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StephN · 08-14-2006, 10:57 AM

Hi Sarah -
I know when my port is accessed the nurse will get ready to flush, but also checks for blood return. They sort of tease the syringe back and forth till they see a little blood entering the short line. You may not be aware of this as you would have to be looking down and watching.

The first time there was no blood return, the nurse was not worried as it flushed so normally/easily. The fear is that if there is no blood return there could be some leakage of the drug outside the catheter where it enters the vein. Some drugs should not reach tissue in this way. Since I was only getting Herceptin and not the harsh, really toxic stuff, the concern was minimal until it became the norm to where was NEVER a blood return any more.

08-14-2006, 10:57 AM	#6
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Blood return Hi Sarah - I know when my port is accessed the nurse will get ready to flush, but also checks for blood return. They sort of tease the syringe back and forth till they see a little blood entering the short line. You may not be aware of this as you would have to be looking down and watching. The first time there was no blood return, the nurse was not worried as it flushed so normally/easily. The fear is that if there is no blood return there could be some leakage of the drug outside the catheter where it enters the vein. Some drugs should not reach tissue in this way. Since I was only getting Herceptin and not the harsh, really toxic stuff, the concern was minimal until it became the norm to where was NEVER a blood return any more. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.