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Chelee · 06-17-2006, 07:33 PM

I think you will be quite pleased that you got your port. I know I was totally against the idea. I was so overwhelmed when I was first DX that I didn't want to hear about putting a port in. But in fairness to my nurses...I ONLY had one arm like many do to access for lab work and chemo. (Since I had the SNB in the other arm.) That one is off limits.

So I had just the left arm and I must admit..after the first infusion it didn't look like I would last long. My infusion nurse very nicely insisted pretty much I consider getting a port...she said I would be glad I did and it would make things so much easier.

Long story short (I hope) it did make things so much easier its not funny. I was against one in my chest due to other problems I have. But they said that was no problem as they put them in the arms all the time. So I have one placed in my upper left arm and so far so good. Its been there since the end of Feb. 06 and I haven't had ANY problems with it at all. (Knock wood) Well..Once it did get a little red and warm to touch like it was going to get an infection in it. But with some antibiotics...the redness went away and all was fine.

But I must say...it is nice to just go into see my infusion nurse...have her hook up to my port...draw my labs....get the results and once I get the ok...they just hook up the chemo and away we go. It saves to much time and TROUBLE.

There is nothing worse then to HAVE to go to chemo...only to have to sit there forever while they TRY to find a good vein. (Not their fault.) But it is time consuming and quite frustrating. Then if they can't get one...your out of luck. You will be so glad you got "Peonie". I think its cute you named yours.

I am glad it went well...at least you won't have to go through all that hassle again or having your chemo stopped due to not being able to find a vein. I know my chemo nurse was SO HAPPY when I came in with my port. Did you get yours in the upper chest like most people do...or your arm? Glad it all went so well.

Chelee

06-17-2006, 07:33 PM	#4
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	I think you will be quite pleased that you got your port. I know I was totally against the idea. I was so overwhelmed when I was first DX that I didn't want to hear about putting a port in. But in fairness to my nurses...I ONLY had one arm like many do to access for lab work and chemo. (Since I had the SNB in the other arm.) That one is off limits. So I had just the left arm and I must admit..after the first infusion it didn't look like I would last long. My infusion nurse very nicely insisted pretty much I consider getting a port...she said I would be glad I did and it would make things so much easier. Long story short (I hope) it did make things so much easier its not funny. I was against one in my chest due to other problems I have. But they said that was no problem as they put them in the arms all the time. So I have one placed in my upper left arm and so far so good. Its been there since the end of Feb. 06 and I haven't had ANY problems with it at all. (Knock wood) Well..Once it did get a little red and warm to touch like it was going to get an infection in it. But with some antibiotics...the redness went away and all was fine. But I must say...it is nice to just go into see my infusion nurse...have her hook up to my port...draw my labs....get the results and once I get the ok...they just hook up the chemo and away we go. It saves to much time and TROUBLE. There is nothing worse then to HAVE to go to chemo...only to have to sit there forever while they TRY to find a good vein. (Not their fault.) But it is time consuming and quite frustrating. Then if they can't get one...your out of luck. You will be so glad you got "Peonie". I think its cute you named yours. I am glad it went well...at least you won't have to go through all that hassle again or having your chemo stopped due to not being able to find a vein. I know my chemo nurse was SO HAPPY when I came in with my port. Did you get yours in the upper chest like most people do...or your arm? Glad it all went so well. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.