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Chelee · 06-26-2007, 04:30 PM

where will they draw my blood for labs? I've been done with herceptin since 3-07 and my mammo and ultrasound showed two masses in axilla area consistent with lymph nodes, which my surgeon said was *probably* due to my port. (Irritation) He suggested I get my port removed and those masses will go away.

I also went for a 2nd opinion on something else and that onc said to have my port removed. My port is in my upper arm. Not long ago I have two surgeries and they could find NO veins to access. So I had them call Mark in Port-a-Cath to come access my port or I might not of gotten the sugeries? All the nurses stuck and poked me and not one of them could find a vein.

So IF I get my port removed in hopes it will relieve the pain in my axilla...how will anyone get blood from me? I am really tired of the pain in that axilla. Plus I want to know if its REALLY the port that caused the masses in my axilla? (One lasts thing...is removal of a port easier then when they put it in?) I would think so?

Chelee

06-26-2007, 04:30 PM	#1
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	If I have port removed... where will they draw my blood for labs? I've been done with herceptin since 3-07 and my mammo and ultrasound showed two masses in axilla area consistent with lymph nodes, which my surgeon said was probably due to my port. (Irritation) He suggested I get my port removed and those masses will go away. I also went for a 2nd opinion on something else and that onc said to have my port removed. My port is in my upper arm. Not long ago I have two surgeries and they could find NO veins to access. So I had them call Mark in Port-a-Cath to come access my port or I might not of gotten the sugeries? All the nurses stuck and poked me and not one of them could find a vein. So IF I get my port removed in hopes it will relieve the pain in my axilla...how will anyone get blood from me? I am really tired of the pain in that axilla. Plus I want to know if its REALLY the port that caused the masses in my axilla? (One lasts thing...is removal of a port easier then when they put it in?) I would think so? Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.