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Lolly · 10-26-2007, 01:24 PM

Thanks to our dear, departed Sandy Henry, I now am the proud, if somewhat stiff and sore, owner of a Power Port.

Sandy posted about these devices last year, and how they save one from additional sticks when needing high-speed contrast injections for certain scans. Since I have lymphedema in both arms now, these injections have become a REAL problem for me. I asked my new surgeon about the Power Port last month and he wasn't familiar with them, but promptly got in touch with the company, which sent a rep out to do a presentation.

I had the procedure yesterday, and am the first patient at our medical center to receive one!

Thanks, dear Sandy, and thanks Joe and Christine, for the knowledge gained here which helps us stay on top of our options.

<3 Lolly

10-26-2007, 01:24 PM	#1
Lolly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,756	I have the "Power"! (Port, that is) Thanks to our dear, departed Sandy Henry, I now am the proud, if somewhat stiff and sore, owner of a Power Port. Sandy posted about these devices last year, and how they save one from additional sticks when needing high-speed contrast injections for certain scans. Since I have lymphedema in both arms now, these injections have become a REAL problem for me. I asked my new surgeon about the Power Port last month and he wasn't familiar with them, but promptly got in touch with the company, which sent a rep out to do a presentation. I had the procedure yesterday, and am the first patient at our medical center to receive one! Thanks, dear Sandy, and thanks Joe and Christine, for the knowledge gained here which helps us stay on top of our options. <3 Lolly __________________ Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation. Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.