Port issues

Question

Hi ladies,&nbsp;im not sure if I have an issue with my port...bit of a long story...went in for my Herceptin last Wednesday, got port needled ok and treatment started, then about 10mins in my husband notices that the fluid in the line is going backwards and there’s blood all in the line. Called nurse over and turns out he didn’t unclamp the Herceptin.....restarts it and another 10mins in I get this burning pain at my port site, called nurse over who stops it, pain stops almost immediately, he puts a heat pack on and slows rate down and rest is delivered. Port gets deneedled and bleeds a fair bit which it never does more than a drop.Port site stayed swollen and bruised for a few days, still yellow bruise there now which is usually gone by now, husband notices tonight that the line running up my neck is red. I’m feeling ok, nothing worse than the usual fatigue etc, temp has been 37.6 last few days and slight cough.i called the med Onc on-Call who said unless I get worse to just see the GP tomorrow. But do GPs know enough about ports? Anyone had anything similar happen?(sorry for essay lol)

zoffiel · Answer

I'd hot foot it back to oncology and get one of the senior nurses to have a look. Your GP might know, but oncology would be my first choice, they may have seen something similar and can talk to your onc. All up, between the cough and the red line it sounds a bit hmmm.&nbsp;

sister · Answer

@JoeyLiz&nbsp; Keep on it.&nbsp; It probably is what the nurse suspects but it's not worth taking chances.&nbsp; Document exactly what you and your husband noticed at the time.&nbsp; Since the debacle with my first attempt at AC, the staff all take extra care with me and I have been told that at NO time should I feel anything more than the initial prick of the needle, and maybe a cold sensation.&nbsp; Personally, I would be going with the oncology unless your GP is really au fait with chemo treatments.

joeyliz · Answer

Thanks @Zoffiel I actually messaged my breastcare nurse(just after posting this) who said that since I’m feeling ok then seeing a GP in the morning is fine. She suspects an infection and antibiotics needed.
guess I’m just annoyed that it went so wrong last week and I end up with an infection so close to getting it out! To make it worse I was naughty and read the notes the next day and the nurse just wrote “all administered no issues, port deneedled nil bleeding” WTF!