Portacath

Hi penni,

Am coping suprisingly well, the nurse was fantastic and really took the time to explain everything and was very good getting the cannula in my wrist after heating. Have lots of anti nausea meds including one which has valium which I took before I got there on the morning which helped to calm me. Maybe something you could ask about. I will be having 16 treatments in total (not to mention the blood tests) which is why I was looking at the portacath option but like you wasnt too keen on it. The nurse said my veins are "beautiful" (at least some part of me is haha...and she thinks I wil be fine so Im happy to play iy by ear now.

Glad to hear that you are coping well too...yes its hard to find something to eat that is tasty...i had some of my favourite creamy potato bake yesterday and couldnt eat it...ive heard that lots of people turn to salty like chips not very heathy but i did like my twisties yesterday haha.

cheers jo xoxo

Hi Jo - how did you go with the chemo treatment?

I like you are having 4 x 3 weekly sessions of chemo and I've opted for the IV.   I had the option of the portacath but preferred not to have something permanently inserted if my veins can handle 4 sessions. 

 I had my first session last Friday and I was anxious, nervous, and scared!  Terrifying feeling.  It wasn't that bad afterward just the lack of taste takes some getting used to!  There was this lady in the having her treatment when we were there and she had the portacath, but she was having 18 treatments in total.  I would go this way if I were in the same position.

Hope you are doing well . . . .

Penni

Hi Jo - how did you go with the chemo treatment?

I like you are having 4 x 3 weekly sessions of chemo and I've opted for the IV.   I had the option of the portacath but preferred not to have something permanently inserted if my veins can handle 4 sessions. 

 I had my first session last Friday and I was anxious, nervous, and scared!  Terrifying feeling.  It wasn't that bad afterward just the lack of taste takes some getting used to!  There was this lady in the having her treatment when we were there and she had the portacath, but she was having 18 treatments in total.  I would go this way if I were in the same position.

Hope you are doing well . . . .

Penni

Hi Jo - how did you go with the chemo treatment?

I like you are having 4 x 3 weekly sessions of chemo and I've opted for the IV.   I had the option of the portacath but preferred not to have something permanently inserted if my veins can handle 4 sessions. 

 I had my first session last Friday and I was anxious, nervous, and scared!  Terrifying feeling.  It wasn't that bad afterward just the lack of taste takes some getting used to!  There was this lady in the having her treatment when we were there and she had the portacath, but she was having 18 treatments in total.  I would go this way if I were in the same position.

Hope you are doing well . . . .

Penni

Good luck Jo...I hope it all goes well for you!  I have my second round of chemo tomorrow and so far the veins have been good (keep your fingers crossed!).  There were a few ladies in the room who had portacath's but I think they were all on weekly chemo not 3 weekly like me.

By the way, glad you got your wigs!  They look a bit funny when you've still got hair underneath but they will be fine once it's all gone - not so boofy looking!!  I'm enjoying wearing different hairstyles on different days now although sometimes I just can't wait to take it off (itchy and a bit sensitive as my hair is still falling out).

See ya,

Louise

Good luck Jo...I hope it all goes well for you!  I have my second round of chemo tomorrow and so far the veins have been good (keep your fingers crossed!).  There were a few ladies in the room who had portacath's but I think they were all on weekly chemo not 3 weekly like me.

By the way, glad you got your wigs!  They look a bit funny when you've still got hair underneath but they will be fine once it's all gone - not so boofy looking!!  I'm enjoying wearing different hairstyles on different days now although sometimes I just can't wait to take it off (itchy and a bit sensitive as my hair is still falling out).

See ya,

Louise

Yes everything helps so thanks for replying. I am at first having 4 X 3 weekly treatments then 12 X weekly treatments which is what I am worried about. I was getting a little freaked out and thought I need to make a decision on this because I start a week from monday so I called my oncologist and she has said to play it by ear I can always do it later if I need to..I was kind of thinking that maybe I couldnt because I wouldnt be as well but she said no its fine...so I think I'll go with that... She also said she'd send me some anti nausea meds( which they give to take after treatment usually) that also have a small valium component to help realx me prior..picked up on my anxiety haha bring it on I say...thanks again ;)

Yes everything helps so thanks for replying. I am at first having 4 X 3 weekly treatments then 12 X weekly treatments which is what I am worried about. I was getting a little freaked out and thought I need to make a decision on this because I start a week from monday so I called my oncologist and she has said to play it by ear I can always do it later if I need to..I was kind of thinking that maybe I couldnt because I wouldnt be as well but she said no its fine...so I think I'll go with that... She also said she'd send me some anti nausea meds( which they give to take after treatment usually) that also have a small valium component to help realx me prior..picked up on my anxiety haha bring it on I say...thanks again ;)

Hi Joleeh

I read your comment about a Portacath I have had 4 cycles of chemo every 3 weeks and up until the last one managed with a cannula. Unfortunately they couldn't find any veins tried many times and then I came back the next day and the xray dept found a tiny vein for my chemo. Now I am having a PICC line which is a line which goes in the bend of the arm and sits in a big vein there luckily I only need it for 3 weeks as I only have 2 more to go and they'll pull it out after the last treatment. So you could see how you go with your veins did you have nodes removed like me which restricts you to one arm only for venepuncture etc? Also depends on how much chemo you are having. I was sitting next to a lady at my last treatment who had a porta cath but she had been having weekly treatment and for months so makes sense for her. Not sure if that helped you at all or makes you more confused! Good luck.

Sarah