Ports...which is the best?

Chelee · 09-25-2009, 04:19 PM

I have an appt for my port placement Tuesday. I remember hearing about the "Power Port" when I was still going through chemo. It can handle the contrast dyes I believe which is a BIG added benefit.

Is there any other newer ports out there I ought to know about? There has been no mention of which type I will be getting? Is there a certain type I should ask for?

Chelee

Barbara H. · 09-25-2009, 05:15 PM

I would get a power port because you can use it for CT scans with contrast. I can only use one vein in my hand and the contrast burns. Also, if I were you I would wait to have Herceptin after your port is in. A few days won't make a difference and the infusion will cause you much less stress. I have had my port for 5 1/2 years and it still works really well. That's why I have not changed it for a power port. I know that you had your previous port in your arm. Mine is in my chest and very small. I would not choose to have it in my arm.
My thoughts continue to be with you.
Barbara H.

'lizbeth · 09-25-2009, 05:17 PM

I got a Bard port which is a child's port. I've used it for everything. They pulled out the power port and put it on the table and I said that looks awfully big, do you have anything smaller, LOL.

'lizbeth · 09-25-2009, 05:24 PM

Okay, maybe not for my Pet scan, they wanted to use their own IV.

BonnieR · 09-25-2009, 05:39 PM

I had a Bard also. I can't advise you about types but I can say that placement is important. I am thin around the shoulders and chest so the doc had a bit of trouble finding enough "fat" to imbed the port. So it tended to protrude and was annoying to wear with straps and what not. Softee camisoles felt good over it. Of course comfort is not the major concern when we are needing ports installed. But try to consult with the surgeon to consider the placement.
Keep the faith.

Chelee · 09-25-2009, 10:23 PM

lizbeth, I'm pretty sure I had a Bard port too. Since it was in my arm it was small. I liked it...other then the four inch scar that now runs across my arm. My surgeon & every doctor I ran into would ask me about it. (Battle wounds) Most doctors see it & asks me "What happened there?" It worked great thru my entire yr of chemo...not one problem...but from what I hear they are no longer placing them in the arm due to problems they ran across. (Yea...my arm is a good example of one of them!) Lucky me.

I just know the first time I had to do this they always had to call someone special for all my PET/CT's, Brain MRI's to find a vein. I've had so much damage to my veins it turned into a major production every time I needed a scan. I don't want to deal with that again. So hopefully the power port will work out ok....I hope it's not that big. I don't want some monster of a port that sticks out and drives me crazy.

Chelee

Chelee · 09-26-2009, 02:16 AM

Hi Barbara, I should probably wait for the port...but my chemo nurse said one time with Herceptin would be no problem. I have Herceptin Monday & port placement Tuesday. I feel like I need to get started since my onc ignored my TM'ers going up slowly for the last year.

I need to get that out of the way because I'm expecting COH to call and set-up my appt for the onc hopefully this coming wk! So I rather keep all the appts I have as is...plus I really do want to get started. I will feel better about getting my infusions once I get my port...it is less stressful. But I'll see how it goes.

Chelee

Sheila · 09-26-2009, 05:27 AM

Chelee
My brother is somewhat of an expert on PORTS...its what he deals with for a living at a major CA hospital.
When I was having one put in, he brought a power port from CA to Chicago ( they didnt use them here yet). I too wanted the convenience of using it for scans etc. Well, it was too big for placement, my upper chest and veins in that are must be my only petite feature! They went with a standard Bard port, due to the size...I had it put in and then went straight to my chemo appt for Taxol, Avastin, Herceptin....I have never had a problem with it....it truly is a new best friend!

DanaRT · 09-26-2009, 09:08 AM

My bard port was really good to me. It was very small and they did use it for the MUGA scans.

My friend opted for the power port (second time around) because it is more versital.

Love,
Dana

Chelee · 09-26-2009, 02:39 PM

Shelia, After hearing what Lizbeth said and now you...I'm not so sure I want one. I only wanted the power port for the contrast dyes for brain MRI's and PET/CT's to make things easier. It really is a hassle for me. The idiot that put my port in my arm last time said "oops" when he placed it...then he quietly ran away. (I'm serious!)
Later I found out he said oops because he ended up cutting on my arm in the wrong place to begin with...then he put the port in backwards. There were orders for no one to touch my port for 3 wks after that. What a mess. It still worked but that's not the point. I don't know if it was the guys first day on the job or they just grabbed a janitor to come put one in? lol

I'll be checking certificates and proof from the person that installs mine this time...no joke. That power port must be awful large...now I think I'll just stick with the Bard...it's so small and I have a feeling they are going to have to place mine above my collarbone or something. My chest last time was off limits because they are afraid of puncturing a lung due to some under-developed ribs. Nothing goes easy for me.

I pray they do mine right this time...I was told my port would be able to be accessed right way like they did with you...but that never happened. I have pictures of my arm...it's pretty nasty, & was very sore for a long time afterwards.

Chelee

tricia keegan · 09-26-2009, 03:57 PM

Chelee, I had the bard port too and was happy overall, as someone already mentioned I'm skinny on top so it did protrude but I got used to wearing higher neck tops for the convinience of it.
I was glad to have it removed finally but can say it was my best friend during chemo

Jackie07 · 09-26-2009, 04:27 PM

Mine is a port-a-cath (not sure if that's the brand name). I had one put in during lumpectomy in 2003 and it was used for chemo and blood draw but not for the scans. It was taken out about 1 year after I had completed my 18-week chemo and then the 6 weeks radiation. One lady doctor in the weekend clinic had told me that usually the port is kept for 1 year after completing chemo.

My second one was put in during mastectomy in 2007 and is still on my chest right now (the same place as was installed in 2003). My oncologist had tried to persuade me to remove it last year because he thought I was attached to it psychologically (not believing that I have been 'cured'.) He did not understand that since my right arm is not available due to previous lymphedema situation caused by the loss of 11 lymphnodes, and my left side veins are hard to access - due to my left side paralysis after the 1990 brain tumor surgery and too many scar tissues in the veins, I needed the port to have access to the big vein.

The time from the last when I had blood work done, I was in the outpatient clinic and did not want to bother going back to the Oncology department in the main building to get access to the port. Three technicians failed to get blood from my veins, and eventually the third one stabbed my finger tips and 'squeezed' the blood into the tubes. It was a 'grusome' sight.

When I saw the oncologist 2 hours later, I showed my 'gaused-over' fingers to him and he agreed to let me keep my port. "Flush it every 6 weeks," he said. I think he was 'amused'. (Sorry, I do have this 'love-hate' relationship with him - having been kept hostage since 2003.)

Chelee · 09-26-2009, 04:27 PM

Thanks Tricia. It sounds like the Bard is still the most commonly used. I just didn't know if they had more modern fancy ports since the first time I did this. Seems the Bard and power port is the two they use the most. I just wanted to make sure i was getting the most up to date model. One that is self cleaning, flushes itself...and gives you a warning beep if there are any problems developing. lol (I guess there not quite that advanced yet.)

Chelee

Jackie07 · 09-26-2009, 04:57 PM

From Wikipedia:

The major manufacturers of ports are Bard Access Systems, Navilyst Medical, Smiths Medical, MedComp, and Rita Medical Systems. AngioDynamics

tricia keegan · 09-26-2009, 06:01 PM

One that would do all that Chelee would be truly wonderful but doubt it's invented yet!!!

laurab · 02-08-2011, 09:12 PM

Do I need a port? I'm having Herceptin only. Will I be able to swim if I have a port?
Will I be able to swim in the ocean? We are planning a Hawaii vacation but won't go if I can't swim .

BonnieR · 02-08-2011, 09:28 PM

You probably should consider a port. Most of us had one, I think. It makes the year of infusions and blood draws MUCH easier on everyone. In my case, the treatment nurses strongly encouraged it because my veins were already small and hard to locate.
You CAN swim. The port is beneath your skin.
Have fun. Don't get sunburned though!

Colleens_Husband · 02-09-2011, 10:58 AM

Colleen had a dual port for end of life care installed. She ended up living and defeated the whole purpose of the dual port. The dual port clogged up twice as fast, twice as often and was a twice as hard to clean out. It was a chestful of grief. I wanted to get it back when she had it removed so I could put it on the railroad tracks, but the surgeon said I couldn't have it.

Mary L · 02-09-2011, 11:37 AM

I wanted my port also as I had it in for a long time. Kind of like a trophy. My surgeon would not let me have it either. He said it had to be disposed of properly. Mary L

02-09-2011, 02:56 PM

Hoping to clear up some confusion -- a port-a-cath is a port, and Bard is just a port brand name. Power ports are made by Bard, but so are several other kinds of ports. Here's a link to the Bard webpage that lists all the different ports they manufacture.

http://www.bardaccess.com/products.p...Port%20Devices

Hope that helps.

Keiva