I'm considering having my port removed. I can always have another placed if needed, right?
Update,
ago
Well darn. Went for flush and psa draw and they couldn't draw any blood. They said they can still administer meds, but the blood had to be drawn from my arm. Planning on calling surgeon on Monday.
I had Provenge treatment. Since my veins were too small, I needed a dialysis port. I doubt they are the same thing. I would check with your doctor.
They tell me that's true. I resisted getting on (in my mind only) but now that I have it and am looking at my last chemo treatment (for now) at the end of December, I'm feeling somewhat attached to it! It's pretty convenient for all those blood draws and scans and I wonder if I got it out how long it would be until I need one again! Let us know what you decide!
Zometa or Xgeva infusions, Keytruda, future chemo, plus blood draws, IVs, etc.
I just finished chemo for breast cancer and I love my port. I hope my doc forgets about it and I can just keep it forever.
My husband will always have his.
Hello, I needed to get a port for my chemo. September 2021. (My veins became infected on the first infusion.). I was very glad that I had the port put in and wanted to keep it in. But then I had trouble with infection around my port, so it needed to come out. Jan 2022 it came out. (I was a little disappointed) But so far I have not missed it and feel better. Another thing I found, is that some places I went for different lab work etc.,there were not always people certified to use the port. I would have probably kept it in longer if I could have, just because. If that makes sense. This is just my experience,. Everyone is different. Thanks.
Keith
I had 18 infusions of chemotherapy in 24 weeks during 2004. Nine were infusions on a 24 hour pump. I asked about using the port to draw blood on my weekly draws. The answer was a resounding, No!
Port-a-caths are used to administered chemotherapy and antibiotics, etc,
Reasons given were possibilities of infection and dilution. Understand that port must be cleaned before and after every infusion with at least 5cc of saline or one will suffer an infection or dried blood blockage.
Always an RN; and never a LVN or Phlebotomist. They are simply not trained.
Perhaps Baylor College of Medicine and Methodist Hospital and McGovern Medical School and Hermann Memorial Hospital have different protocols However, I do not recall one instance of infection during my time nor afterwards
Good luck by the way, I had my port for 30 weeks when it was taken out Good luck and heal well
Gourd Dancer
Husband finished chemo April 2022 and still has port. They use it to draw blood for monthly oncologist visits and then to flush it at the same time. His PSA is still dropping which is possibly why doc wants to check it monthly. He also gets Eligard monthly. At some point having monthly visits might be too much, but we are comfortable with it for now. The port is convenient and doesn't bother him.
Thanks for all your responses. Only the infusion center is using it for psa checks and flushing. Other facilities require my oncologist prescription to use it, or don't have trained staff. I am planning on relocating across country in the spring and don't know if it would be advantageous to keep it. With my reckless life style, I worry about injury.
Potential source or site (from bacteremia) of infection. If not being used for necessary infusions or needed for critical blood draws where no other reasonable alternative then removal would be appropriate.
Well darn. Went for flush and psa draw and they couldn't draw any blood. They said they can still administer meds, but the blood had to be drawn from my arm. Planning on calling surgeon on Monday.
So far, I have found the port is not useful outside of the Oncology infusion center. Nobody else seems to want to touch it and they tell me things like they don't know my specific port, they aren't trained, or don't want to "mess it up" for Oncology. They also have to have the right equipment to use it.
I was wondering if they will do Pluvicto through the port. So far, I haven't gotten any answers. Anyone know?
I called the surgeons office and spoke to his assistant. She says a lot of times, this occurs and it should not worry me that they can not draw blood-that this is not it's intended use. I told her that blood draws is all I have been using it for and at this time there does not seem to be a cause to keep it for other use. I'm thinking for instance, if Provenge was ever needed, it wouldn't be of any use. I told her I wanted to schedule to have it removed and she said I needed my MO to order this. He is on vacation until January. Blood draws are not it's intended use?
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