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I also recommend a port. I'm on my second. With my initial dx I had one, and it was quite large and stuck out a lot and was not covered by a swimsuit. I had it taken out after I finished tx. Now I have another one, it is small (I hadn't known first time around they came in two sizes) and further over toward my arm so you can barely see it. It was not at all a big deal getting it in, and as everyone else says it is definitely worth it. I have a great vein in my arm (nurses love me) but I was getting tired of being poked. They did tell me I could get blood drawn from it too, but so far no one has used it because they say you have to be specially trained to do that. Anyway, I highly recommend it. Good luck!
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Liz
3/05 Initial dx invasive dc 2 cm lump, age 39
lumpectomy & 3 of 5 nodes +, ER+/PR+, Her2+++
alternative chemo 5/05-7/05, rad 8/05-10/05
7/06 dx mets to vertebrae, pelvis & chest lymph nodes
8/06 - 10/06 tamoxifen, herceptin, oophorectomy & zometa
11/06 PET/CT showed continued bone mets, new spot on liver
12/06 began taxotere/herceptin 1x/3 weeks,
2/07 - 2-08 NED!
3/08 progression, start taxol/herceptin weekly, monthly zometa
8/08 start ai & herceptin
12/08 - progression, start weekly navelbine/herceptin thru 6/09 & monthly zometa
7/09 - PET/CT showed improvement in spine, but 2-3 lymph nodes in chest became active
9/09 - 11/09 - weekly abraxane/herceptin
12/09 - PET/CT - chest lymph nodes resolved, progression in spine & pelvis
2/10 - 6/10 - start tykerb/xeloda, progession in spine & pelvis
7/10 - start taxotere/carboplatin/herceptin
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