Ive heard of many women having their ports removed after treatment. I asked my oncologist and my surgen about removal and they tell me that they dont remove them unless there is a problem with them. I some times have pain if clothes rub against it. Why would they not remove it?
2007-11-19 20:43:11 · 7 answers · asked by sunshine 4 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
When I first went thru chemo, I was sure the cancer would never come back.....so, when I had to have my gallbladder removed, about 6 months after finishing chemo, I had my surgeon take out the cath while I was asleep. Last year when my cancer came back, I was using PIC lines to do the chemo and such for my stem cell transplant, my dr didn't want me to get a port. This year when my cancer returned, again, I had another port put in......the more they access it, the more tender it gets. They've told me you can keep them in for years, you just need to have them "flushed" every few months........I guess every dr's opinion on removing them is different....If your doctor thinks it's better to leave it in, there must be a reason why..The chemo can damage your veins and such and it can make it difficult to put another one in, if the need every arose....It's a pain to take one out and have to put another one back in, if you ever need it again, and I hope and pray that you never have to go thru anymore chemo!!!
Talk to your doctor and tell him you are having pain and maybe he will agree that it can come out...
Wishing you good luck and praying for no more chemo!!!!
2007-11-19 23:46:47 · answer #1 · answered by widow1963 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have any issues at all with needles or veinous access, keep it. I had mine for 2.5 years, never had a problem with it. My advantage for keeping was that they always did my blood work with the port, so I never got stuck by the phlebotomists who couldnt get into my viens. Also, a couple times I ended up at hosp for other things, and they used the port instead of trying to use an iv.
But, they replaced my port with a Hickman when I went for stem cell transplant. The Hickman is simular to a PICC in that the lumens hang outside the skin and there is an open wound. Once I quit needing iv supplements after transplant, they pulled it, and wont put a port back in.
If your site has completly healed from where they put it in, you should not be experiencing any kind of pain with it. But, if it does bother you, go ahead and take it out. Worst case you relapse and they have to replace it.
2007-11-20 01:06:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how far you are out from treatment . . or if you are having regular bloodwork, transfusions, or other blood work done. My son has had three different central lines placed, the last one was for a stem cell transplant (the line is a little larger). He has all his blood work done this way and they always have an open line if he needs it for meds. During his first remission they did finally remove it . . only to face needles for any time they wanted blood. He prefers leaving the central line in for now.
If you are having pain in this area, it may be the signal for infection brewing . . please have it examined and explain your concern. There might be something they can do. If you are done treatment and have been in remission for quite a while you could ask about removal if that is what you want.
Best of luck.
2007-11-20 01:25:58 · answer #3 · answered by Panda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you see your Oncologist at the office I'm guessing that he/she orders blood work which is probably drawn from the port a cath. Leaving a port a cath in is not unusual and can be helpful when drawing blood to avoid numerous needle sticks.
2007-11-19 22:59:33 · answer #4 · answered by theonlyanswer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i did not have respiration problems with my port a cath I did locate it uncomfortable while attempting to sleep, did you acquire a e book approximately your port a cath if so take a leaf via and spot if it mentions something approximately respiration problems, additionally do you have a telephone quantity on your breast care nurse, if so provide her a hoop and tell her what you sense, generally they put in a stitch have been the port a cath enters in throughout the neck, and one have been it lies on the breast bone to provide up it from shifting around so which you will desire to nevertheless have some swelling their yet do get in touch with your breast care nurse in case you sense that some thing isn't somewhat ideal.
2016-10-02 02:07:25 · answer #5 · answered by macfarland 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have not told clearly the type of Chemotherapy given to you and the type of catheter and port fixed. For different type of cancer different catheters are used. Usually in some patients it is very difficult to get blood vessels and hence they keep the port overnight. For some cancers chemo is given for 4 days even and they use the same catheter and port till the cycle is completed.
Your Oncologist will do the needful for removal of the same. Plese see - http://www.chemocare.com/whatis/how_is_chemotherapy_given.asp
and you will get full details of different types and you can understand for yourself. -
2007-11-19 22:20:06 · answer #6 · answered by Jayaraman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am yet to experience chemo for my cancer, I do not know how I will feel after it, if I get it.
2007-11-19 23:31:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋