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06-19-2007, 06:55 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 823
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PET Scan Question
Does anyone know if they can use your port in to infuse the contrast material that need's to be done for this test?
My veins in my arm are just so shot.
__________________
Vicki
Texas
Biopsy Dx'd 3-23-05 Age 48
MRM 4-5-05 w/ 2 tumor's 5cm, and 6 cm (right side)
IDC (poorly differentiated infiltrating ductual carcinoma)
5+/16 nodes
Stage III A
Grade 3
ER/PR-, Her2/neu ++
Ki67 78%
Begin Chemo 5-2-05 4XAC Dose Dense , 4X Abraxane Dose Dense (ended August 05)
28 Rad's ended October 13 2005
Started Herceptin Weekly August 2005 for one year
Had a Simple mastectomy left side after Mamo showed incresed micro-calcifications. Jan. 17 2006.
Brain MRI Feb.2006--All Clear
August 28, 2006 Last Weekly Herceptin.
October 2006--Colonoscopy, 6 Polyp's removed--all B9
PET Scan July 2007
Abdominal MRI Oct. 2007---2 Right Kidney Cysts
Core Biopsy-- Lump on Scar Line 1-10-08---B9
Brain MRI 6-2008--All Clear
PET/CT Scan 6-2008
Sept. 8 2008, 4CM area removed from mastectomy scar line. Proved to be B9.
PET/CT Scan-- July 2009 --All clear
August 17,2009 ---Had Port Removed
6 Years NED -- April 5,2011
DX'd with Melanoma left arm 10-10-2011
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06-19-2007, 08:57 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 301
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Yes, they can. They just accessed mine yesterday for a pet/ct...
Good luck w/ things,
__________________
Shell
init diag 3/17/03-stage IIIC
ER-/PR-/HER2+++
CET x4 neo-adjuvant
lump & SNB 8/03
CET x2
radiation and herceptin/navelbine 11-03-1/04
1st reoccur to lymph nodes 8/04
complete axillary dissection 12/04
herceptin/taxotere til progression (lungs) 3/05
xeloda w/out lapatinib trial 6/05
lapatinib/tykerb added 4/06
ended trial 8/06 due to progression
doxil / avastin 11/06-12/06 - wasn't working
navelbine/herceptin/avastin 12/06/3/07 - progression
gemzar/carboplatin/tykerb 4/07
mri shows extensive mets to bone in pelvic area 6/07
switched to abraxane (3 on/1 off) + tykerb 6/07
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06-19-2007, 10:09 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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I believe it depends upon what type of port you have. The port I had they could not use to put the contrast in, they had to use my veins which are very poor.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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06-19-2007, 01:29 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Kate is correct....that's exactly what I've been told. The type of port I have they *cannot* access for PET/CT's. There are newer types of ports that can handle both labs and PET/CT's. Ask your onc what type you have and your port-a-cath lab at the hospital should know if yours will handle contrast. Another idea is to ask your chemo nurse...they seem to know everything...there the best. 
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.
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06-20-2007, 02:56 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Formerly of Chicago
Posts: 13
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I just had a PET, CT's, & MRI"S. I also have bad veins/no access. I guess we are never supposed to use the affected arm of lymph node removal for B/P's or venipunctures ever again & my good arm vein got very scarred from blood draws. I asked & tried to insist on them using my port for the contrast medium in the above tests & was told NO! I believe the reasoning is PET- the contrast is a very sugary substance that can completely clog the port and make it unusable again. MRI's/CT's now often use a "high speed injector" to infuse the contrast, so they can not use the port with it for some technical reason but none of the techs. could explain why. I was more scarred of them trying to hit a vein with all of these tests than the actual tests themselves. My insurance company wouldn't allow the onco to draw my labs & I had to go to an outside lab where they couldn't draw through my port, therefore they ruined my only good vein I had & I am now scarred for life & will always have this unnecessary problem to contend with.
__________________
SHELLI
5/05 IDC Gr3 T1CNO 1.7cm & DCIS Gr3 comedo necrosis
HER++ ER6/PR- Richardson 9/9 Ki67-94%
6/05 Lumpectomy & SN 4DDAC + 4DDTaxol, 36 Rads, Herceptin wkly X52 until 2/07
Cardiomyopathy LVEF 4l%/MUGA never stopped Herceptin, Echos higher EF's
Arimidex 8 mos. & now on Femara.
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06-20-2007, 02:36 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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I now have lymphedema in both arms after my most recent recurrence, so when I went in for my last battery of scans, asked each time if the contrast could be infused through my port. The Abdominal CT with Contrast tech wouldn't use my port because the "high speed injector" that Shelli mentions can, in his words "blow the catheter line", as in cause it to seperate from the port and then it would be able to travel down the vein into one's heart or lungs. Enough said. He explained I would need to have a "Power Port" placed if I wanted to be able to receive any type of injection, which I do, so I'll be looking into that this year.
The Brain MRI tech said that MRI contrast is ok to infuse in a regular port, and called in an IV nurse to do the injection which was a piece of cake.
So, some injections are ok with a normal port, some not.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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06-20-2007, 07:21 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Formerly of Chicago
Posts: 13
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Hi Lolly, Thanks for the info. - now I understand itl When you find out more about the Power Port please let me know. I'm curious how that works. I hope you are doing well with your new treatment. How is the Tykerb? Are you having any bad side effects from it?
__________________
SHELLI
5/05 IDC Gr3 T1CNO 1.7cm & DCIS Gr3 comedo necrosis
HER++ ER6/PR- Richardson 9/9 Ki67-94%
6/05 Lumpectomy & SN 4DDAC + 4DDTaxol, 36 Rads, Herceptin wkly X52 until 2/07
Cardiomyopathy LVEF 4l%/MUGA never stopped Herceptin, Echos higher EF's
Arimidex 8 mos. & now on Femara.
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06-20-2007, 08:00 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 823
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Thanks every one for the responses. I guess I will just go ahead and it the contrast/sugar substance done thru a vien. I sure don't want to mess up my port.
__________________
Vicki
Texas
Biopsy Dx'd 3-23-05 Age 48
MRM 4-5-05 w/ 2 tumor's 5cm, and 6 cm (right side)
IDC (poorly differentiated infiltrating ductual carcinoma)
5+/16 nodes
Stage III A
Grade 3
ER/PR-, Her2/neu ++
Ki67 78%
Begin Chemo 5-2-05 4XAC Dose Dense , 4X Abraxane Dose Dense (ended August 05)
28 Rad's ended October 13 2005
Started Herceptin Weekly August 2005 for one year
Had a Simple mastectomy left side after Mamo showed incresed micro-calcifications. Jan. 17 2006.
Brain MRI Feb.2006--All Clear
August 28, 2006 Last Weekly Herceptin.
October 2006--Colonoscopy, 6 Polyp's removed--all B9
PET Scan July 2007
Abdominal MRI Oct. 2007---2 Right Kidney Cysts
Core Biopsy-- Lump on Scar Line 1-10-08---B9
Brain MRI 6-2008--All Clear
PET/CT Scan 6-2008
Sept. 8 2008, 4CM area removed from mastectomy scar line. Proved to be B9.
PET/CT Scan-- July 2009 --All clear
August 17,2009 ---Had Port Removed
6 Years NED -- April 5,2011
DX'd with Melanoma left arm 10-10-2011
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06-21-2007, 08:47 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Hudson Valley, New York
Posts: 124
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I have a power port and still have a hard time getting techs to use it for contrast. The power port is capable to handle contrast but techs don't feel comfortable with this. The onc. nurses will use it for my draws now but only if I have treatment at the same time (one stick) My onc. feels you have a higher risk of infection at the port site the more it's accessed.
I'm a personal trainer and you can build your vein capacity by doing bicep curls with light weights. I also try to drink a lot before any stick, as hydrated veins are plumper.
__________________
---Kevin and Sue---
Dx'd 10/06 IDC grade III/III
Er- pr- HER2 3+
MRM right breast 12/5/06
nodes negative
same day reconstruction started
(implants)
Stage II (2.2 cm tumor)
fairly extensive DCIS
Ct and Bone scans clean
Port placement 12/26/06
AC (4 cycles DD)to begin 1/2/07
Taxol/Taxotere (4 cycles DD)
Herceptin for one year
"There is no distinction between the one who gives, the one who receives, and the gift itself."- Hahn
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06-27-2007, 01:46 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TAMPA, FL
Posts: 568
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Using Port For Pet
I Have Been Getting Pet's For Many Years, And Have Never Been Infused Through The Port.
As I Understand, This Is A Nuclear Med. So A Port Can Not Be Used.
I Never Heard Of A Power Port But Will Check Into It.
I Am Actually Having A Pet On This Friday And Will Ask About It Again.
Good Luck
__________________
Irene from Tampa
1996 - INFILT DUCTAL CAR.W/ LYMPH NODE INVOLVEMENT. ADRIA/CYTOXIN/5FU
1999 - RECURR. TO AUXILA AND 2 TUMORS IN LIVER
TREAT: STEM CELL REPLACEMENT/HERCEPTIN.
2002 - RECUR TO LIVER
TREAT: NAVELBINE, THEN GEMZAR, THEN XELODA.
2004 - TUMORS STILL IN LIVER
TREAT: RFA TO LIVER
STABLE UNTIL
2004 - TUMOR PROGRESSION IN LIVER.
TREAT: RESECT HALF OF LIVER.
2005 - RECURR TO LYMPH NODE OUTSIDE OF LIVER.
TREAT: TAXOL/CARPO/HERCEPTIN. FAILED ON
THIS TRIO. STARTED ON ABRAXANE.
2006 - PROGRESS WITH 2ND TUMOR GROWTH.
TREAT: AUG. BEGAN ON TYKERB/XELODA
TRIAL. CONSIDERED STABLE TO DATE.
2007 - TAKEN OFF OF TYKERB/XELODA TRIAL DUE TO
PROGRESS STARTING TYKERB/AVASTIN.
NOV 2007 - SCANS SHOW PROGRESS TUMOR GROWTH
IN ABDOM. AND TWO NEW TUMORS IN NECK AREA.
BEGAN HERCEPTIN/AVASTIN/TAXOTERE
Feb 08 - Ixempra/Xeloda
June 08 - Her/DM1 trial
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY."
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