Chemo & porta-cath

[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

[SusanV]

Louise,


I had my first chemo in the vein, and the port placement was done the following week. Like you it was just a scheduling problem for them to do it any other way. I really agree with what some of the others have said. I just had my 4th A/C yesterday, and here I am at work today really feeling fine. By Friday and Saturday I start to feel a little yucky, but recover by laying around over the weekend. For me like some of the others the pre-meds and the antinausa meds that I take for 3 days after the chemo keep me feeling pretty descent. I really think you will be fine to get the port done the next day. My port procedure took about an hour, and I was awake for the entire procedure...no pain though during the procedure or after it was over..just took a little getting used to, but now I don't the port a second thought until it's time to use it. Also remember, if for some reason you are not up to it the next day, call and reschedule. I assume you may be getting your chemo every three weeks??? That would give you a window of time to reschedule before you needed your next chemo..Just a thought !

GOOD LUCK TO YOU..You are going to do just fine !

[ekoen]

You can't predict how chemo will affect you. Depends on which chemo drugs, how much, your own body chemistry. I had port put in a week after first chemo. It was ok.

I had a VERY strong reaction to first chemo within 4 hours, despite all anti nausea meds, an operation the day after would have really demoralized me.

I like the advice to call your onc and try to delay the first chemo until a few days after the port placement OR delay the port placement a few days.

-Esti