Jerry,

Sorry to hear about your treatment failures.

I have no experience with access ports, but perhaps this
is the same technique used by dialysis patients.  I know
that my father-in-law had such a port installed when he
needed dialysis.

You might try inquiring on the kidney failure groups:
   alt.support.kidney-failure
   alt.support.kidney-disease

You might also consider looking into clinical trials.  I
would not be very optimistic about them.  Your disease
is already very advanced and the trials are, after all,
experimental and unproven.  However if you want to
try, you can find them at:

  http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials

 Select type of cancer: prostate cancer
 Stage: recurrent prostate cancer
 Type of trial: treatment

There are a lot of trials to go through there, most of which
are not appropriate for you.  But you may find a half dozen
that might be.  You could call the trials phone numbers and
also print out the summaries and show them to your
oncologist.

Best of luck to you and your family.

   Alan

Jerry, Sorry to hear the news. When I did chemo for six months I had a port.
Current thinking was that it was so much better than a long line. And I
believe the thinking was correct. No infections, no blown arteries.....

Actually, everyone at the infusion center used a port. Not one long line in
site. In Houston, Texas at baylor or Methodist, a port is the expected.

I do know that it really saves on the wear and tear that long lines
produce.... and a big, big plus..... you don't have to worry about snapping
the line out of place and can continue an active day.....

So once more, long lines are not the standard where I was treated....

Good luck, my friend.

Gourd Dancer

Damn, Jerry!

Sounds like a runaway train.

My brother in law had a port installed for chemo.  He was able to play golf
with it (though I don't know if his doctor knew).  It sure seems to make
things easier at the chemo office.

No port here and the chemo nurses (they're sure wonderful) complain
every thime I showed up. I was told if you know you will have repeated
treatments, not just a one-time thing, the port is best. I'm probably
getting one for my next round.

Rich

FWIW
The chemo is so toxic that it will eventually ruin your veins. It
takes about 2  hr. to install the port and a week or two to heal tha
site. It installs in the upper chest and a lead goes to a large vein
under your collar bone. During infusion  It hurts like ^&% when they
install the needle but after that there is no pain and other that
looking like the 'Man with the Golden Gun' (he had three) it was
worthwhile..... Tennis and golf are no problem but I'm not going to go
swimming!

Bill
Atlanta