question on ports

MCS · 01-19-2006, 10:39 AM

I am most likely to get a port for weekly herceptin.

If I am swtiched to every three weeks herceptin, do I have to have it cleaned or flushed every week?

If I don't have to have it flushed every week, does it hurt when it is tapped for the treatment? I'm so wimpy, right?

Does it ever come out, or do I live with it because of the possibility of future need?

Thank you all,

MCS ( Maria)

RhondaH · 01-19-2006, 10:48 AM

it only feels like a prick going in (though some people like it numbed prior). You don't have to have it flushed every week, they will do it when you have your Herceptin every three weeks and no, you do not need to keep it forever (though some people do...just in case, though I am planning on having it removed when I am done w/ Herceptin in Aug). You'll do fine. Take care and God bless.

Rhonda

Maryanne · 01-19-2006, 01:51 PM

Maria,

to add to Rhonda's post I use the numbing cream, as I hate needles and a very bib baby about somethings!....why suffer if you dont have to. The cream is prescription....Lidocaine and Prilocaine,2.5%/2.5% Make sure you put it on at least an 2 hours prior to treatment. I do not feel the needle going in or coming out. The treatment nurse accessses the port and will flush it prior and after treatment...all you see is what looks like a dime under your skin.

Take care,
Maryanne

TriciaK · 01-19-2006, 02:52 PM

I only get zometa every four weeks now, no herceptin, so I go in a day or two before for a blood test and they flush the port then, once a month. I have the numbing spray used each time, but I probably don't need it because I feel almost nothing. A port is so wonderful for me after the horrors I have gone through as they tried to find veins prior to the port. I hope I never have to have it taken out! I have only one usable vein (if they can find it) that I save for the EMT's if I ever need it. In fact they are the ones who located it on the top center of my right arm. I will tolerate its use by the EMT's but once I get to the hospital I will not let the nurses use anything but the port. I'm normally very easy to get along with, but I do get absolutely adamant when it comes to drawing blood or IV's: use the port or I will get dressed and go home! (Ha!) I think most people who have a port feel it is absolutely the right thing to do, unless you have extraordinarily good & cooperative veins! They talked about putting in a pick line for me in the hospital, but my oncologist insisted on the port, and I am so glad. Hope you have good luck with one, too! Hugs, Tricia

Maggie · 01-19-2006, 02:57 PM

Maria, I use the same numbing cream, too! I've never felt a thing. Most don't use anything. I put it on an hour before we leave home and it's covered with Saran Wrap and sealed with tape, till they take it off. They will flush it for you when you have your treatment. They put a double port in me. We are all a little anxious before we start something new, but it hasn't been a problem at all.

You'll do just fine!
Maggie

Bev · 01-19-2006, 09:21 PM

My Dr.'s office isn't real keen on using the numbing agent (Emla) so I've done without. The pain from the prick is comparable to cbc from the arm, maybe a hair more intense. Sometimes it stings more than others, depending on the nurse. It seems to bother me less with each visit.

The implant surgery is pretty easy. I woke up during the surgery because my neck was stiff, but I felt really calm.

The port bothers me because I sleep on my stomach. I don't think it's very attractive either.

I have many large veins, so if I had only herceptin to do I might have refused the port. The Docs convinced me to get one by telling me how caustic the AC and taxol are. I'm planning to get mine out after finishing Herceptin, maybe before if I need any other unrelated surgery.

Good Luck, Bev

DeborahNC · 01-20-2006, 08:29 AM

A further question...has anyone had a glob of white plaque (?) or something show up in the syringe during a blood draw from your port? I had this yesterday and the onc nurse said it was nothing to worry about, yet I'm worried. It was fairly large and I can't imagine what would happen if it were released into my veins.

I don't use any numbing cream and plan to get mine removed next year after Herceptin is finished.

Kim in CA · 01-20-2006, 12:17 PM

I've had my port since Oct. 2001. I will probably never have it removed because I am still receiving Herceptin every 3 weeks. They used to give me Lidocaine before they accessed my port. Then when I was at UCSF in 2002 for my liver resection, none of the nurses there used it, and to my surprise I didn't feel anything. I actually think there is more discomfort when they use the lidocaine, as there was always a burning sensation when it was administered.

Just wanted to add that in the last year we have started using a finer gauge needle when accessing my port(22 gauge). After having it for over 4 years, my skin has gotten very thin and the whole port is really protruding. We are trying to preserve my skin as long as possible, so I don't have to have my port relocated any sooner than necessary. We still have to use the bigger needles when I have my large blood draws for the vaccine trial, otherwise it is impossible to get that much blood.

In answer to the question of the white glob in your blood. I too noticed this once when they were doing one of those BIG blood draws, and asked what it was. The nurse told me it was the fat in my blood all binding together. I laughed and told her I didn't realize they were doing liposuction too !

She told me a story of a man who came in regularly for blood draws. Evidently he always went to McDonalds before he came in for treatment and had a huge meal. She said he had the biggest globs of fat in his blood that she had ever seen. It is amazing how fast it gets into your blood stream. I guess that's why they always want you to fast when they are checking your cholesterol level. Anyway, it really gave me motivation to monitor my fat intake!

Always learning, Kim in CA

StephN · 01-20-2006, 12:40 PM

Been having my port used for over 5 years now. Not until recently did I see the white mass in the "waste" tube, which is the first blood they get when they access. One time they could not get my port to work and I was scheduled to come in 2 days later to get the TPA to unplug it. Low and behold, the blood came flowing just fine that day and I had my treatment without getting the TPA.
I might have worried with the presence of the fatty stuff, but I just had a lipid profile and my cholesterol levels are quite low enough!

My port is set rather deep and lower than usual. This was at my request as I had a feeling I would be needing it! I have a small permanent bruise ove the top of it now, but not too much scar tissue, so still very usable.

chrislmelb · 01-20-2006, 03:57 PM

Best thing i ever did. so much easier than looking for those evasive viens. I use Emla cream b4 i go but i have only used it four times. If you are 'wimpy' I suggest you get some to lessen the insertion pain. I also have it flushed after herceptin and not in between.
Take care
Christine

sfernando · 01-20-2006, 05:56 PM

I've had my port since May 05, used weekly or more with no problems. I use the lidocaine cream and found that the recommended 45 minutes should be doubled. One and a half hours works well for me. Once I waited around for over 3 hours with the cream applied, and boy did I not feel a thing that time.

Never have I seen any white fat globs, but one time, suction in the port prevented a blood draw. The nurse had me take a couple deep breaths to release the suction via the chest movement, then all was fine.

It takes about a month for the port area to toughen up, so if you are going right from surgery to the chemo room, you can ask the surgeon to leave it accessed, and the chemo nurses will take care of everything. In fact, you can leave it accessed overnight, or even longer, but personally, I'd rather get stuck again the next day.

Lolly · 01-20-2006, 10:19 PM

Gosh, this is interesting about the fat globules! I wonder if that's why sometimes my draw is so slow to start and then suddenly will start a gusher! I'll have to ask my nurses if they've ever noticed the fatty stuff. I do watch my diet, but am overweight so it's a thought.

Anyway, I digress. I love my port, have had one going on 5 years now. It does stick out a bit, mine is about the size of a quarter. I rarely get any numbing agents, it just doesn't hurt that much. If a nurse happens to bring some along I let them use it, more for them than me as I think they feel better if they know for sure they're not hurting me!

<3 Lolly

MCS · 01-25-2006, 11:12 AM

THANK YOU ALL

YOU ARE THE TOPS, THE BEST!

MCS (Maria)

kimbob4 · 01-25-2006, 02:41 PM

I'm with you, I love my port too. I've had it for more than two years now. EMLA cream is wonderful too. I never feel the needle. (and I HATE, HATE, HATE needles!)

Kim (also in CA)

Lyn · 01-26-2006, 07:32 AM

I have had my port for over 5 years now, apparently the life span of them is supposed to be 5 years, they are usually made of titanium so they don't set off metal detectors and safe for MRI's. They can't be used for nuclear scans where they put the dye in because they can blow them apart then they have to find the bits in your system, I was bummed out when I heard that, I thought yippee no more canulas but no so, but mine has always worked well and flushed back beautifully, mine also protrudes out of my chest and the skin over it is very thin, not a pretty site, the nurse just says a bit of pressure and it is in, I have one who insists on inserting the line in a different spot, apparently so as not wear the other out, news for her, she does hurt so I tell her to put it in the usual spot. Usual procedure is if they are not accessed regularly then have it flushed once a month so the vein doesn't get blocked. The other problem is the chemo nurses don't like anyone else accessing the port because sometimes bacteria may be on the surface if they are not careful and it then gets into your blood stream so you will feel unwell pretty quickly, nothing a course of anti-biotics won't fix but it is scary watching someone go through this, it frightened my other half that much when it happend to a patient that he won't go with me anymore, typical male, apologies to our male family here on the board but lets face it men are from mars.

Love & Hugs Lyn

Esther · 01-26-2006, 12:03 PM

With my primary BC diagnosis I had a port installed in my chest. I hated the location. It stuck out like a small tumor.

This time around I have a port installed in the inner part of my right arm. You can't even see it because it faces my inner body. I haven't had any problems with it at all, I've had for 2 years now.