[SusanV]

I use the port as much as possible. When I need blood work done for WBC counts I arrive early for chemo, and have the blood work done right in the chemo dept.

I think you guys are on to something, as far as going to a chemo nurse to get the job done correctly...

Here is a little story. On Saturday, 5 days after my last chemo I develpoed a fever. At the suggestion of the on call oncology nurse I proceeded to the hospital for blood work and a urine sample. An obviously inexperienced ER nurse accessed the port,(She had another nurse in the room and kept asking her questions to clarify that she was doing it correctly) and was very aggressive in her technique. (I told her in those exact words by the way) I was very sore afterwards.

I did that day however receive anti-nausua meds through the port, as well as have a billion (seemed like it at the time) tubes of blood drawn. The port did clog before I left, and they had to take the whole deal out, and re-access the port again just to flush it out before I left. The onc nurses are much better at the whole port access deal. Just my 2 cents !