Is a port a neccessity?

Erin · 02-12-2007, 08:48 AM

Hello Everyone,

Well chemo starts tomorrow (6 rounds of Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin, with Herceptin to continue for 1 year). Not sleeping very well, bought my wig and some hats over the weekend...that was another surreal moment. Starting chemo feels like the real beginning of this....surgery was so quick and really not difficult that it didn't bring home the gravity of the situation like this is.

Here are my questioins: I hear a lot about ports...it seems that everyone gets one. My onc says he will try to use my veins to start, but if they collapse I will need a port. How likely is it that I will get through all 6 rounds without needing a port? Seems like everyone gets one. If I continue to do IV to the veins, will it cause permanent damage, as I have heard? If I am going to get a port anyway, shouldn't we start with it?

Ladies, what do you think?

Thanks for your help :-)

atdec05 · 02-12-2007, 09:01 AM

Hi Erin,

The port can be mutually convenient for you and the nurses. Is it hard to find veins? Do you mind needles? Will you be getting weekly Herceptin? Those are all good reasons to have a port, not only for treatment but also for blood work.

I had a port as well because I was getting Adriamycin, which can damage your veins and skin if it leaks out. With a port the likelihood of leakage is greatly reduced.

As your onc. noted, if veins are accessed alot, they can get damaged. I'm surprised they don't recommend a port to begin with. Some women don't like the feeling of a port, especially if you're thin. I was very concious of my port for the first few weeks, but I'm glad I have one.

- Anna

suzan w · 02-12-2007, 09:42 AM

I don't have "great" veins! For some reason the thought of a port always bothered me-a friend had one years ago and had all kinds of problems with it. Everyone thought I should have one, but I went ahead with the "let's try it and see" attitude. I had 4 rounds of A/C (had to stop for complications) and then a year of Herceptin, every 3 weeks...along with 4MUGA scans,bone scans, blood work every visit...and numerous other pokes. There was one nurse who could find a vein every time...and I requested her! There were some times when it took a few tries but I have made it so far with no port! It is an individual decision and I think I am probably in the minority!!! Good luck!

KellyA · 02-12-2007, 09:56 AM

Hi Erin,

I would strongly recommend a port if you are going to be getting herceptin for a year. It really does help out alot and is not a big deal at all to get. I had a friend tell me about a kind that goes on the inside of your upper arm ( they called it a passport) and I think it is WONDERFUL! Only I know that it is there- it is really hidden. Anyways, they really do help make things so much easier.

Love, Kelly

MJo · 02-12-2007, 12:13 PM

I had 3 dose dense A/Cs, 4 taxols and Herceptin every three weeks for nine months without a port. My veins on my left hand got pretty beat up, especially when you add the needles for Muga and other tests. On the other hand I skipped the outpatient surgery to insert and remove port. If your veins are tiny, there's no question. If your veins are big enough, it's up to you.

janet11 · 02-12-2007, 01:40 PM

Amazing to think that they didn't SUGGEST a port right off. I was on TCH too: So for 18 weeks, you'll get TCH every 3 weeks AND Herceptin EVERY week. Then you'll go to Herceptin every 3 weeks. That's a LOT of vein sticks!

I've been SO glad I've had my port! Not only because I have hard-to-stick veins, but the thought of getting an IV every single week for months when there is an almost painless alternative.... Yuck.

But good luck with what you decide to do. One consideration: what if they get a few cycles into chemo and THEN want to do the port. I found that I was a lot slower healing from stuff while on chemo. I was very happy that I had the port installed a week before I started chemo. I was MUCH more comfortable.

chrislmelb · 02-13-2007, 01:15 AM

get a port!! they are great.
Christine

naturaleigh · 02-13-2007, 02:43 PM

I am so glad that I have a port, I worry constantly about my veins. I am in SC and here, they will not use my port to take blood. If your onc office does like mine, they take blood everytime I have treatment, which is once a week for me now that I am on Herceptin. They take blood out of my vein and give me chemo through my port. If I did not have my port, they would have had to stick my vein twice (for blood and chemo) instead of just once. I had my port put in Dec 05 and have had no problems with it. I just heard they have come out with a new and improved port where they can draw blood from it. If your onc has heard of this one, it would be 0 sticks to your veins. I would be all over that idea!!

Good Luck, everything will work our fine. You will find out that you are so much stronger than you ever imagined you could be.

mts · 02-14-2007, 07:57 AM

I cried when I was told that I needed a port. My first thought was that only really sick people get ports... Well, after my first chemo infusion, I was soooo glad I had it.

I had a pediatric port placed in the upper chest area. I did not have that "bump" one gets with the larger ports. I just had it removed last month,(YEAH!). The scar barely shows. Most of all- it was hugely convenient for the chemo and my year of Herceptin. Really glad I had it!

Maria (MTS)

Andi · 02-14-2007, 09:20 AM

I did my DD A/C, my 12 weekly Taxol & Herceptins and the remainder of the year Herceptin every three weeks without a port. There were times it was very trying to either draw blood or give my infusion, but they always succeeded. When I had my recurrence, I was going to have weekly infusions and blood draws and decided to have a port put in, as by time I had my surgury and all the tests my right arm was shot and it took them 5 tries to get the iv put in for a CT scan. They are able to draw blood from my port as well as give chemo. I am very happy with it and am glad I had it put in, however, if I would not have needed this last round of chemo, I would have been satisified without it.