HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - to Port or not to Port...that is the Question

karen raines hunt · 09-04-2006, 02:21 PM

HI.

My port was inserted at the time of my mastectomies and stayed in place for 15 months of treatments (A/C. Taxol and Herceptin). The port served me well...........the whole ordeal would have been much more difficult without the port. The nurses at my oncologists office use a "freezy spray" to deaden the area before inserting the needle into the port. This also made a huge difference. If I ever have to do chemo or Herceptin again...........I will have another port put in.

I finished my last Herceptin on July 13 and had the port removed on July 27. I then swam in a 2.4 mile open water swim on Aug 3 to celebrate! It took me 1 hour and 45 minutes, but my goal was just to do it.

Good luck.
Karen

09-04-2006, 02:21 PM	#12
karen raines hunt Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 76	I would definitely get a port! HI. My port was inserted at the time of my mastectomies and stayed in place for 15 months of treatments (A/C. Taxol and Herceptin). The port served me well...........the whole ordeal would have been much more difficult without the port. The nurses at my oncologists office use a "freezy spray" to deaden the area before inserting the needle into the port. This also made a huge difference. If I ever have to do chemo or Herceptin again...........I will have another port put in. I finished my last Herceptin on July 13 and had the port removed on July 27. I then swam in a 2.4 mile open water swim on Aug 3 to celebrate! It took me 1 hour and 45 minutes, but my goal was just to do it. Good luck. Karen __________________ Karen Raines Hunt Dx April 2005 at age 46 stage 3A, very large (12cm) tumor 2 positive axillary lymph nodes ER+/PR+, Her 2 +++ Bilateral mastectomy, radiation, reconstruction, A/C, Taxol, Herceptin, Tamoxifen, Aromasin 5 yrs since diagnosis and NED