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Chelee · 02-01-2010, 10:20 PM

There are a few take away messages from this entire thread. First one is to make sure as Shelia said the person accessing your port is "trained!" It makes a big difference! And just because they say they are trained to use them...I find it's not always the case. Some seem like it's their first time when they access my port...it's scary and can be painful. Plus I had one nurse in the hosptial get all set-up to access my port with NO gloves...nothing. Obviously she wasn't taught how important it was to be sterile...I told her she wasn't touching me.

Second thing I now plan on doing is to call ahead of time and let them know I have a power port and to please have someone that's well qualified to access it when I get there. Also as Elaine mentioned I will have my onc write it on the orders...that way I have double coverage. For those that just got your new Power Ports I highly suggest you do this prior to going for any of your scans and even surgeries.

Chelee

02-01-2010, 10:20 PM	#9
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Re: Any other Power Port patients here? There are a few take away messages from this entire thread. First one is to make sure as Shelia said the person accessing your port is "trained!" It makes a big difference! And just because they say they are trained to use them...I find it's not always the case. Some seem like it's their first time when they access my port...it's scary and can be painful. Plus I had one nurse in the hosptial get all set-up to access my port with NO gloves...nothing. Obviously she wasn't taught how important it was to be sterile...I told her she wasn't touching me. Second thing I now plan on doing is to call ahead of time and let them know I have a power port and to please have someone that's well qualified to access it when I get there. Also as Elaine mentioned I will have my onc write it on the orders...that way I have double coverage. For those that just got your new Power Ports I highly suggest you do this prior to going for any of your scans and even surgeries. 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.