[tousled1]

Chelee,

When I have blood drawn at the oncologist's office they always use my port. I get Herceptin every three weeks and therefore they draw blood every three weeks. My red blood count still continues to drop so I still get Procrit shots. When I go to my primary care provider and they draw blood they use my left arm and I have had no problems. Also when I had my bilateral mastectomy they used my port for the anesthesia since they couldn't use either arm. It was use the port or use one of my legs. I also have blood pressure taken on the left arm. If I'm correct the surgeon will at least check one node for cancer. As to which surgery you should have first, I can't answer. If it were me I'd ask if I couldn't have both at the same time. I don't like going under general anesthesia so that's why I'd ask for both