Hi lovely ladies, today is my last chemo (2nd line) of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin. I am so looking forward to having a break from the chemo; must say it was much harder than the first line. The oncologist ordered a scan in about 4 weeks from now, so not sure yet how effective it was.
As it became harder and harder to access the veins and my forearms are all swallen and bruised all the time, and because I am going to have Avastin infusions following the chemo, I decided to have a port installed. Had it done on Saturday (4 days ago). Not sure if they will be able to use it today or wait until it heals properly. At the moment, it sticks out a lot and I am surprised at that, as from what I read and saw on YouTube, it was supposedly to be hardly visible.
What's your experience with ports? How does it look after some time and how soon after installing was it used? Can you feel it when you move around? Will this settle with time?
Much love to everybody
Grace
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Grace-53
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I am really surprised that you did not have a port inserted earlier in your treatment, as they really make infusion day easier.
However, I am curious about your experience with having the Port inserted.
I posted about my ordeal, because it was so traumatic for me. I was quite bruised and the incisions were very painful for about two weeks . The insertion was done with only multiple local anaesthetic injections which were painful. Sedation was not offered and the experience was awful.
But the results have been fine, except you are right, the Port sticks out much more than I thought it would and the vein in my neck leading to it protrudes alarmingly.
It was such an ordeal having it inserted, I am not sure what to do when this Chemo finishes,, because I would hate to have it taken out, if six months later, I need it again.
Meanwhile, I am used to it now and keep clothing over that part of my chest to hide it.
Hope yours has settled down and you have those numbing pads or ointment to use before infusions.
I had my port inserted the same day as Laura with the same traumatic experience. My port is still sore(ish) and red but it is placed exactly where the seat belt passes over it so perhaps it will never settle down.
I was beginning to have problems with cannulas starting then stopping and some days ended up with four different ones so the port does make that easier if rather more painful as the needle goes in. I had my final cis/gem on 14th January but as I am on the arginase inhibitor trial I still need weekly blood draws. It was used the very next day.
I have heard that they can use it pretty quickly after it is placed but have not had any experience with that.
My port sits high as well and recently when a nurse needed to access it she told me that if it is high they can use a smaller needle. There are 2 needle sizes apparently.
I am actually at hospital right now and they are using the port. A little bit painful as she pushed the needle in, but no more than the sting for blood tests. Much better than searching for a straight healthy vein.
Mine was done on the left side and quite high. Glad that the seatbelt will not go over it. It is protruding quite a bit. The nurse said this makes it easy for them to access, as it's quite shallow.
I meant to say that the smaller needle size is used for ports that are protruding (rather than high). Interesting that yours is on the left side. Mine is on the right even though I asked for the left they refused (don't quite remember why). I had conscious sedation for the insertion and that worked very well. Glad they got to use it rather than fumbling around for a vein. I am a bit nervous about infection so I think Maus' advice is good to note.
My port stopped bothering me after 2 weeks but I often keep a small bandage over it because the skin was sensitive for a while. I did have to find a bra that didn’t hit it. I keep clothes over it.
I had my port inserted under sedation i.e. I was out for the duration of the surgery (maybe an hour?). I had to insist on the sedation though, as they wanted to used local anaesthesia only at first.. brrrr. The site was sore for about 7-10 days but not unbearably so. The first chemo happened about 10 days after port insertion.
Now, I don't feel the port at all. It needs no looking after other than maybe flushing every few weeks in the hospital (which happens anyway during my 3-weekly Avastin infusion).
That said... I am taking care to a) not contort that side of my body unnecessarily i.e. minimizing the risk of dislodging it, and b) keeping it extremely clean, disinfected and covered for the first 48 hrs after it's been used. Same during the first few days after insertion... I kept the wound clean and covered until it had healed.
I'm glad I have it . I hope you'll feel the same way. All the best. Maus
Hi Grace. My port is under my arm. I don't know it's there and it's a god-send. It's been used 3-weekly for around 4.5 years, as Avastin has continued following the end of 2nd line chemo. I wasn't able to use it for 10 days after the little op to insert it.
For the 'op', they injected me with something which made me not care. So I was awake for the procedure - I'm a very squeamish person, but I just did not care. They topped up the "carefree" fluid as required. The port hasn't given me any problems.
I have a friend who had one inserted in her chest but they put it into the breast flesh and so it wouldn't stay still to insert the needle. Hence it was removed and they had to start the job again.
I'm sure you won't regret it. I used to dread the struggle with cannulas. There's just a moment of pain when the needle is inserted & likewise when removed, really nothing to tolerate - over & done with in a moment. Best wishes. Pauline.
My port was used the next day as the needle was left in after the op so not sure how long you need to wait . Do ask for Emla cream- I put it on the port 2 hours before it is to be accessed and usually don’t feel a thing. The port has been wonderful so far and has taken the fear away from attending the hospital- I have blood tests, infusions and contrast through it.
I have a Power Port, which was inserted under conscious sedation. Mine sits fairly high on the right side of my chest. Multiple nurses have commented that the thinner you are the more visible the port will be. Mine is very visible as is the catheter, which is in my jugular vein.
It was quite sore, more so than I expected, for a couple of weeks. A nurse friend thought it possible that they may have affected a nerve in the area that had to settle back down.
I don't find the pain from accessing the port any worse than having to get an IV and this particular port can also be used for the CT scan iodine contrast that goes in at a much faster rate and higher pressure than IV chemo infusion does. Not all ports will handle the CT scan IV iodine injection.
I also do not regret having the port put in and they can stay in place for an extended period of time. My father recently had his removed after 6 years.
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. I hope you'll feel the same way. All the best. Maus
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