To Port or not to Port

Excellent. Just be aware it can be quite painful for a week or so because of the fact that they have to cut through muscle - not that it caused any extra discomfort for me when accessed for my 1st chemo four days later

Port in - driving home from hospital!!

Hope it goes well. Chemo like a pro, use all available technology

Good luck @Sister. 

another decision made another step foward @Sister

hugs 
Soldiercrab

Good luck with it love. Hope it all goes well. Keep us posted. Margie xxx

I saw the surgeon yesterday and discussed having a port with him.  I'm now scheduled to go in for day surgery tomorrow to have one inserted.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to this discussion.  As always, the advice and experiences you shared were incredibly helpful and were instrumental in my decision to go ahead.

First time I had chemo I didn't have a port. Got through the six rounds ok. Then had surgery with axillary clearance in left armpit. The pathology from this surgery determined my tumour was HER2 positive so three weekly Herceptin for a year. By the time I had finished, the nurses were finding it very difficult to find a vein, especially as they could only use my right arm.
Fast forward to 2016 when I had to have more chemo. The oncologist insisted I have a port this time as I would be having indefinite Herceptin/Perjetea. Best decision ever! I wish I had it first time round. Just so easy. 

Hi @Sister,
A port seemed like a great option and I had it inserted before chemo. Unfortunately after chemo no. 2 I developed a blood clot that blocked the port, had to have Clexane (blood thinner) via subcut injection into my abdomen until I could have it removed.

Since then I have had cannulas into my right arm without too much difficulty. I was booked for another port but decided to put it off as long as I could. So far have had 3 more rounds of chemo into my arm with only minor discomfort in the veins and due for the last chemo next week.

The trick then will be that I need Herceptin every three weeks for a year and once I have surgery on my right side, my right arm will no longer be an option. Unfortunately my left arm still has slow circulation - the side of the port, even though it has been removed! 

My oncologist says risk of blood clot in a port is about 2% - unfortunately a lottery that I won! 

Most people I know have had no probs and love them! You could hold off and see how you go and get one later if you need! All the best! 

Hi @Sister, I'm an RN and I really hope that no one has suggested that a port is there for your teams benefit. It is certainly a personal choice. I have decent veins and elected not to have a port but wished I had by the time I got to the last six weeks. My veins were very difficult to get in the end plus I got pain when the chemo being infused. As my chemo was three weekly I figured I'd be ok but if I had my time again (hell I hope not!) I'd go a port for sure. 
You get sick of being a pin cushion by the end of it. Ports require no maintenance by you. Good luck with your decision. Bug hugs xx