Port and Verzenio

[Iwouldlike2knowmore]

Hello, I am going for knee surgery on 4/24 and now I must stop my Verzenio because of low white blood count , Has anyone gone that long without Verzenio. And also my knee Doctor wants my port removed because of infection and my oncologist said I can leave or take it out. Has anyone gone through this. Thank You Helena

[ClarenceO]

Hi Helena. I was off of Verzenio for a month one summer due to low white blood cell counts and felt wonderful. Both of my tumor markers remained at their low point during that month and remained low thereafter after having been close to 2000 at the start of mbc a year prior.

Suzanne

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to ClarenceO]

Hello, I am off Verzenio now because of low wbc how long before they came back up. Helena

[OneLump22]

Hi Helena! 👋 Yes! Just had replacement surgery for worn out hip joint arthroplasty on my birthday 3 weeks ago. Dr. had to put in all new hardware + a support plate. I'm on Ibrance & had to do the same thing for the same reason. Low WBC. I'm in a rehab/nursing facility, but may need to leave early. They can't pay for my Ibrance so they aren't able to give me any & I need to start taking again asap. I'm here because I live in a townhouse & bathroom is upstairs & I'm on toe touch restriction. No weight on operated leg for 6 weeks. Starting to feel small sharp pains in the abdomen when I sneeze or take deep breaths or cough. Last time this occurred I was on Exemestine (Aromasin) & my Oncologist had CT scans taken & found new tumor development in abdominal plural sack so she switched me to the Ibrance.

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to OneLump22]

Hi OnLump22, I see that you did not have a port, That is another thing I am worried about, infection. My oncologist said I can keep it or remove it I am torn in between two doctors, confusing. Helena

[OneLump22 in reply to Iwouldlike2knowmore]

Actually, I do have a port. Forgot to mention it, sorry. Big old thing. It's called a Power Port. Sometimes it gets used & sometimes it doesn't. Depends on the nurse doing the drawing. Most of it's use is when it gets flushed once a month. That's to prevent infections & to keep it open. ( Like getting your ears pierced.).

[morty87]

Keep the port - I've had mine for almost 17 years!!! I use it for all labwork, scans and procedures that will allow. It has been a Godsend.

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to morty87]

Hi morty87, My knee doctor wants it removed before knee surgery due to infection. Helena

[morty87 in reply to Iwouldlike2knowmore]

I’ve still been very fortunate to have my port and be able to use it in many ways. Not once have I been asked to remove it and quite honestly after having it so long, there is a greater risk of removing it. I have it flushed every 4-6 weeks with regular labwork. I wish you luck on the port and upcoming knee surgery.

[Merma]

Hi,

If you need your port and want to keep using it for blood draws, etc. please make sure that the port itself is being monitored. I had mine for 6 yrs, and it was flushed monthly. However, it ended up causing blood clots and made my superior vena cava collapse which lead to svc syndrome. The interventional radiologist told me that they are seeing more and more problems with ports and other devices left in for years.

Nobody warned me that cancer and long term use of ports can increase risk for blood clots and that the port itself needed to be checked. My port started to get clogged and the nurse would get approval from insurance to unclog it and no one asked my questions or examination me - despite my requests.

So, if you keep your port, have a plan for who will monitor it and how they will do so. Nothing (blood clots nor svc collapse) was seen in the pet/ct scans.

On a good note, everyone that I know that has had a knee replacement has been very happy with the outcome.

Kind regards,

Corby

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Merma]

Hi Merma, You mean there knee doctor didn't tell them to remove it because of infection. Helena

[Merma in reply to Iwouldlike2knowmore]

maybe not