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06-11-2008, 05:41 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 368
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I got my port out
It's a new start, and now I feel I can start to move past having BC, even if it's for a little while.
I just wanted to note that my breast surgeon would not remove the port in his office. He set me up for removal in the O.R., and I'm glad he did.
I was offered the choice of being put under or using a local. I let him decide, since I didn't know how how hard it would be. We did use a local, although about halfway through, I was wishing for sedation.
My port had been in place for a year and a half, and tissue had really grown into and around it.
It was a hard removal and yes, it hurt.
After I came home, and the local wore off, it really hurt, and doc didn't give me any pain meds.
Thank goodness I had a few left from treatment.
But I did sleep better than expected and it's better today. I did realize that I had to wear my bra, to keep the breast from pulling on the incision.
That helps a lot.
I have to say that when you're in there, getting your port removed, you do have second thoughts on whether you're doing the right thing. What if I need one again? Right now, the last thing I want to think about is having any more surgery.
__________________
12/12/06- IDC Stage III, 4x A/C, 35 rads, Herceptin 1 year
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06-11-2008, 10:27 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Dear Brenda -
Now you can say you are OFFICIALLY done with breast cancer adjuvent treatment.
But I can't believe your doctor did not offer something for pain. What do they think we had in there, a bee sting!!??
Getting the port out has the psychological effect for some people that they can more easily move on. Thay are able to dwell less on what they have just experienced over the previous year or more.
If you had kept the port it would have to be maintained by getting it flushed and heparinized every month or so to keep the line from clotting.
__________________
"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.
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06-12-2008, 07:14 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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Brenda,
Congratulations! I remember what a relief it was to have my port out -- after three years.
The surgeon who put it in at the hospital gave me the option of taking it out in his office under local anesthesia, but I opted for the hospital and to be put under.
I was kind of surprised that he could have taken out the port in his office.
Joan
__________________
Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!
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06-12-2008, 08:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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Congratulations! I was so happy to have mine out so I'm sure you'll be doing a happy dance.
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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