I am Wendy, 53 years of age from North East Victoria and this is my first time writing a blog. I had a Masectomy and axillary clearance in February 2011 and have been undergoing chemo every 3 weeks for the past few months, after my treatment on Tuesday I will change to 12 weekly treatments of Taxal. I am going in for day surgery on Monday to have a Porta Cath inserted as the veins in my left arm have been very sore and they have had trouble finding a suitable vein to administer the chemo, I am feeling nervous as I haven't spoke with anyone that has had this done. Anyone been there done that?

Hi Wendy, As you can gather I call mine Penny. She is a bit of a b....... but I have learned to live with her. I had surgery on my left side and she is on my right side. I had her inserted 2.5 weeks after I finished radiation therapy and the day before I commenced chemo. I have a blood disorder so my surgeon put me in hospital to have it inserted. I had a general - bit gorey to have a local. It is inserted pretty deep into your tissue. It is nearly eight weeks since I had the insertion and I still have yellow bruising. I'm a bit of an unusual case though. At first it was a bit hard to sleep - one side very tender from radiation and the other extremely bruised and sore from portacath insertion. I learnt to sleep on my back. I hope I snored to compete with my hubby.!!! When I have chemo I feel so pleased that I have it when I see some others having struggles with veins. My veins are shocking and I cringe every time I need to give blood. One thing my surgeon stressed to me was "Don't let any Tom, Dick or Harry access your portacath" In other words only the experts - oncology nurses etc. I had to go into hospital after my first chemo and it was the oncology nurse who was called in to acces the port for the antibiotics drips. When the oncology nurse accesses it for chemo, it doesn't hurt and it is much easier for them. Good luck XLeonie

I had my portacath installed a week before starting chemo. It s the best thing i have done so far. It was inserted while i was under general anesthetic. No way was I only having local. The Oncology nurses love portacaths and not hunting for veins. I have finished my chemo and am now getting herceptin every three weeks for one year. So I will have it for a while yet. You can have it in place for up to 5 years. I hope it all goes well for you. Cheers Chrissy D :)

Hi Jane Thankyou for your information it is really comforting to know that you have had such a positive experience with your porta cath. I was feeling a bit aprehensive after talking with the surgeon and having him explain what can go wrong during surgery (as they have to for legal reasons) I said to him am I doing the right thing and he said definately. I am sure it will make chemo a lot easier and quicker not having to find the veins each time. My very best wishes to you on your journey. Wendy

Hi Leonie, Thankyou for information it is really interesting to hear how others have handled the situation as everyone is so different. It is nice to hear your honesty and that it is all worthwhile. I am not sure if I am having a local or a general but definitely hoping it is done under a general as I would rather wake up and it is done, not be aware of what is happening. Thankyou and best wishes with your journey. Wendy

Hi Chrissy - Great to hear you have had a positive experience with your porta cath, I am keeping everything crossed that I will have a general anesthetic not a local. Hope everything goes well for you on your journey. Wendy

Porta Cath | BCNA Online Network

24 Replies

Di_BCNA
Member
15 years ago
That's great, it will definitely make life easier. Jump in any time -- I think everyone here values the opportunity to hear and share experiences.
Wendy_Manzie
Member
15 years ago
Thanks Di

Yes I was very pleased with the responses to my first ever blog, it was lovely to hear from all the girls and hear their stories, I will definately keep watching others blogs and hopefully can add to these as well. Thankyou and nice to hear from you also. My porta cath went well yesterday with my chemo treatment so was well worth having it put in.

Cheers

Wendy
Di_BCNA
Member
15 years ago
Hey Wendy!

I don't have any porta cath advice for you but I just wanted to say congrats on taking the plunge and writing your first blog! :)
Di_BCNA
Member
15 years ago
Hey Wendy!

I don't have any porta cath advice for you but I just wanted to say congrats on taking the plunge and writing your first blog! :)
MandaMoo
Member
15 years ago
Hi Wendy - glad it went well for you. I am sure it will make the taxol easier.

Amanda x
Wendy_Manzie
Member
15 years ago
Hi Amanda

All went went under a general anesthetic, I was very pleased to be under and wake up with it all done. I have mine in the chest and it is tender when I move but not as bad as I had imagined. I have some Panedeine Fort to take so hopfully that will help with sleeping. Good luck with your herceptin tomorrow I hope that goes well for you.

Best wishes Wendy xx
Wendy_Manzie
Member
15 years ago
Hi Tonya

I had the surgery today and it ended up being a General Anesthetic which I was pleased about. All went well and I will see how good it is tomorrow as I have a round of chemo scheduled for the morning. He left a needle in so the chemo nurses don't have to worry about it tomorrow. Thankyou for your message.

Wendy xx
MandaMoo
Member
15 years ago
I hope it went well - I had mine under a local and it was fine. The twilight meds made me drowsy. My arm felt a little heavy for the day. I had my chemo straight after. Lots of tugging and pulling but I chatted to the surgeon throughout about holidays in Fiji!

It hurts (is tender) for about a week and is tender to lie on your side for maybe another half week. It heals pretty quick and is so much easier to get your blood tests and chemo and I imagine herceptin (I start herceptin tomorrow).

I found it all pretty quick and easy - I hope you did too.

Amanda xx
TonyaM
Member
15 years ago
If it's local anaesthetic then they will give you some "twilight"medication to make you punch drunk or almost knocked out!

Tonya xx
Wendy_Manzie
Member
15 years ago
Hi Chrissy - Great to hear you have had a positive experience with your porta cath, I am keeping everything crossed that I will have a general anesthetic not a local. Hope everything goes well for you on your journey.

Wendy

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Porta Cath

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