Chemo site

[Sibby21]

Has everyone had their chemo thru a vein or a port? Or thru abdomen?

[hannakat]

Ouch...not through a vein...definitely a port in the chest, and then with deadining the port before infusion.

[maz54]

Hi Sibby - I always had mine through a vein; my oncologist was always of the opinion that a port was just another potential line of infection so tended to avoid if possible! I never found it too bad tbh - sometimes a bit of a nuisance if the vein got a bit clogged but once up and running didn't really feel it! Hope helpful xx

[moominkat]

So far always through a vein on the hands/wrists... so far. A Hickman line is a possibility should my veins stop being co-operative.

[thesilent1]

Always through a vein. Not bad. Used to run hot water over arm before nurse put needle in. Helped. Ann x

[Hertsmum]

Had a port but I was having weekly taxol so the Dr thought that would be too hard on veins. It was great but with me it was visible under the skin and had to dress accordingly. I had it removed 3 months after chemo and it has left a small scar. Despite this am still pleased to have had it as all blood tests/chemo were done through port and you hardly feel needle going in.

Madeline

[Di16]

I've had 2 courses of chemo, & through veins in the back of my hand each time. They warmed the backs of my hands with a wheat bag or similar that had been briefly in the microwave before starting each session. I felt the cannula going in, then didn't feel anything. The last lot was weekly Taxol, & I asked whether I should have a line in as I wondered how my veins would cope, but they suggested giving the veins a try, & I was ok. But I did see a few people who had lines or ports

Di

[LesleyGreengran]

I've had a port on my chest wall - port-a-cath not Hickman - for nearly a year. It's closed off to outside and they inject into it so it does break the skin every time though hurts a tiny bit but nothing like poking around for veins.

I'm writing quite a lot about this because I didn't get the information I wanted when I needed it. Mine was put in 3 months after I ended chemo for recurrence because I was on 3 weekly avastin. I had all the firstline treatment through veins but the chemo damaged them; then a port in my arm 6 weeks into second line which had a cannula dangling out which had to be covered with a dressing all the time and which I couldn't get wet. I eventually reacted so badly to all the dressings and even the ones that held it in place that they put the Bard port-a-cath in.

I'd been asking them to change it for months but the sister in charge said they wouldn't do it because I already had the one in my arm. I was annoyed that I wasn't told about both in the first place and given a choice. The arm one had to be flushed every week. The port-a-cath is done every four weeks. I can now swim, shower and don't have to worry if I'm out in the rain. Apparently it costs £10,000 to put in though I don't see how it can be so much for such a minor procedure. Also they don't subtract all the extra times for flushes. I don't think they are used to ovca patients surviving for years (I'm four and a half years from diagnosis) and their decision making on this needs to change and to involve us more. I can stand up for myself but only if I have all the information I need to make a decision myself. My partner tries to stick up for me but is a bit wimpy in the face of the medics and senior nurses.

[llamalindy]

I just had a chest port put in after my first cycle of frontline treatment. I researched, spoke with the chemo nurses and made the decision to go with the chest port after watching my "good veins" react to initial treatments. Also on the Inspire.com board and most comments there were "I only wish I had done it sooner". I am scheduled for my second cycle this week (Carbo/Taxol) for 3 weeks, then week off. Will soon have the IP port put in as the next 4 cycles will be IP...which also involves IV as well at a higher toxicity over longer infusion times. My thoughts were to save the veins from everything I researched as the IP treatments are longer and more intense. The IV port will be used for blood draws, CT scans and is the newest which only needs cleaned every 90 days with saline when not in use. It will remain in place for a few years I imagine as my followups (and recurrance if needed) will be ongoing. The IP port will come out after treatment ends as my understanding is that is typically frontline treatment only ... not everyone is able to make it through the full course of those treatments but from what I've read any IP treatment is better than none and many survivors I've communicated utilized this .... one from 1987 who had the first IP treatments in Chicago, IL. I imagine cost would be a deterring factor to the port, I'm just looking at it from the long haul maintaining healthy veins. Chemo nurses were awesome with IV placement but many in further in to treatments cycles were getting stuck multiple times to get placement.

[airfemale]

I had a port in my chest wall from nearly the first treatment. It has stayed with me and I needed it wnen I had a reoccurence. I also had a port in my stomach and an infusion of cisplatin during my first round of treatments. I had 4 rounds of direct infusion into my stomach. They removed my stomach port after chemo finished. My port in my chest is flushed every 6 weeks. I have no problems with it. I rather this than trying to have chemo through my veins in my arms. I think a port is less problematic. I had several side effects and thank god they could access my port than trying to find veins. Good luck.

[sharonforce]

I've always had mine through a vein.

Good luck

Sharon

[baxbird]

First line treatment I had to give in and had a PICC line, as my veins gave up on the weekly treatment I was having. If my veins had held up I would have stuck with the cannula, but despite hot water, heated pads etc , it was still a pain ( and painful!) to get ye needle in.

This time round I have a portacath, and if you can ever love anything about this chemo/cancer thing, this is it for me!

Flushing once a month, totally enclosed under the skin,( ok looks like I have an odd shaped extra bone on my chest) no hassles with dressings, covering up for showers etc. The PICC line became a pain when I was no longer having weekly chemo as I still had to attend a unit to get it flushed each week.

Of course at the end of the day, I would prefer not to have the knowledge and experience of these different things!

Dawn

[daisies]

HI. I suppose I was fortunate that my veins held up for the 3 occasions that OC came to visit. Last time treatment for OC and Avastin went on for 2 & 1/2 yrs - so must have strong veins. the very odd time a heat pack/blanket was used, but generally the cannula went in first time.

But if a portacath is easier for you - talk to your Doc.

Best wishes, Daisies

[Hidden]

I began with catheters in my arms/hands but I was losing my veins & I dreaded it. That was for 3 months. I had a PICC line put in. It worked really well but you have to keep it dry & go & have it cleaned regularly. When I had my 2nd op, they installed a port below my left boob. It worked really well but when I went into remission, the port was removed. The cancer recurred after about 18 months & I now have a port in my left arm. It's not visible unless I show it to people. It's a godsend. I can't say it's been without a few initial problems, but I much prefer it to anything else I've had. Best wishes. Pauline.