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

Chelee · 09-17-2008, 12:58 PM

Caroline, When I finished my last herceptin infusion my onc, surgeon and 2nd opinion onc all agreed I should have my port removed. I was surprised since I'm a stage III'er with pos nodes.

One of my main concerns was if it was removed how would I get my lab work since I have no veins left in my only arm they can use. I had the lab guy I know and doctors tell me not to worry about that...they would fine a way and to just have it removed & move on with my life.

So its been out well over a year and I've had no problems with all my labs...and I've had more lab work done then I can count! For me personally I am so glad I had it removed...it feels so nice to have it gone. As to your question to having your port indefinitely I can't answer that but maybe someone here could? I do know of lots of women that have kept their ports in for years with little to no problems. But I also know of several that had serious problems after leaving them in too long. I know for me I got tired of going down to the cancer center just for a flush...it got old after a while. I thought worse case senario if God forbid "it" comes back I would just have another one put in. Best decision I made. Good luck with whatever you decide..all these decisions we have to make aren't always easy.

Chelee

09-17-2008, 12:58 PM	#4
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Caroline, When I finished my last herceptin infusion my onc, surgeon and 2nd opinion onc all agreed I should have my port removed. I was surprised since I'm a stage III'er with pos nodes. One of my main concerns was if it was removed how would I get my lab work since I have no veins left in my only arm they can use. I had the lab guy I know and doctors tell me not to worry about that...they would fine a way and to just have it removed & move on with my life. So its been out well over a year and I've had no problems with all my labs...and I've had more lab work done then I can count! For me personally I am so glad I had it removed...it feels so nice to have it gone. As to your question to having your port indefinitely I can't answer that but maybe someone here could? I do know of lots of women that have kept their ports in for years with little to no problems. But I also know of several that had serious problems after leaving them in too long. I know for me I got tired of going down to the cancer center just for a flush...it got old after a while. I thought worse case senario if God forbid "it" comes back I would just have another one put in. Best decision I made. Good luck with whatever you decide..all these decisions we have to make aren't always easy. 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.