HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Possible clot above port site, and CT scan after rads

StephN · 08-05-2007, 12:29 PM

Hello Branda -
"Large lump at base of neck" is strange. Sounds more like a node to me then from a clot.

Have they talked about a dye study? This is the most effective way to see why your port won't draw.
At my cancer center if a port will not draw, they don't want to use it any more. My first one got to the point where it would flush and infuse but not draw.

I had a new port put in last Aug and that has clotted, but not at the tip. Rather along the sides of the catheter. This was very hard to see on the Doppler, which was the first test I had in searching out my problem. The Doppler was inconclusive and the tech was very thorough in the exam and went beyond the immediate left upper chest/shoulder area and down my arm.

The test that DID show the clotting area was called a CT Venogram. So just letting you know that you may need more than one test to find your problem. Good luck!

P.S. My staples show up as a neat little circle where I had my lumpectomy. A series of short thin lines.

08-05-2007, 12:29 PM	#5
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	different tests Hello Branda - "Large lump at base of neck" is strange. Sounds more like a node to me then from a clot. Have they talked about a dye study? This is the most effective way to see why your port won't draw. At my cancer center if a port will not draw, they don't want to use it any more. My first one got to the point where it would flush and infuse but not draw. I had a new port put in last Aug and that has clotted, but not at the tip. Rather along the sides of the catheter. This was very hard to see on the Doppler, which was the first test I had in searching out my problem. The Doppler was inconclusive and the tech was very thorough in the exam and went beyond the immediate left upper chest/shoulder area and down my arm. The test that DID show the clotting area was called a CT Venogram. So just letting you know that you may need more than one test to find your problem. Good luck! P.S. My staples show up as a neat little circle where I had my lumpectomy. A series of short thin lines. __________________ "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.