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04-03-2007, 12:00 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 66
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Port Question
Has anyone had to have their port replaced? I went in today to have mine checked because we have been having trouble with it and it is no longer working. The doctor and x-ray tech were actually surprised that it has been working so well for this long (I have had it in since Dec. 2004). My question is what is the procedure. Are you just given a local or do they knock you out?
Thanks for any input.
Stephanie B.
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04-03-2007, 06:42 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Hi Stephanie; I'm on my third port since 2001. In my case, they've given me an IV sedative to relax me, but it doesn't knock me out, then injections of a local till I'm good and numb. Then my surgeon just reopens the old scar line and it's out with the old and in with the new! Easy-Peasy 
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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04-04-2007, 10:59 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 66
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Thank you for the information. I really wasn't looking forward to having this done, but being on weekly treatments I definitely don't want them to have to do an IV every week
Stephanie |
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04-04-2007, 12:56 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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Lolly - what do they consider the average life of a port?
__________________
Andi
-- ------------------------
Stage IIIC, 17 of 20 Nodes +, E+, Her2+++
Diagnosed 6/30/05
Lumpectomy 7/13/05
Dose Dense A/C x 4
Weekly Taxol + Herceptin x 12
Remainder of year Herceptin Every 3 weeks (completes 9/13/06)
Radiation completed 2/28/06
Currently on Tamoxifen
Dec 06 - Pleural effusion treated with pleurodesis
Now er/pr-, her2++
1/07 started weekly Navelbine plus Herceptin
Discontinued Tamoxifen
4/27/07 CTshowed progression
5/01/07 Began Tykerb/Xeloda + Zometa
5/22/07 Stopped treatment due to great progression
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04-04-2007, 01:57 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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You know what? My surgeon told me not to be surprised if my port lasted 5 - 6 years. And then he said I'd better not need it that long - he expected me to get well! But I was put to sleep when he did mine. I've had it 14 months. You know what? I don't want to think about doing it again, but I would if necessary. I am sooooooooo glad to have a port! the treatment rooms nurses told me if I want to keep it after June when there is no planned treatment, just to come in once a month to have it flushed. Would you keep it and for how long? I was thinking at least 6 months. Is that lack of faith or wise? ma
__________________
MA in TX.
Grateful for each and every day....
Diag. 12/05 at age 60
Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor
ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive
Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified
vascular invasion
Ki67 20% borderline
Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew
April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive
April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense)
Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense)
Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007
Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year.
Port removed August, 2012.
8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!
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04-04-2007, 03:03 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 212
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I've had my port in since the end of 2001--I had my last Herceptin treatment in March 2003 and have kept my port in ever since, partly because it's so convenient for blood draws and partly out of superstition, but I'm finally getting it out in May. It never gave me any problems, but my onc. and I agreed to schedule the removal, since having a port still presents a small risk of infection and it's not worth it to use just for occasional blood tests. Looking forward to summer clothes without the port sticking out under tanks, etc. Glad to hear the procedure isn't too bad...
__________________
Audrey
diagnosed July 2001, at age 36
large tumor, 11+ nodes
Stage IIIb, er/pr-, Her2+
treated with A/C, weekly Taxol
radiation, + year of Herceptin
on clinical trial. double mastectomy
followed by reconstruction
NED!!
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