To port or not to port...
Hi, I have just found out that my WLE to remove 2 tumours wasn’t as successful as hoped and they didn’t get the healthy margin hoped for on one of them the, also the sentinel node biopsy came back as positive for cancer also. Surgeon has me booked in for surgery to remove first thing on Monday morning. Then will be followed up with chemo and then radiation. My problem is (apart from the above!!) I have dodgy veins which can be hard to find!!! When it comes to chemo I’m worried about becoming a pin cushion and worst still them not being able to get one at all. I mentioned this to surgeon and he has suggested a port.. When I then spoke to my breastcare nurse she suggested I should think about it with the risks involved etc and that if not really needed and if the chemo treatment plan doesn’t call for it, then not to do. Only problem is I have no idea of my chemo treatment plan yet as this all happened late Friday afternoon and surgery is first thing on Monday morning! Arrhh On one hand I can see the port will make it easier for chemo but then does that outweigh the risks of foreign body in body, infection ......? Is getting the port put in at a later date if they are struggling with the veins an option ? I would really appreciate any ones reflections of their own experiences? Just all feels very overwhelming today.
Port Pain
Hi all, I had a port put in almost three weeks ago. In the last couple of days I’m getting pain in the area. It’s very tender to touch, and when I move my arm, chest, shoulder I get a painful pulling/moving sensation. I’m visualising it flexing or something. Hard to describe but something isn’t right. No redness. Spoke to my surgeon today, he’s a little unsure why this would be happening said possible there may be fluid under it. I have chemo in the morning and will pop in to see him after that. Just wondering if anyone’s had a similar experience?
Port insertion recovery
Hi ladies. So I decided to get a port for the remaining 12 rounds of taxol treatment. Def much more painful of a procedure than expected and I was discharged with no pain meds! I'm in quite a bit of pain and had a rough nights sleep. Just wondering if anyone else went thru something similar and what you took for pain relief besides the regular panadol
Port Insertion
Hi all, I had my port installed this morning at the Radiology dept in the Public Hospital. I have to say I was pretty anxious about the process and went in there and said I think I need sedating for this because I am nervous about it. The nurses were lovely. They set me up ready for the procedure and the radiologist came and spoke to me. He said the majority of people cope quite well without sedation and just local anaesthetic. He said apart from less risks the benefit is that if I did feel uncomfortable they could give me pain relief and sometimes when you are half groggy you might feel pain but not be able to communicate that. So I put on my brave face and went with his advice. You do lay around waiting for quite a while as they set up and then they drape a curtain across your face but suspend it so you don't feel suffocated. The injections have a bit of a sting but its only for a couple of seconds and then you are numb. They put one in at the base of your neck and a couple in your breast. I didn't feel any pain, just a bit of pulling and pressing but no pain. He told me they were going to start and I didn't realise they were half way through until he said nearly finished. He was very clear about each step without stressing me. It felt like I was having the procedure for about 15 mins. Reality from beginning to end 1 hour all up. I only felt a pinch on the last stitch but it wasn't enough to worry about. They said he did a very neat job of stitching me up. I arrived at the hospital 8.30am and was back in the recovery at 10.30am. Home now and happy to move on to my first chemo next week.
Anyone else have a slimport procedure.
Hey peeps. I am to get a slimport fitted very soon. Lots of questions. I believe it is being fitted in the radiology unit as that who has left me a message to call me. How long is the procedure? Do you get stitches? How painfull after? How soon to chemo did you have it fitted? Can you see any of it (appart from the bump under the skin)? From what I can see, they still push needle through skin but it goes into the valve on the port? Was it uncomfortable once it healed? Any other information would be wonderful. I sure badly with anxiety so knowing as much as possible beforehand really helps. I have watched the insertion procedure on YouTube but there isn't a lot of information about use.
