To port, or not to port?

[Luck2U]

Lolly, thank you for the feedback. My wife has decided the port is the best way to go, especially since they confirmed today through the FISH test she is HER/2 +, and therefore will be receiving Herceptin for 1 yr. Given the apparent size of her tumor (6cm), both the onc and the surgeon think 8 treatments upfront will most likely shrink the tumor, and in 20% of the cases the tumor dissapears. If the surgery is then needed, she should get a better cosmetic result, assuming of course, there has been some reduction in the tumor size. I didn't think to ask if after the 8 treatments (the extra 4, per the onc, are becuase they dont know the node involvement without surgery, so they assume the worst and give the same treatment as if the nodes were involved) and surgery, they find the nodes are involved, what happens then? Different kettle of fish, I suspect.

[Luck2U]

Bubbles Mom, thank you for the encouragement. She has decided to go with the port. The best to you and yours.

[al from Canada]

Port + neo-adjuvant chemo is the way to go on large tumors. The tumor down-sizing will most likely put your wife in the position of opting for a lumpectomy, which has the same survival rate in this case as a mastecomy. The port will give her added convenience for infusions. My wife puts a lidocaine gel on the port 1 hour before infusion; this makes the process painless.


Good luck,
Al

[Luck2U]

Thank you Al, I'll tell my wife about the jell angle.

[jjfromcanada]

I love my port. The skin covering it is a bit tender the day or so following use, but after having my veins trashed, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Remember she will only have one arm to use for chemo and blood collection. I walk and jog a bit so I cover it with a bandage to protect it from my bra strap abraiding the skin.

[sonyamagee]

the nurses spray my port sight with a numbing spray before they start my chemo. i would have your wife ask about this. i feel nothing when they begin the chemo. the lidocaine sounds good too but she should know all of the options.

My veins are hard to tap into. The port is the only way to go, in my opinion. Accessing it is easy; only feel a slight "prick." Much less of a sensation than a shot. Good luck to you.
Barbara2