Well, here I am sitting at home after my second AC treatment. I'm eating some weet-bix & feeling pretty good! Tough week after joining the bald club on Monday, but I feel positive since then as I see that as my lowest moment so far! So, they tell me I need to get a Port - only 2 good veins - and for some reason the thought of it makes me very nervous indeed! I welcome any input from you ladies out there! Claire PS. Thanks for your comments last time I posted. It was a great support

i have a port as my treatment is continual..i have one compromised arm and the veins in my 'good' arm are quite fine & deep.. all the chemo drugs, scans & treatments over the past 2.5 yrs have punished them a little. My chemo drugs have always gone thru my port, it is painless (u can use numbing cream b4 u go for ur infusion) ..it is a relatively small/easy operation to have it inserted and u can have it removed when u no longer need it.. i would highly recommend having one, hope my input helps u make the right decision for u Sam :)

Hi Claire I had six chemos and unlike Sam, my treatment was not continual. But like you both, my veins were dicky so I had the port surgically implanted prior to the first chemo. (It took about four nurses to get blood out via my veins, so there wasn't much choice really.) The procedure to insert the port was relatively simple (compared to everything else we go through!) and also the removal was simple. The downside for me, was the scarring - I scar badly (keloid/lumpy scars). Even after having the scar re-done, it still looks a bit unsightly. However, I know other women who scar well, and their port scars are nearly invisible. In saying that, if I needed to have another port, I wouldn't hesitate - it is so much less easier and less stressful than being a pin cushion with collapsed veins. The port patch (numbing cream) made using the port completely painless each time I had chemo. Hope that helps with your decision making. Good luck for your treatment. Cheers, Kym

oops - just re-read that last para and it should say that it's so much easier and less stressfull ...... (not less easy)

I had my power-port put in last week on Wednesday, and had my first chemo through the port yesterday - Thursday. It was absolutely painless - I put an Emla patch on it 1.5 hours before chemo - and all I felt was a bit of pressure with no pain of any kind. There is a bit of bruising, which will fade soon, and it certainly beats finding veins, as my chemo will be weekly for 18 weeks. I highly recommend it for easier chemo. Good luck, stay strong, Michelle x

To Port or not to Port | BCNA Online Network

18 Replies

Anonymous
Not applicable
14 years ago
Go for the port!...quick, easy & hassle-free! You wont regret it! Celeste?
Claire_B
Member
14 years ago
Thanks Louisa, I am going forward on 31st May.
Claire_B
Member
14 years ago
I'm doing it! The nervousness is waning & it's time to commit to the rest of the Chemo journey - it will be much easier I know, but I'm still nervous.

I admire your valour Shazinoz. You approach this all very pragmatically. I have been luck with only a lumpectomy & axillary clearance and if it wasn't for a teeny-tiny 6mm tumour on 1 node out of 14, I guess I would be nearing the end of my BC journey by now! Oh, well. Still such a long way to go with Chemo, so I know this is the right decision.

Thanks for your help

Claire
Claire_B
Member
14 years ago
Hi Michelle,

I am going ahead with the Port on 31st May - still have 5 months of Chemo to go, so it's now or never. I feel much more at ease now.

Thanks

Claire
Claire_B
Member
14 years ago
31st of May is "P" day.

Still nervous, but all the positive stories have calmed me down

Thanks!
Claire_B
Member
14 years ago
Booked in for my "procedure"- 31st May is "P" day.

Still nervous but all your encouragement & wisdom is helping.

Cheers!!!
Mary_Thorne
Member
14 years ago
Thanks Shazinoz, Hospital rang this morning to check on me and confirmed I should have a card. They are following through and will be in touch. Thanks again for your reply
Shazinoz
Member
14 years ago
I received a card that says I have a port, what kind it is, and where it is inserted etc. I have a vital port.
Mary_Thorne
Member
14 years ago
I had power port inserted today and after now researching see some websites mention I should have received an Identification Package. It may be necessary at security at Airports. I am travelling next Friday before starting chemo. I do not have breast cancer, have appendix cancer which had spread. I had a perinectonomy 2 months back and now beginning chemo in near future. Just asking whether anyone else received such a package, I was given an infusion pack which I think are used for CAT scans. Thank you for any advice received.
Mary_Thorne
Member
14 years ago
I had power port inserted today and after now researching see some websites mention I should have received an Identification Package. It may be necessary at security at Airports. I am travelling next Friday before starting chemo. I do not have breast cancer, have appendix cancer which had spread. I had a perinectonomy 2 months back and now beginning chemo in near future. Just asking whether anyone else received such a package, I was given an infusion pack which I think are used for CAT scans. Thank you for any advice received.

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To Port or not to Port

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