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03-13-2013, 05:00 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 111
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Physical Therapy for Port
I've had some muscular pain in my neck and shoulder since I had my port placed. I find myself favoring it when I move around, so I think that's why.
I asked my primary care doc for physical therapy and started 6 days ago. I think it's really helping!
Rachael
__________________
7/30/2012 Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
8/3/2012 CT scan mets to liver (major!!), lungs, spine, and skin
8/8/2012 Biopsy results: invasive ductal carcinoma
ER+/PR+/HER2+ amplification 4.8 (whatever that means)
8/13/2012 Brain MRI (clear); bone scan verified CT scan
8/14/12 started Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin, 2 rounds (added Neulasta after 9/4 treatment)
9/4/12 CA 15-3: >3000
9/15/12 CA 15-3: 840
9/15/12 started Taxotere/Perjeta/Herceptin, 4 rounds (no Neulasta)
10/29/12 CT scan showed dramatic improvement in all areas - largest liver met 2.5 cm, largest lung met 10 cm
12/17/12 Started Perjeta/Herceptin, 2 rounds
12/17/12 CA 15-3: 17 Yay!!!
1/21/13 CT scan showed improvement - largest liver met 1.9 cm, largest lung met 2 mm
1/29/13 CA 15-3: 12 Started Herceptin only
3/12/13 CA 15-3: still 12 yay!! Back to Perjeta/Herceptin
3/29/13 CT scan more improvement - largest liver met 1.2 cm, some lung mets disappeared!
3/7/14 started Tamoxifen
6/27/13 - 1/2015 CT scan stable
Began a diet of only single ingredient foods and went nearly NED excepts for some tiny lung spots - ask me if you want to know more...
1/2015 - 1/2017 CT scan stable
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03-15-2013, 07:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
Rachael the discomfort only lasts 7-10 days, at least it did with me!
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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03-15-2013, 07:57 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 111
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
I've had the port since August 2012 and while the discomfort isn't that bad it's increased over the months.
I had some muscle pain and restriction of movement of my head in that direction compared to the other side.
My mother-in-law suggested asking for physical therapy and it ended up being a really good idea, so I thought I would share it.
I'll probably have the port for a very long time, so I might as well address this now...
I'm glad yours resolved itself quickly 
__________________
7/30/2012 Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
8/3/2012 CT scan mets to liver (major!!), lungs, spine, and skin
8/8/2012 Biopsy results: invasive ductal carcinoma
ER+/PR+/HER2+ amplification 4.8 (whatever that means)
8/13/2012 Brain MRI (clear); bone scan verified CT scan
8/14/12 started Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin, 2 rounds (added Neulasta after 9/4 treatment)
9/4/12 CA 15-3: >3000
9/15/12 CA 15-3: 840
9/15/12 started Taxotere/Perjeta/Herceptin, 4 rounds (no Neulasta)
10/29/12 CT scan showed dramatic improvement in all areas - largest liver met 2.5 cm, largest lung met 10 cm
12/17/12 Started Perjeta/Herceptin, 2 rounds
12/17/12 CA 15-3: 17 Yay!!!
1/21/13 CT scan showed improvement - largest liver met 1.9 cm, largest lung met 2 mm
1/29/13 CA 15-3: 12 Started Herceptin only
3/12/13 CA 15-3: still 12 yay!! Back to Perjeta/Herceptin
3/29/13 CT scan more improvement - largest liver met 1.2 cm, some lung mets disappeared!
3/7/14 started Tamoxifen
6/27/13 - 1/2015 CT scan stable
Began a diet of only single ingredient foods and went nearly NED excepts for some tiny lung spots - ask me if you want to know more...
1/2015 - 1/2017 CT scan stable
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03-15-2013, 10:19 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Port Hedland, Australia
Posts: 382
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
Rachael,
Good on you for the go-getting. I think too many of us don't advocate enough for ourselves outside of the cancer arena so if its a QOL issue get it sorted and you did!
__________________
Diagnosed Nov '10 IDC whilst pregnant with 2nd child
Her 2 ++ ER/PR + but weak and patchy 50% + 5%
Left mastectomy Dec '10, 6cm tumour 1 of 2 lymph (micro mets)
Clear margins but lymphovasculer invasion
Stage 3a Grade 3
Fec 100 x 3 Jan '11 Taxotere X 3 and Herceptin X 1yr
Staging scans - CT brain & body and bone - May '11 - NED!!
Start Femara - in chemo induced menapause
25 Rads June '11
Dec '11 Menstruation resumed - zoladex inj monthly and Tamoxifen
Feb '12 Back on Femera and Zoladex
March '12 CT brain & body & bone scan all clear
Zometa x2/yearly
April '12 - Oopherectomy
Praying the Herceptin is as good as its hype!!
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03-16-2013, 07:54 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 265
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
Thank you sharing this info as I'm getting my port placed this Fri, March 22. I was getting blood drawn recently, the nurse told me her mother had a port and said it hurt everytime she had an infusion, that really put some fear in me as I thought the "port" was to "replace" the needles...as my last surgery, 5 veins were blown! 
I have very thin skin, prayerfully, I won't experience alot of discomfort. I have heard that "lidocaine cream" put over the skin at least an before an infusion helps take away the sting/burning...anyone heard of this?? |
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03-16-2013, 08:38 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Maine
Posts: 4
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
I just completed occupational therapy for complications from my mediport. My port had clotted frequently despite being on Coumadin and I had it replaced twice. We ended up pulling it with about 3 months of herceptin remaining. I had chronic pain in my neck, shoulder, arm and hand. The OT led to a nearly complete resolution of symptoms, I only wish I would'nt have waited so long for the treatment.
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03-16-2013, 11:05 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,526
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
Hi Susan
I was really worried about having a port bur it's been the best thing I could have done. I don't have any numbing cream or spray before its accessed and apart from a small prick I don't have any problem. The infusion itself is completely pain free! I'm sure it will work out well for you.
Ellie
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03-16-2013, 01:01 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Mechanicsburg, OH
Posts: 109
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
My port has been a blessing. I was always a hard stick and I can't even imagine how hard it would have been to administer chemo without it! A little spray right before they access it, never feel a thing, good luck.
__________________
~Anna
DX April 2009 age 40
IDC Triple Positive
7 of 14 nodes positive
Lumpectomy May 2009
Port May 2009
AC done in Sept 2009
T done Dec. 2009
Herceptin (should finish Oct. 2010)
Mastectomy January 2010
Radiaition x 33 done April 2010
Tamoxafin for five years
Herceptin done!
Still clear May 2011
3 years out May 2012, all good!
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03-16-2013, 01:16 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 645
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
I have the lidocaine cream and never used it. I also just feel a prick and that's it. Have had the port in since October 2012 and haven't had any problems yet.
Janis
__________________
March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a
June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010)
Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70%
BRCA 1 and 2 negative
October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement
Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB
Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks.
March 14, 2013: Finished chemo
April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x
May 22, 2013: Finished rads
June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs.
July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life
October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery
October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin
December 5, 2013: Port removed
Glad this year is over!
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03-16-2013, 04:17 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 111
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
I love having the port too, as opposed to getting and IV. I got lidocaine cream, and it does work. I used it a couple times but I don't anymore as it's not worth the bother to me. But if anyone has trouble with pain I think it's a good idea!
__________________
7/30/2012 Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
8/3/2012 CT scan mets to liver (major!!), lungs, spine, and skin
8/8/2012 Biopsy results: invasive ductal carcinoma
ER+/PR+/HER2+ amplification 4.8 (whatever that means)
8/13/2012 Brain MRI (clear); bone scan verified CT scan
8/14/12 started Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin, 2 rounds (added Neulasta after 9/4 treatment)
9/4/12 CA 15-3: >3000
9/15/12 CA 15-3: 840
9/15/12 started Taxotere/Perjeta/Herceptin, 4 rounds (no Neulasta)
10/29/12 CT scan showed dramatic improvement in all areas - largest liver met 2.5 cm, largest lung met 10 cm
12/17/12 Started Perjeta/Herceptin, 2 rounds
12/17/12 CA 15-3: 17 Yay!!!
1/21/13 CT scan showed improvement - largest liver met 1.9 cm, largest lung met 2 mm
1/29/13 CA 15-3: 12 Started Herceptin only
3/12/13 CA 15-3: still 12 yay!! Back to Perjeta/Herceptin
3/29/13 CT scan more improvement - largest liver met 1.2 cm, some lung mets disappeared!
3/7/14 started Tamoxifen
6/27/13 - 1/2015 CT scan stable
Began a diet of only single ingredient foods and went nearly NED excepts for some tiny lung spots - ask me if you want to know more...
1/2015 - 1/2017 CT scan stable
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03-16-2013, 07:06 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 265
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Re: Physical Therapy for Port
Thank you so much for all your encouragement! I'll stay positive!!
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