Forum Discussion
To Port or not to Port
(Apologies if this appears twice - my first attempt has disappeared)
I've had lots of information from my questions about preparing for chemo but I have another decision to make - whether to have a port inserted or not. I have read the literature and listened to the advice of the nurses but as my husband says, no matter how nice the nurses are, making their job easier is not really my problem unless it affects me. He is concerned about me having another surgical procedure, albeit a minor one, that could be avoided. I'm concerned about that too but also concerned about the possibility of infection or ulceration (and pain) if I don't have the port.
I would love to hear your experiences from both sides - those who chose to go with the port and those who didn't. Why did you make the decision and how did it impact your treatment, health and recovery?
Thanks
I've had lots of information from my questions about preparing for chemo but I have another decision to make - whether to have a port inserted or not. I have read the literature and listened to the advice of the nurses but as my husband says, no matter how nice the nurses are, making their job easier is not really my problem unless it affects me. He is concerned about me having another surgical procedure, albeit a minor one, that could be avoided. I'm concerned about that too but also concerned about the possibility of infection or ulceration (and pain) if I don't have the port.
I would love to hear your experiences from both sides - those who chose to go with the port and those who didn't. Why did you make the decision and how did it impact your treatment, health and recovery?
Thanks
78 Replies
- I had a port inserted Aug. 2011 for three weekly Herceptin infusions. On Sat I had infusion no.84 and in all that time I have had only one 'ouch!' experience. xBeryl C.
- OMG @Brenda5.
Talk about being used as a pin cushion.
If my nurse couldn't get it first pop (and she was good, but by the end of it there was only one vein working well) she'd just call the phlebotimist down to do it. She never missed. - Brenda, that's outrageous! However I am indebted to this thread to know why some nurses don't have any idea how to insert a cannula! One hospital had to send for an anaesthetist to do mine when no nurses were willing to do so - three goes was my absolute maximum! Dot paintings (our local term for stickies up the arm) are to be avoided!
- @Brenda5 ouch!
- I didnt have a port 6 years ago through 4 x AC and 12 x Paclitaxel. I am now going through treatment again for MBC. Still no port and only have the use of one arm due to lymph node removal. So far so good. I will use my veins for as long as I can.
- This can end up happening without a port.
- Hi there love I have great veins and had a port and it was the best decision for me. I didn’t have any issues with anything with it and I got to have it taken out as soon as my chemo was finished. It was put in under light sedation and local anaesthetic and wasn’t a big deal to be honest. And I’m an endorsed enrolled nurse and I’ve completed a course for cannulafion so I’m qualified to do it. And not all RNs can do cannualtion either they still need the qualification. And I agree with your husband to a certain point you do need to do what’s right for you but at the same time as a nurse ports are easier to access and this saves time for the patient and the nurse and I’ve seen patients who can’t be cannulafed also as you’re only allowed a certain amount of tries at it and then they have had to miss chemo that week as they have to wait and find a spot to have the port inserted (this can take a few days or a week or even more might be different in the private system) and then that delays treatment so there’s pros and cons to both. .and check with your oncologist again as if you have issues with your veins ask how easy it is to get the port in During treatment or if you’ll have to wait. I had to book mine in a couple weeks before I started. This might help you to make your decision as well. I just didn’t want any excuse for delays in treatment I wanted it over and done with asap. It was bad enough being worried if I got a cold etc that would delay it luckily I didn’t but if it was due to having to wait for a portacath I’d be pissed off. You’ll know what’s best for you. Margie xx
- I love mine! Best decision I made for me. Never any issues and it’s so handy for getting bloods done and now my herceptin shots I would highly recommend.
- I had no port as I didn't want one. My oncologist said I'd be begging her for one. Nope, did 16 rounds of chemo and weekly blood tests and got through just fine. Sure sometimes they had 3 goes finding the vein but it was mostly the very young nurses with less experience. I'm not needle phobic so was fine.
