Stretching but not Cutting the Umbilical Cord

[Cannon]

I have been seeing my onc monthly for physical exam, blood tests, and port flush for the last year +, since I finished one year of herceptin. I am fortunate to be NED after chemo, surgery, chemo, radiation, and herceptin.

I asked him if he still wanted to see me every month, which he took as his cue to say, "are you ready?" I said I thought I was, so we are stretching to six weeks.

I asked him if he thought the port flush every six weeks would be ok, and he said "if it's not, we'll just take it out" - and that still scares me. But I'm choosing to believe the port will be fine being flushed every six weeks.

Another baby step in the cancer journey...

Rebecca

[Yorkiegirl]

Rebecca I am now 4 years out and still have my Port. I see my Onc every 3 months and have my port flushed every 6 weeks.

When I hit my 5 year mark I will have my port removed. As it stands now I consider my port my security blanket.

[Cannon]

Vicki, thanks, sounds super - we have a pretty similar history.

[Believe51]

Rebecca, do not sell yourself short Sweetie, this is a giant step for you!! YeeHaa! Enjoy this stretch of 'normalcy', you may think that this small amount of time would make that much of a difference but it does. You go girl!>>Believe51

PS: The port can remain until you are ready and I think you will know when that time is.

[rl2]

I was stage II, multifocal one side (3 cm, 1 cm) and DCIS other, and had port removed same day as my last herceptin - while I had to finish up plastic surgery, it was good to get that port out. I highly recommend. The less you have to be seen, the more normal life becomes. I'm waiting to hit my 3 years out in the fall - while none of us can predict what will happen, cutting the cord helps.

[Joan M]

Hey Rebecca,

Good to see you again. And the last time I saw you was at the ocean, too, but in hot weather on a sunny day.

It's good to stretch before running.

Joan