Port was infectec & had to come out...

[madubois63]

Maria - I just posted about my port experiences (well not all the details) on another thread. My first port flipped the night before my last treatment with AC/Taxol. It came out immediately. Four years later, I relapsed and had another one put in. I used that one for Carboplaten/Taxatere and weekly Herceptin for over a year and a half. My port was very tempermental and I had to have it replaced. Then I got leukemia (from too much chemo). I had to have a catheter placed just below my port. When I got to Roswell Park for my bone marrow transplant, they wanted a new catheter. They pulled the old one and replaced it with "their" catheter. Then I ran a fever for less than two hours (I beleive it was nerves). They decided my port was infected (I still beleive that it wasn't). They told me I could not have the transplant unless they took out the port. So they took it out. Several months later, the catheter was removed (just didn't need it - yeah!!). But then the bc came back and I had my fourth port put it. So far so good. I have been stuck sooooo many times in the one arm I am able to use. I would never hesitate to have a new port in if need be. I think they really save you pain, time and aggrivation. In my opinion, you have over a year of Herceptin to go and I would have a new port put in. I hope they gave you some anti-biotics for the infection??? Also, if you decide to have a new port put in, make sure they do CAT scan guided placement. It may make the difference in how long your port lasts and how it performs. Good luck no matter what decision you make!!