Hello my lovely pink sisters in arms! Thank you so much for all your kind messages of support and encouragement. You were all there 'with me' on Thursday when I started chemo (Docetaxol - taxotere) and Herceptin....whispering to me messages of courage and strength. Thank you. They had a terrible time finding a decent vein on Thursday, and strongly suggested I get a'line' put in. I was shown the PICC line and the Bard implanted port (a purple love heart shaped powerport device) that is inserted under the skin. I wasn't given any other options, and was wondering what others are using? It was explained to me that there are advantages and disadvantages to each device...and to be honest I'm not sure what to do. I thought I'd decided on the PICC but now I'm not so sure. I need to do something, but would love to hear any experiences or views people have on the devices. It appears that with the ports, you still need to have needles to access it?..but with the PICC you dont? The PICC has to be kept waterproof whereas the port doesn't? My understanding is that I need chemo for up to 9 cycles (minimum 6) and herceptin (i think for a minimum of 12 months or until condition stables), plus regular blood tests, scans etc, so I need something for the 'long term' I guess. Would love to hear what people think. Celeste xx

Hi Celeste My understanding of Her2positive ABC is that Herceptin is pretty much a forever drug. I know of women on a US site that I visit that are now off Herceptin but these are women who have been fortunate enough to be disease free for many years - at least 6-7. The others off Herceptin are off it due to heart issues. I can personally highly recomend the port - I found the procedure very easy and non-invasive. I see others at chemo having a lot of trouble with their PICC's - allergies to tapes especially but also having it strapped to your arm all of the time and needing to keep it dry. No one can tell I have a port and I don't even notice it. I have a powerport so I can receive contrast in mine and I have most of my bloods done that way too, you can also have blood transfusions through them. With the port the access is via a "gripper" - I feel no pain at all with this - it is just a needle inserted into the skin where there port opening is - they then flush and get a blood return to see it is working well. After the chemo and herceptin are delivered, they flush and then heparin lock it (so it doesn't clot). Then they pull it out - again no pain and no blood (for me anyway). They can get infections in them - I haven't had one but have had neutropenia and they do need to rule out it as a source of infection when that happens (I imagine that would be the same with a PICC). I believe if you are not having the port accessed you need to get it flushed and hep locked every 3 weeks - no bother while you are on chemo or herceptin 3 weekly as it is flushed and hep locked then. I'll try to add a picture of mine - Feel free to send me a message asking any more detailed questions and I am more than happy to share my experiences with the port. I just saw your other post about the allergic reaction - I hope you get to the bottom of it and are feeling OK now. Hugs to you. Amanda x

Mmmmm - seems my picture didn't work - if you message me and are happy to share your email address I will email you the pic. Amanda x

Hi Celeste I had a port inserted on the inside of my upper arm. I had six treatments of TCH and then a further seven of Herceptin. It was actually a relief to have it particularly when you have to be there for such along time. I always felt really bad when others had such difficulty with their veins and mine just went straight in with no fuss. I had no trouble with infection and after a few days post op you forget you even have it. I am really glad I listened to my surgeon who suggested it would be a good idea for me. Good luck with your decision. Kay

Hi Celeste, I agree with Amanda. I am very glad I had the chest port put in. It is only the one needle every three weeks and that also sorts out the flushing issue. It's waterproof and basically doesn't really need to have anything done by you to care for it. The port can also stay in for quite a few years if necessary (which will be the case for me), whereas I think the PICC line would be removed once you had finished treatment, and while I hope you wouldn't need it again, if you had to start another tretment down the line, then you would have to have it redone. I have watched many people with the PICC line getting their treatment and when they watch me being set up, they have been amazed at how quick and easy it is. The chest port also doesn't seem to move around as much as the ones in your arm. Hope this helps. Take care and all the best. Tracey xx

To port or PICC??? | BCNA Online Network

14 Replies

KayP
Member
14 years ago
Hi Celeste I had a port inserted on the inside of my upper arm. I had six treatments of TCH and then a further seven of Herceptin. It was actually a relief to have it particularly when you have to be there for such along time. I always felt really bad when others had such difficulty with their veins and mine just went straight in with no fuss. I had no trouble with infection and after a few days post op you forget you even have it. I am really glad I listened to my surgeon who suggested it would be a good idea for me. Good luck with your decision. Kay
MandaMoo
Member
14 years ago
Mmmmm - seems my picture didn't work - if you message me and are happy to share your email address I will email you the pic.

Amanda x
MandaMoo
Member
14 years ago
Hi Celeste

My understanding of Her2positive ABC is that Herceptin is pretty much a forever drug. I know of women on a US site that I visit that are now off Herceptin but these are women who have been fortunate enough to be disease free for many years - at least 6-7. The others off Herceptin are off it due to heart issues.

I can personally highly recomend the port - I found the procedure very easy and non-invasive. I see others at chemo having a lot of trouble with their PICC's - allergies to tapes especially but also having it strapped to your arm all of the time and needing to keep it dry. No one can tell I have a port and I don't even notice it. I have a powerport so I can receive contrast in mine and I have most of my bloods done that way too, you can also have blood transfusions through them. With the port the access is via a "gripper" - I feel no pain at all with this - it is just a needle inserted into the skin where there port opening is - they then flush and get a blood return to see it is working well. After the chemo and herceptin are delivered, they flush and then heparin lock it (so it doesn't clot). Then they pull it out - again no pain and no blood (for me anyway). They can get infections in them - I haven't had one but have had neutropenia and they do need to rule out it as a source of infection when that happens (I imagine that would be the same with a PICC). I believe if you are not having the port accessed you need to get it flushed and hep locked every 3 weeks - no bother while you are on chemo or herceptin 3 weekly as it is flushed and hep locked then.

I'll try to add a picture of mine -

Feel free to send me a message asking any more detailed questions and I am more than happy to share my experiences with the port.

I just saw your other post about the allergic reaction - I hope you get to the bottom of it and are feeling OK now.

Hugs to you.

Amanda x
MandaMoo
Member
14 years ago
Hi Celeste

My understanding of Her2positive ABC is that Herceptin is pretty much a forever drug. I know of women on a US site that I visit that are now off Herceptin but these are women who have been fortunate enough to be disease free for many years - at least 6-7. The others off Herceptin are off it due to heart issues.

I can personally highly recomend the port - I found the procedure very easy and non-invasive. I see others at chemo having a lot of trouble with their PICC's - allergies to tapes especially but also having it strapped to your arm all of the time and needing to keep it dry. No one can tell I have a port and I don't even notice it. I have a powerport so I can receive contrast in mine and I have most of my bloods done that way too, you can also have blood transfusions through them. With the port the access is via a "gripper" - I feel no pain at all with this - it is just a needle inserted into the skin where there port opening is - they then flush and get a blood return to see it is working well. After the chemo and herceptin are delivered, they flush and then heparin lock it (so it doesn't clot). Then they pull it out - again no pain and no blood (for me anyway). They can get infections in them - I haven't had one but have had neutropenia and they do need to rule out it as a source of infection when that happens (I imagine that would be the same with a PICC). I believe if you are not having the port accessed you need to get it flushed and hep locked every 3 weeks - no bother while you are on chemo or herceptin 3 weekly as it is flushed and hep locked then.

I'll try to add a picture of mine -

Feel free to send me a message asking any more detailed questions and I am more than happy to share my experiences with the port.

I just saw your other post about the allergic reaction - I hope you get to the bottom of it and are feeling OK now.

Hugs to you.

Amanda x

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To port or PICC???

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