Should I get a Port?

Question

I am 24 and starting chemo for Hodgkins on wednesday. I have difficult but not impossible veins and they reccomend a port. I hopefully will only get six sessions of chemo spaced out every two weeks. I dont want another scar or a port a cath that will show under my clothes etc... so i decided agianst it. anybody have thoughts on the pros and cons of ports?

Answer 1

Hello
I am sorry about your diagnosis and wish you all the best.

Pros of a portacath :
No IV sticks, No sticks for blood draws.
A simple puncture to access the cath when blood is needed
or you are going to get your medication.

Cons of the portacath.
INFECTION
It is a small round shaped device that is implanted under the skin
just below the collar bone.
Most people will not notice it. But you will.
It does leave a scar when it is removed.
Biggest risk is INFECTION. You have to depend on all your caregivers to have good technique when ever they access your portacath, and when ever they are administrating your medications.

I think they are wonderful for people who will be receiving longer term medication administration then you are going to receive especially people who do not have good veins.
However you state that you don;t mind the IV sticks so why do it.

Another option to consider if you did need some kind of access would be a PICLINE. Which is a longer term access device that is placed in your antecubital area and can be hidden under your sleeves. However it has the same risks as the portacath.

See how it goes with the IV sticks before you decide is my opinion.

I wish you all the best.

Answer 2

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. There are many things to consider when deciding on a port or not.

First: Cost, mine cost (with plastic surgeon, hospital fees, Etc) about $10-11,000. My insurance completely covered this.

Second: Conveinence, I know you don't think so now, but 6 treatments are going to go very fast. Are they putting you on ABVD? It is much more conveinent to have the port when administering chemo. It is one stick for the whole couple of hours you are there. You will be getting blood drawn every treatment and different medications to help your blood count like steroids, procrit, etc, put in the IV (They will tell you everything you are getting) But if you have an IV in every 2 weeks, it shouldn't be so bad, but the port doesn't fail!!! Your veins may. Then you would have to delay treatment which could give you a worse prognosis ( I had 12 treatments and 4 wks of radiation).

Third: Vanity I am kind of a vane person, and worry about how I look. You will very soon outgrow this with a cancer diagnosis. My port is placed in a nondiscreet location right below my collarbone. The straps of tank tops cover it, but in a bikini you can see it. You learn that it doesn't matter because you are healthy and alive. And you will soon be part of this exclusive club that you will embrace called "Survivorship".

Obviously I am all for the port. I barely have a scar. I know I had a great doctor insert the port though.

Good luck and keep your head up!!! Any more info you need let me know. Just to let you know I am also 24 also and was diagnosed 11 months ago and have been in remission for 3 months.

Answer 3

The port is the way to go - I had one and had it in over a six month period - easy to access for blood work and the chemo. When chemo is over it can be taken out within weeks - the scar is barely noticeable after about a year. With summer almost over you will be wearing clothing which will definitely cover the port - it really is not bad and saves the stress of being poked every two weeks - good luck to you.

Answer 4

Yes, get a port. I had Hodgkin's and had a low-profile port implanted. You can barely see it. Six sessions probally means six cylces, which is a total of 12 infusions. Also like someone else mentioned, blood can be drawn from the port. If you need surgery (additional biopsy, splenectomy,etc) it comes in quite handy.

The only cons I can think of is the pontential for infection, which I am not too worried about. Before every dentist appoitment you will need to take antibiotics. That's about it. The surgery isnt that bad and you can go home the same day. That being said though, if you are recently diagnosed life can become quite the whirlwind. Another surgery can add to that. That being said,all in all, I would highlu recommend getting a medi-port.

Good luck

Answer 5

You need to get the port. The scar will be small. You also can ask for a pass-port. They are small and go on the inner aspect of your arm. The port prevents multiple IV sticks plus it prevents extravasation. extravasation is when the IV comes out of the vein and goes into the tissue in your body. It depends what type of chemo you are getting, but some extravasation can cause amputation of the limb. I give chemo everyday and ports are the way to go

Answer 6

My father-in-law asked me the same question and I advised that he get the port. He was thrilled with it. It was completely under his skin so that he did not have to worry about infection from an indwelling cath. Infection is a major life-threatening complication of chemotherapy. Anything that you can do to lessen the threat will help your odds of fighting infection and not missing any of your chemo. I have drawn blood from lots of patients in the hospital. Giving chemo through a vein is VERY hard on the vein. It is not the same as a simple stick to get blood or even a simple IV solution. These drugs are very hard on your body because they have to be very hard on you to kill all the cancer. I vote - get the port!

Answer 7

I understand your concern... if you are okay with being stuck numerous times, then I say good decision... I would choose the same. I would rather have the nurse have to stick me 2-3 times to get a vein, than have a port put in.

BUT- you may end up needing a port in the long run for some other reasons. This will just be a pospone for you... you can make that decision should it ever come up again.

Pros- no more needle sticks (IV and blood draws can be done through a port)

Cons- risk for infection, risk for punctured lung

Answer 8

Best of luck with this. Talk it over again with your oncologist. Although a port would be noticeable in a formal gown or revealing top or swim suit, it may make your therapy much easier on you because some chemo is very sclerosing to the veins. And it wouldn't just be used for the 6 sessions of chemo---blood can be drawn from it (and you'll have plenty of blood draws, believe me), you could require IV therapy like fluids or antibiotics which could also be given through it, and if your chemo is nauseating, anti emetics can be given through it, or blood/blood products, as well. Eventually, it would have to be removed when therapy is completed, but you may find it's worthwhile to have a port for a while.

Best of luck. I'll keep you in my thoughts. This cancer is beatable!

Answer 9

The chemo drugs will scar and destroy your veins so I'd highly recommend a port. I was treated with some very strong antibiotics and they burned going into my vein, however when I had a picc line (peripherally inserted central catheter) inserted I didn't feel a thing. I don't have any visible scars left after the picc line either. I was 28 when I had my aortic vavle transplant, which is why I was on antibiotics in the first place.

Answer 10

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