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StephN · 01-24-2017, 10:58 PM

I had no choice about getting a port as my first drug was slated to be Adriamycin/Red Devil. Then got Navelbine for mets that occurred early. I also had the "one arm" issue due to lower axilla excision.

Really wanted to save my good arm for emergencies, and "the rest of my life."

During the nine years I had my port, I did not wear low cut clothes. Button down blouses or shirts worked well so that my port was not exposed. Not that I cared about people seeing it or not, I did not want it bumped or the skin on top scraped by accident. The "seating in" period was a little uncomfortable, but not very long. Port was on my left, where I still had a whole breast, and not too high up.

Tomorrow I am gettng Zometa in my arm. I have a good vein, but the nurses have tended to bruise me the last couple of times accessed. Last time I bled after I left from my CT scan. Blood running out my coat sleeve!

01-24-2017, 10:58 PM	#12
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Port or No Port? I had no choice about getting a port as my first drug was slated to be Adriamycin/Red Devil. Then got Navelbine for mets that occurred early. I also had the "one arm" issue due to lower axilla excision. Really wanted to save my good arm for emergencies, and "the rest of my life." During the nine years I had my port, I did not wear low cut clothes. Button down blouses or shirts worked well so that my port was not exposed. Not that I cared about people seeing it or not, I did not want it bumped or the skin on top scraped by accident. The "seating in" period was a little uncomfortable, but not very long. Port was on my left, where I still had a whole breast, and not too high up. Tomorrow I am gettng Zometa in my arm. I have a good vein, but the nurses have tended to bruise me the last couple of times accessed. Last time I bled after I left from my CT scan. Blood running out my coat sleeve! __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.