Chemo here I go!

There is a difference between a PICC line and a port @Eastmum The PICC do take more maintenance and have an external connector. Ports are under the skin. In most cases a port is on your chest but in the last couple of years more surgeons are installing them on a patient's upper arm. The cannula still goes to the same place.Yes, ports can stuff up, but they are a god send when they are working and you can leave them in for years if you want to with minimal maintenance

 I am constantly discouraged by the lack of knowledge about newer technology in some hospitals.. Despite having half a dozen surgeons here who will readily lop off a leg or a couple of boobs and sprout how competent they are,  none would put in a chest port. No one in this part of Victoria was doing arms last year. It would pay to make more enquiries if you are interested. Mxx

Thanks @"Kiwi Angel" - yes, I have some panadeine forte - still from my mastectomy - I got a couple of repeat scripts. Sometimes I find taking 1 panadeine + 1 panadol is a good combo.  Also, because I have an osteo-arthritic knee, I have palexia - I try to take it only on days when it's really playing up but it just might do the trick for Neulasta pain. I hate taking Endone - try to avoid it. 

Thanks @Sister - I am counting every blessing - let's see how I feel later in the week tho! xxxx

Glad to hear you've come through so well!

@Eastmum glad u r feeling so well. Have u been prescribed any pain relief??  I have the Neulasta too and get bad bone pain about 2 to 3 days after the injection and had to suffer through with just panadol the first time but I now use panadine forte with some endone for back up if I need it. Maybe see if your oncologist can write u s script just in case. Great u r feeling good though xoxx

I was going to have a port inserted after about 12 lots of I.V. chemo but I  changed my mind because it upset me too much. Just the thought of being in hospital again and restricting my exercise was just too much. Besides which I reckon I  have  enough foreign bodies inside me with my two implants.
Just as well I  didn't  have the port inserted because my I.V. chemo: Paclitaxel was stopped a couple of weeks later because of what it was doing to my nails.
Only the NUM in the oncology ward was able to insert a cannula  without hurting me. 

Thanks @Giovanna_BCNA - I did ask one of the oncology nurses about the arm port today and she told me that in her experience, they clot much more frequently than the traditional port, but I will look into it and if they start talking about picc lines etc, I'll ask my oncologist directly about the arm option. 

Thanks @Janny54  and @kmakm - Kate, I'm feeling great! 

They had to canulate me twice because the vein they used the first time wasn't great - but once that canula was in, it was all rock and roll baby! Turfed hubby out and back to work after half an hour because there was no need for him to be there and chatted the rest of the time to the chick opposite me, who I happened to know! 

Jumped into a cab afterwards and went to the wig shop - tried on some very fun (but terrible) wigs and ended up buying one that looks very much like me on a good hair day LOL. 

Tonight we are going to a show at the Opera House - let's see how I feel tomorrow, heh?

My oncologist came to visit me while I was sitting there and he told me that he's prescribed the neulasta injection 24 hours after each AC - without testing my blood - with the view to moving my three-weekly AC to two-weekly and thus finishing the whole schedule one month earlier - yipee! That is of course, if I tolerate the AC well.

So I need to pop back in to the hospital tomorrow for the injection, then have a blood test on Monday in two weeks' time, then if all OK I can have round 2 two weeks today instead of 3 weeks today. I also need to go for something called a 'gated heart pod scan' to check if my heart is A-OK for the biweekly AC - I can't haven an ECG because of the expanders. 

They also gave me one Akynzeo tablet - this is apparently good for 5 days' anti-nausea! woo hoo - hope it works! I have Dex to take for the next 3 days and maxalon if I need it. I asked about Zofran and he said 'not with the Akynzeo' - he also said that it would give me nothing but terrible constipation. 

I've actually been fasting since last night. I've read a lot of the studies done by Prof Valter Longo about fasting + chemo. I thought I would give it a go - not in stupid way of course! If I feel ill, I'll definitely eat. However I'm actually feeling great so far and planning to continue the fast until breakfast tomorrow. I've been keeping my fuids up, drinking tons of water and clear chicken broth - going to have a miso soup now. I've had no issues with the meds on an empty stomach, and my BIL (who is an orthopedic surgeon) who is a bit of an expert on the ketogenic way of eating is helping me lower my blood sugar levels. 

So, one down - 15 to go! 

Thinking of you Yvette. I hope it all went OK today and you're not feeling too grotty. K xox  <3

Hello,
I have attached some information regarding ports below.  They can use either site, that is the chest or arm, with the chest being the more common site.  The port catheter is inserted into a large vein in your chest or upper arm.  I would check with the treating specialist regarding the location of the port as this may vary for lots of reasons.
https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/chemotherapy/catheters-and-ports-cancer-treatment