Another port question

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Anthony - 05 Jan 2004 23:32 GMT

My wife's chemo will be over in a few weeks and the issue has come up of
whether to keep the port in case of recurrence, for which she is quite high
risk or have it removed. It hasn't really bothered her and keeping it would
just mean having it flushed weekly, nonetheless it's always nice to get
something like this out. I'd appreciate any views.

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gabnet' - 06 Jan 2004 01:05 GMT

Hello Anthony:

Please to meet you.

I have been off chemo for a few months and on arimidex. My oncologist
and I decided that the port will stay as it is not an inconvience. IT
does not have to be flushed weekly, but monthly which is not too
bothersome. I think I am going to leave well enough alone as I would
hate to have to re-do this entire process!! <g>

Much luck.

> My wife's chemo will be over in a few weeks and the issue has come up of
> whether to keep the port in case of recurrence, for which she is quite high
> risk or have it removed. It hasn't really bothered her and keeping it would
> just mean having it flushed weekly, nonetheless it's always nice to get
> something like this out. I'd appreciate any views.

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Hugs,

Laura K.*
I'm out of estrogen and I have a gun!

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Tony Lima - 06 Jan 2004 05:14 GMT

>My wife's chemo will be over in a few weeks and the issue has come up of
>whether to keep the port in case of recurrence, for which she is quite high
>risk or have it removed. It hasn't really bothered her and keeping it would
>just mean having it flushed weekly, nonetheless it's always nice to get
>something like this out. I'd appreciate any views.

My wife is on her second port. Her first one got infected.
The problem is that they can only put two or three in the
best site (below her collarbone). After that they have to
switch to much less convenient locations.

Gloria loves her port. Period. I'd recommend that your
wife keep hers. Hopefully she'll never need it for anything
except the occasional blood draw. - Tony

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M Andrasco - 06 Jan 2004 07:01 GMT

My oncologist was never a strong proponent of ports so when I finished chemo
and had my 3-month followup he said - you're in remission, have the port out.
However, through superstition or paronia I wanted to wait for awhile as I would
not want to have to go through removal of the port and then have to have
another installed should something happen down the line. Now, I just have to
decide how long I'll let myself go on.

Oh, by the way, make sure you talk with your doctor about taking a blood
thinner. I started taking a low dose pill as soon as the port was installed.
A member of my support group was not given this and she ended up with a blood
clot in the shoulder area - luckily it didn't travel to her heart, brain,
lungs.

Does anyone have any experience with having a port removed in the doctor's
office rather than in surgery? Both my oncologist and a nurse from support
group said that it could be done this way. Don't know what surgeon thinks as
she has gone on to other ventures. Now I have to get a new surgeon - hopefully
for only a port removal and nothing more in the future.

Mary in Maryland

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Tony Lima - 06 Jan 2004 16:38 GMT

>Does anyone have any experience with having a port removed in the doctor's
>office rather than in surgery? Both my oncologist and a nurse from support
>group said that it could be done this way. Don't know what surgeon thinks as
>she has gone on to other ventures. Now I have to get a new surgeon - hopefully
>for only a port removal and nothing more in the future.

Taking it out is a lot easier than putting it in. Gloria's
first port was removed in an office setting. Not much
anesthetic, either. - Tony

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M Andrasco - 07 Jan 2004 06:08 GMT

Thanks - I'm going to try to have it done this way when the time comes.

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A man - 15 Jan 2004 13:44 GMT

> Does anyone have any experience with having a port removed in the doctor's
> office rather than in surgery? Both my oncologist and a nurse from support
> group said that it could be done this way. Don't know what surgeon thinks as
> she has gone on to other ventures. Now I have to get a new surgeon - hopefully
> for only a port removal and nothing more in the future.

No, but I can tell you I had a cyst (just below skin) removed in a
family doctor's office. They seem to have all the tools and stuff
needed. They numbed me up, cut me open (back of neck) and removed the
cyst. It had gotten quite large and painful. Then they gave me a few
stitches, I waited about 15 minutes, then they let me go.

So, simple surgeries can be done there.

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Amy - 15 Jan 2004 17:31 GMT

I had my port removed in the Dr's office a couple of weeks ago. It was a
simple procedure, all of 15 minutes from start to finish. The worse part of
it is knowing what they are doing. There was no pain, just a little
pressure. I was very nervous about it before having it removed, but would
do it over again in the Dr's office in a second.

Amy

> > Does anyone have any experience with having a port removed in the doctor's
> > office rather than in surgery? Both my oncologist and a nurse from support
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> So, simple surgeries can be done there.

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