HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - To Port or Not to Port? That is the Question...

StephN · 08-17-2006, 06:42 PM

Wow, Val! See what you started. Lots of opinions.

I was fussing about the placement of my new port to be right where the seatbelts cross my chest if I am driving.
So - had a FLASHBACK to when I got the first port put in about 6 years ago. Funny how these ideas just roost somewhere in the back of your mind.

I recalled telling myself if I ever had a surgery on the left side again I would get one of those sheepskin seatbelt covers.
So, found one on eBay not too expensive and it arrived today. Put it right on the seatbelt (it comes apart with a velcro strip so it is easy), went out to the local farmers market and it was just great. I did not have to drive with the seatbelt pulled down under my arm.
The cover is thick enough and soft enough - now I am OK to drive again.

Just thought I would pass this on as this idea may help others.

08-17-2006, 06:42 PM	#29
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Sheepskin - a Godsend! Wow, Val! See what you started. Lots of opinions. I was fussing about the placement of my new port to be right where the seatbelts cross my chest if I am driving. So - had a FLASHBACK to when I got the first port put in about 6 years ago. Funny how these ideas just roost somewhere in the back of your mind. I recalled telling myself if I ever had a surgery on the left side again I would get one of those sheepskin seatbelt covers. So, found one on eBay not too expensive and it arrived today. Put it right on the seatbelt (it comes apart with a velcro strip so it is easy), went out to the local farmers market and it was just great. I did not have to drive with the seatbelt pulled down under my arm. The cover is thick enough and soft enough - now I am OK to drive again. Just thought I would pass this on as this idea may help others. __________________ "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.