

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  • janet11
    janet11 Member Posts: 262
    edited October 2007

    Congratulations. I had mine removed a month ago.  As soon as I found I wouldn't be continuing with Herceptin, I asked my onc... "so that means I can get my port removed, right?"  I think she was surprised that THAT was my first question (*grin*).  But she said 'yes' and I called my surgeon that afternoon.

    Yes, it might come back, yes I might need a port again.  BUT for NOW, I'm NED and I DO NOT NEED it.  Getting it removed was a CELEBRATION!  And it was easy. I never even needed a tylenol after the minor surgery.

    Feeling the flat spot where I used to have the port reminds me every day how far I've come and how much better I feel now than when I needed it.  Yippee (*smile*).

    Good luck! 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    Oh, AMEN to that, Janet!  Thanks for confirming that the surgery will be a breeze (little twinges of fear popping up today!).  Congrats on your rite of passage, too!!!! 

    Love and prayers, Deb

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    Deb...My port removal was also painless. The surgeon did have a bit of a tough problem trying to 'yank' the thing out, but I felt happy about that, thinking that it was a sign I had grown strong, healthy tissue. Maybe that's crazy, but I'm okay with crazy. So don't worry, girl, and DO celebrate it's departure!

    ~Marin

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2008

    Deb

    How did your port removal go?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007

    Here I am, back, and PORTLESS!!!!!!!  WHOO HOO!!!  I'm sore, but it was really quite easy.  I was petrified of the twilight sedation (I did NOT want to know what was going on).  I kept saying, "Make SURE I'm sleeping!!!!" So, the doctor came in and jumped right to action.  I could hear him making the incision and I kept saying, "give me more stuff, give me morestuff, give memorestuff, givememorestuffffffffffff" Suddenly, I hear the nurse say, "Deborah?" and I was instantly like, "Yeah?  Isn't he done yet?" 

    And she goes, "He's been done for 30 minutes......."   EmbarassedFoot in mouthLaughingSurprised

    So, twilight worked pretty well after all!  Wink
    I'm a bit sore, but I think I have even more discomfort from the way they taped  the incision!   

    I'm so thrilled to have it out.  The hospital staff were all equally excited for me, too, and that felt great.  

    Love you all! 
    Love and prayers, Deb

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2008

    Hurray!  Another milestone in your journey.  May you never need another one.  :)

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  • cydnee
    cydnee Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2007

    I'm very glad you had yours removed.  I myself had mine removed October 5th.  It was in 19 months and was very uncomfortable.  I feel so much better now. 

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  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited October 2007

    Deb..hope you are resting comfortably now. I know you are feeling much better now that it is out. Congrats!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2007
    Hi everyone, I'm feeling really great.  The itchiness is going away as we speak.  I'm kind of squeamish about my ouchie because I feel like I'm missing something there-does that make any sense?  I feel like if I pressed down on that skin, that the skin would just deflate since there is no port there.  Eew.  I know it's weird, but I tend to be that way! 
    Love and prayers, Deb
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