Port and MUGA question

[tdonnelly]

Hi Dana,
If you have a PowerPort it can be used for all procedures. All 3 of my Muga Scans were done using my Port.
Tamara
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma HER2+

[TriciaK]

My expereince with ports, for what its worth:I started out 4 years ago with a regular port, and it was a Godsend, except they couldn't use it for CT/PET scans. When it quit working a month or so ago I was afraid they wouldn't give me another port, but my oncologist ordered a power port put in. I just had a PET scan and they used my new power port, which really made me happy because I have only 1 small vein that can sometimes work. The EMT's discovered it and I try to save it for them, especially now that I have a power port. If you absolutely insist, hospitals, etc. will use the port. Some don't want to bother, but insist anyway. My ef went down to 30 just before my triple bypass, and stayed that low for over a year. I had cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure, but after two years on coregcr and diovan, the cardiomyopathy is much better and my ef is 50. Hang in there! Hugs, Tricia

[Barbara H.]

Hi Dana,
Tricia is right. The techs often prefer not to deal with the ports. I am treated at the Dana Farber which has very hight ratings for a cancer treatment center. They have absolutely no problem using my regular port for mugas. They clean the port later with saline and heparin so I am not worried about the radioactive isotope or what they use staying in the port. Neverthelesss, they will not use my port for CT scans because there is a danger of the contrast plugging the port.

When I had to go to the hospital for my brain surgeries I stopped by the infusion center and had my port accessed. They still needed to use a vein but put in the needle after I was asleep.

Best wishes,
Barbara H.