Chemo & porta-cath

[lindyjo]

Louise,

I don't think you need to worry about having the port put in the day after chemo. When I finally decided to get a port I had already had 2 or 3 chemo treatments and the day I had the port put in, I had chemo an hour or so later. The idea of the port really creeped me out at first, but I am very glad I did it. Get Emla cream to apply to your port before your treatments. That way you don't feel the poke when they access the port. You just smear some on about an hour before and I covered it with Press -n- Seal wrap. Don't worry, you'll be fine. Lindyjo

[Mary Anne in TX]

Peace of mind is important too!
I had my port put in on a Friday and started chemo on Tuesday. Worked well for me.
Talk to your Onc. and see what he will do to work with you.
I was good the next day with Adriamycin/Taxotere and with Taxol, Carboplatin/Herceptin but with Navelbine/Herceptin the next day is headache day for me. Then all is fine.
Whatever you decide, find a way to find peace of mind about it for you.
I had people pray like crazy for me for one treatment (after a really scary reaction to Taxol) and it worked like magic. I was at peace and everything went fine. Thank the lord for prayer warriors!
Best wishes for a smooth journey.
MA

[Louise O'Brien]

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place and have no options.
They can't move the porto-cath insertion up - and they don't want to delay chemo. The two procedures are done in two different locations. The porto-cath is done at one hospital; the chemo at a regional cancer centre. The oncologist has no influence over that hospital's schedule - it's a different administration.

So the best they can do is to delay the porto-cath for one week which means I'll be having my first chemo through a vein - and the porto-cath insertion will take place eight days later. I hope I'll be ok.

[Sandy H]

Iwould not worry about it. This all sounds o.k. to me. I had chemo before surgery and a while after surgery before I had a port. When I did have a port I had it in the morning and went right to oncology and got chemo. I was told they like to do it that way to make sure the port is working. I went to the O.R. and was asleep when mine was done in the upper chest. I had a choice to be awake or asleep and I chose asleep. It is a minor procedure. Wishing you well. Let us know how you make out. Most of the time we are our own worst enemy for worrying but that is our nature. hugs, Sandy

[Bev]

Louise, if your onc is OK with it and it appears others have done it, you will be just fine. I did run into a study that the conclusion was you could delay chemo for up to 12 weeks after surgery and still have an equivalent rate of disease free survival.

I was really resisting the port so perhaps that's why they brought up the caustic argument.

If your veins are hard to access I would say chemo should wait. If not, it's up to you. You could look at it as getting a jump start on things.

I still see no reason though why they can't delay the chemo for a day or two after the port insert. I woke up chatty during the insert, so they gave me more drugs and it took longer for me to wake up after the anesthesia.

I wasn't sick from chemo. Just groggy and not well. Either way, you'll be fine. It's a personal choice. I'm sure you're on pins and needles. Search for what you wan't done, in your mind, then ask for it. I think if you tell your onc you wan't to delay 1 week, they'll say fine.

No right or wrong answer, just what makes you feel comfortable. Good luck. BB

[Mary Anne in TX]

I'm praying and believing that you will not only be ok but great! I have very hard veins to find also, but when I went to the hospital to get the port, I told them and they sent "the best" vein finder and it went just great!

God has a way of joining us in the hard times!
Best wishes,
ma

[kim]

If you are worried about it why don't you check and see if you can start chemo after.
I started chemo the day after I had my port placed. I was even told I could start the same day and they would have left me accessed from the hospital.
I am glad I had a port to start chemo, but I have really terrible veins. Also, for me the chemo hit me the day I started, I am not sure I would have wanted to try and do surgery the next day.

Good luck!
Kim