Hello ladies I have today had a biopsy in preparation for starting the Molto trial! I am considering a port but I am a baby when it comes to procedures so was wondering if anyone has had a biopsy and a port and can advise if the fitting of a port is more or less painfull than a biopsy? I just don't know if I can cope with the digging in my hands trying to find my now none existent veins!
Thanks in advance xx
Hi Alison.
I've not had a port. But had a pic line and found it fabulous. It's probably no worse than anything you've already been through and will make at least one thing during your treatment easier xxx
Hi Jessica thanks for the reply yeah that's what I'm thinking but because you don't have to have it done I keep thinking shall I sharnt I! I know it makes sense xx
Hi,
I had a port fitted at first reoccurrence, best thing ever! A small local anaesthetic, 30 minute minor procedure and it was all done. Brilliant! No more needles into my very poor flattened veins, its safer than a pic line with no chance of infection at all. Yes I admit I was a little nervous about having one, but at the side of everything else you have to endure with this disease, I considered it a doddle! Good luck, Bxx
Thanks Barbara x
Alison, You will have anesthesia for port installation. I had mine installed on the first day of chemo and they accessed it one hour later for treatment. I've had mine for nearly two years and I strongly recommend them. You can shower, swim, carry on your life and not have to worry about maintaining it other than having it flushed every 6 weeks or so. Preparing for chemo infusion, all I have to do is rub some lidocaine cream on it to numb the skin a bit and then the port accessing feels like a little pinch! Honestly, I don't know how I could have endured chemo without it!
Hi Alison I'm on the Pissaro trial and so have to have 5 canulars put in on the week of treatment. It was taking up to an hour and numerous bruises later before they managed it. I was advised to have a port as it was making a long day even longer as its a 7 hour infusion but I like you was thinking I don't want to have a procedure that wasn't obligatory. However after a week of digging around everyday I changed my mind and it was the best thing I did you forget it's even there after awhile. Good luck whatever you decide xx
Thanks Sue xx
I have a port, it's been almost 3 years. A little uncomfortable for the first few days after having it done but nothing to bad that a couple of neurofen couldn't help with. Best decision really as no more trying to find the knackered veins 😀
Thank you 😊 only getting positive replies just need to pluck up the courage I think xx
Alison I had a port fitted for this chemo. It's really simple and so much easier. The team at The Christie were fab. I actually sat at the same table for lunch last week with the guy that done mine lol
Mine healed over really quickly. Very small incision. Definitely do it xo
YOU MUST HAVE THE PORT. It's standard practice here in France. They think the British way is barbaric. No stitches and just pressure on the ribs for a bit. Easy peasy. All done with laser cut and close so be prepared for smelling a lightly grilled pork chop for a few seconds. You'll be hands free on treatment day and it was a blessing to me last week when I was admitted to hospital for six days with severe neuropathy and had four drips hooked up in seconds and no rummaging around for veins.
Ask for Emla patches. May be another name there. Put a patch on the port about an hour before treatment to numb it but you wouldn't feel anything anyway.
The best bit is that after about a week you'll be able to play Aliens. I move mine about slightly under the skin. Freaks my friends out.
Go girl xxx
Yep - as said by everyone above - Go for it. Not sure what Kryssy has though - maybe an IP port following her op. I had one of those but that's not what you're talking about.
My port's in my upper arm (some are above a boob). It's a God-send. I've had mine almost 3 years. I've had a PICC line too in the past but believe me, Port trumps PICC. I've never had to have mine cleaned as I'm on a trial drug that's administered every 3 weeks. I'm a coward too but I tell you, there's no looking back once you have it fitted.
You ask about comparison to a biopsy. That depends if you mean a needle biopsy or a core biopsy. Needle biopsy is easy. With a core biopsy, I think it depends on the hospital. For mine, they sent me back to the middle ages. It was horrendous. Port installation isn't without a bit of discomfort but you'll soon get over that when you experience the benefits over cannulas.
Get to it - you can do it !!
Best wishes. Pauline
Hi Pauline. You've got me curious now. My gizmo is under the skin just above my right boob. After 2days I could take off the dressing, there were no stitches and I've never had to cover it since. I was told it is a port and cath, a thin catheter goes from the port (a receiver device under the skin) and it stops just short of my heart so that all medications, including the chemo, go straight into the heart to be pumped around the body. I've not had surgery. It was fitted a few days before first chemo. A PICC is put in the arm and is just the catheter.
The benefit of the port and cath is that a deep chest vein is used rather than a surface vein so no collapse, injury or bruising. But yes, port and cath over PICC every time.
K xxx
Yep I have a port and it's amazing. I had major surgery so had PICC line for 12 weeks and it was a pain, wrap arm everytime I had a shower, couldn't bath or swim with it. Port is freedom, uncomfortable for 48 hours like I'd torn muscles then that was it😀😀
Having a port was the best thing I ever did and have had it in for 2 years now. The procedure is not painful and the area is numbed first. I am also starting a trial soon - OCTOPUS - and I am so glad I have my port. Lynne
HI Lynne thanks for the reply good luck with the trial xx
I highly recommend the port, it's been in situ a year, finished 4th round chemo end of Jan. May need more chemo waiting for scan., so glad port still in place, love Bridie
HI Bridie I will keep my fingers x you get good news from your scan xx
Good luck with the scan Bridie. Take care. xx
Hi Sandra good to hear from you, hope you are as well as can be. Will get results on 28th, have been on Letrizole for the last 3 months, so fingers X its having the desired effect. Lots of love to you Bridie
I have a port it is the best thing I have ever had done,no more digging for veins. It did not hurt when it was put in. You can swim shower have a bath its great. Bloods can be collected from it , they are fantastic things. Georgiex
Hi Everyone thank you so much for taking the time to reply, I have taken all you lovely lots advise and I am booked in for next Thursday! I'm such a woss I already feel sick it gives me a week to panic!! But I wont be panicking on the Monday when they come to give me my treatment!
thanks again xxxx
My port was installed in surgery. But if you don't want to be stuck with needles get the port. Not a pick line. Port you can do everything, ie. Swim. Pick I don't believe you can. My port didn't bother me. Installation I was asleep. It was a 30 min. Deal to install. Best of luck.
Thank you x
I love my port. Had it put in and in less than 4 days had chemo and everything went fine. If you have small veins it's a Blessing. They numb the place where they put the port so no uncomfortableness during the procedure.
Here in the states they will give you a cream you put it on about 30 minutes prior with a clear cover to keep from ruining your clothes. It numbs we're the iv goes. Ports are easy.
I had 18 chemo sessions without a port . The hospital used the veins on my upper arms which the nurse accessed using sonogram immediately before each session.
Would definitely get the port. I've had mine for about 18 months, implanted under anesthetic, standard practice here in the USA. So far mine has been problem free (fingers crossed)
I was asleep in surgery for my port install. They attached it to my r rib cage. Needed for stomach wash chemo
Also something to think about, if you are active, I have horses and play in the dirt. Ports close, no infection worries. My Dr told me she would never give me a pick line because it would get infected to much.
Hi Alison. Just had a port fitted. It was not a pleasant experience but it was done in an hour and chemo yesterday was a breeze. Glad I did it. Biopsy I had last year ( like Yoda I'm talking) and it was not as bad. Just think of the long term benefits of one hour of weirdness and a couple of days of discomfort...
I've been told about the Molto trial too and hope to take part after this chemo is finished. Let me know how you get on.
Xx Netti
Thanks Netti yeah I will do xx
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