|
I now have lymphedema in both arms after my most recent recurrence, so when I went in for my last battery of scans, asked each time if the contrast could be infused through my port. The Abdominal CT with Contrast tech wouldn't use my port because the "high speed injector" that Shelli mentions can, in his words "blow the catheter line", as in cause it to seperate from the port and then it would be able to travel down the vein into one's heart or lungs. Enough said. He explained I would need to have a "Power Port" placed if I wanted to be able to receive any type of injection, which I do, so I'll be looking into that this year.
The Brain MRI tech said that MRI contrast is ok to infuse in a regular port, and called in an IV nurse to do the injection which was a piece of cake.
So, some injections are ok with a normal port, some not.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
|