Portal

[Blueribbon63]

Hello, I am about to start chemotherapy, they at the hospital want to place a portal on me. I am debating and don't know if it is strictly necessary to get one or not. Your input is greatly appreciated.

[pjd55d]

having a port - or portal - is usual for chemo

I had one - when they took it out, I retrieved it and made a piece of art out of it - kind of cool - kind of " in your face, Mr Cancer "

[Mike1971]

I had no real troubles with it. Had to get it flushed and cleaned by a nurse weekly and couldn’t swim in the pool, but other than that no issues.

[TeleGuy in reply to Mike1971]

Did you have a port or a PICC line? Once the skin has healed, pools and hot tubs are fine with a port. Just has to be flushed once a month.

[Blueribbon63 in reply to TeleGuy]

None yet, but I know is coming soon. Will discuss with MO in my next appointment in a couple of weeks. Thanks for replying.

[Mike1971 in reply to TeleGuy]

Ah. I didn’t know there different types. I had a PICC line. By the sound of it I would’ve preferred a port as showering with the picc line was a little bit of a hassle.

[NDJIM]

It makes getting Chemo so much easier and my Doc says that it protects your veins. The surgery isn’t bad at all and the thing can be removed at some point in time. They also use mine for blood draws, so I’m a huge fan. Everyone to their own though. Happy Thanksgiving and good luck with everything.

[dk73]

my husband has had chemo 3 different years. The port is the way to go. In arm IVs caused him so much “burn”. Plus they can access the port for other things along the way - blood draws and even blood transfusions (my hubby needed 2 recently).

[TeleGuy]

I was really depressed coming to the conclusion that I needed to get a port for chemo. Now I’ve had it for more than two years, and I love having it because anything that needs to be IV is easy and painless. Go for it!

[NDJIM in reply to TeleGuy]

The thought of getting a port scared the crap out of me, but I’m glad that I did. I have smaller veins that “crawl” and even a blood draw was a very painful event. Now, anything that needs access to a vein is a snap and pretty much painless. Everybody is different and perhaps visiting with the implant team and/or your Onc will assist you in making your decision. No right or wrong answer. It’s what fits you and your set of circumstances best.

[Seasid]

I'm sorry to hear you're facing this situation, but it's great you're being proactive in understanding your options. Let me explain a bit about what a chemotherapy port (also called a port-a-cath) is and its benefits, so you can make an informed decision.

What is a Port?

A chemotherapy port is a small, implantable device placed under the skin, usually in the chest. It's connected to a vein via a catheter and provides easy, long-term access to your bloodstream.

Why Do Hospitals Recommend a Port?

1. Frequent Access: Chemotherapy often requires repeated intravenous treatments. A port makes it easier to administer medications without repeatedly puncturing your veins.

2. Protects Veins: Chemotherapy drugs can be harsh and may damage veins over time. A port reduces the risk of this by delivering the drugs directly into a larger vein where they’re quickly diluted.

3. Less Pain: If you have small or difficult-to-access veins, a port can make the process much more comfortable.

4. Convenience: Blood draws and other infusions (like hydration or antibiotics) can also be done through the port.

Downsides to Consider:

Surgical Placement: A minor procedure is required to insert the port.

Maintenance: The port must be flushed regularly (usually once a month) to keep it functional.

Infection Risk: While rare, there is a small risk of infection or complications at the port site.

Comfort: Some people find the port uncomfortable or notice it under the skin.

Is it Necessary?

The necessity depends on:

Your Treatment Plan: If you’ll have many chemotherapy sessions or additional treatments like blood draws or IV fluids, a port is usually very beneficial.

Your Vein Quality: If your veins are hard to access or fragile, a port is highly recommended.

Your Preferences: If you’re comfortable with frequent needle sticks and have good veins, you might opt to forego the port.

How to Decide:

Discuss with your oncologist and care team. Ask:

1. How many treatments will I need?

2. What are the risks of not using a port?

3. What alternatives do I have?

Every patient’s situation is different, and your care team can help guide you based on your treatment plan and medical history. Let me know if you'd like help preparing questions for your doctor!

ChatGPT said

[Seasid in reply to Seasid]

I didn't have the port.

[Blueribbon63 in reply to Seasid]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply with such great detail.

[MarkBC]

I did not have a port and it was never offered to me. I dont have a problem with needles and I had no difficulty with the IV for each of the six rounds of chemo.

I am a Canadian with public health care and I am certainly no expert on the American for-profit system. I sometimes wonder, however, whether procedures that are not completely necessary are sometimes recommended to those who have extensive private insurance coverage.

[Nusch]

I can fully recommend it, never without it.

[SouthFrance]

I have a portal, it makes chemo much easier and protects veins.

[JD-guy]

Good morning, I did not have a port for my first infusion, I "blew" out the vain, it got infected. They put a port in before my second infusion. Something was not right about the port. I kept fighting infections, like it did not heal quite right. I was very glad for the port, but it needed to come out right after my last chemo. I was hoping to let it in for awhile. Just my experience, I would do it again if needs be. All the best

Keith--aka the JD-guy

[Survivor1965]

get the port

[Vangogh1961]

I had six rounds at 60, no port. Veins were good enough.

[Hawk56]

healthunlocked.com/user/Seasid says it very well, a decision for you and your medical team. I opted not to when I did six cycle of taxotere starting in January 2017. I did have one minor burn, other than that, no issues with infusion or the blood draws.

My experience, my choice, my medical team ok with it.

[Union98]

My husband didn't use a port for his 6 taxotere treatments. He was newly diagnosed, in good health, age 56 in 2017 with no other medical issues (except low thyroid). He had Provenge in 2020. It does take longer to find a vein now for blood draws but no real issues. I think it depends on the persons age and health.

[Blueribbon63 in reply to Union98]

Hi, I am 61. Noticing how the phlebotomist is having hard time at finding a good vein to withdraw blood. I used to have a bulging vein in my right arm that made the whole procedure a breeze. Now even that vein is disappearing. So thank you for your input, it is going to make my decision easier.

[tarhoosier]

Wife had IV for ovarian chemo. One infusion missed the vein and alerted multi staff to correct.

Second cancer changed to port access and it was much better. The port installation was not too difficult although the anaesthesia was over-delivered (three drugs) and she was loopy and drugged for 24-30 hours. After that a breeze.

[Tommyj2]

go for it….the upside outweighs the downside by a large margin…..you’ll see when the others weigh in…..

[j-o-h-n]

As you can see most members favored it (them). Based on past posts that I've read the majority of members highly recommend a port. (And they're great for pouring down some Pabst Blueribbon beer).

Remember "any port in a storm".....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[jap41452]

I was offered one but when explained where and how I opted not to have one. Just finished 6 rounds of docetaxel and no problem with IV's in my arm.

[SsgCulldelight]

Hi, placing a port will of course make access easier and safer when deploying your meds and reducing risks of infection also they don't have to stick u to start a new iv everything. Yesir it easy bro the medicine your about to get is very sensitive to outside elements and once again it's safer.

[dmt1121]

I did it and it makes infusions faster and safer.

[LakeT]

I was not offered a port and managed 6 rounds without. 2 years later I can still see some (faint) burn marks on my wrist. When I started this journey I was told I had excellent veins but that no longer the case and I'll probably need a port next time.

[alperk]

I am getting docetaxel every 2 weeks for 6 months with blood draws in between. Reduced dosage for extended time period was prescribed to lessen side effects. I get needle sticks every week and don't really mind them at all. After chemo, I come home and float in the pool with a beer. Better alternative for me than maintaining a port.