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Sue_H's avatar
Sue_H
Member
12 years ago

Chemo starts

Hi everyone, well my portacath is in and wasnt as bad as I expected. Just like you all told me. Its not my best friend yet but guessing that comes later. Chemo starts on Wed. Feels like its been such a long time since my diagnosis but its only 7 wks. - and now 12 months of chemo and herceptin. Lots of love to everyone who wished me well for my port surgery. Its still a bit bruised - hope the chemo doesnt hurt too much. Thank you to whoever invented emla cream!

3 Replies

  • Sue_H's avatar
    Sue_H
    Member
    12 years ago

    Wow Janey you have done so well without a port. You are soo brave. I really think that the port will be easier like everyone says + there are blood tests before every chemo session too and they can use the port for that. Thankyou  for your support and i wish you all the best for the rest of your treatment. Take care Love Suex

  • Sue_H's avatar
    Sue_H
    Member
    12 years ago

    Thanks for all your info it is invaluable to have some insight into what is going to happen. I spoke to my oncologist today about my port site being still a bit sensitive. She said that mine is just under the skin and not too deep so it shouldnt be a problem but if it is proving too hard they will leave it and try in a few days time. Its good to know that but I think that i will just bathe in emla cream and take some painkillers and go do it. Rather have the first one out the way as soon as possible. Also i have been only giving the emla cream an hour to work so 3 hours will numb the site much better. Hope that you are feeling a little bit better, stay strong,  we can do this = will let u know how i go luv Suex

  • yetbeung's avatar
    yetbeung
    Member
    12 years ago
    Well done for gettng past the next challenge! As l think you may have seen in my post about chemo no. 1, accessing the new port was the worst part (for me, anyway) but that came down to a few things that hopefully don't apply to you: 1. I'm the BIGGEST needle-phobe, & don't do procedures well at the best of times 2. I thought the Emla would take away ALL sensation, but it doesn't. You will still feel them pressing on it to find it, & l wasn't ready for that! Emla just helps with the actual needle part. 3. My port, so l have been told, is quite deep under the skin. Some peoples sit closer to the surface & are easier to find & access. We have no say in it, depends where the vein is! I would recommend in hindsight to put Emla on for about 3 hrs beforehand so it has a good chance to penetrate. My port is located about an inch below the incision, so make sure you put it all around the area! My port is not my best friend yet either, but l can tell that it will be! I like the idea of knowing exactly where the needle will be going, so l can emla it! My arm veins are a bit un predictable. Also, you have to be accredited to access ports, it's not just any old person with a needle coming at you. I have my next round on 17th, will report how it goes! Good luck for wednesday, hoping all goes well for you! From Bobbie