HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Should I have my port removed, or keep it?

sassy · 09-16-2008, 06:52 PM

Caroline,

I kept my port for about 3 1/2 years. Just had it removed last month. We were still doing blood draws every 3 months, so we used it for that and flushed it then. Never had ant problems.

We will be moving to every 6 month blood draws soon, and I only have one infusion per year now (Zometa), so I decided to go ahead and take out the port, rather than have to go in just to have it flushed.

If you have poor veins, you might consider keeping it longer to use for your draws etc.

I would doubt that you would be able to flush the port yourself---just guessing.

Best to you,

09-16-2008, 06:52 PM	#2
sassy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mountains of Virginia Posts: 2,267	Caroline, I kept my port for about 3 1/2 years. Just had it removed last month. We were still doing blood draws every 3 months, so we used it for that and flushed it then. Never had ant problems. We will be moving to every 6 month blood draws soon, and I only have one infusion per year now (Zometa), so I decided to go ahead and take out the port, rather than have to go in just to have it flushed. If you have poor veins, you might consider keeping it longer to use for your draws etc. I would doubt that you would be able to flush the port yourself---just guessing. Best to you, __________________ Rhonda (Sassy) dx age 45 DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes Triple Positive 4 DD A/C 12 Taxol/Herceptin 33Rads Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk Herceptin for total of 18 months Lupron Monthly 4 yrs Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!) Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement) Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk Back to Arimidex for year seven Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix Stop Arimidex 5/13 Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa 5/14 Start Tamoxifen 3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing 5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs 9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen 3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects! NED and no meds....... 14YEARS NED!