PICC line / Hickman / Groshong / Portacath

I had a PICC for my my main 6 cycles of chemo (750hrs) and I had no problems with it….. I then had two Hickmans for my two Stem Cell Transplants  and again they were fine.

Hi Mike - Thehighlander,

Thank you for replying and letting me know your experience with both PICC and Hickman lines. I think what scares me the most is how long the tubes are and that the follow the vein all the way to near your heart. I’ve never minded cannulas or blood tests but I know this is probably not a practical way for having chemo especially if I have to have lots of sessions.
I read your biography and you have certainly had a rollercoaster of a journey. You are absolutely amazing and an inspiration. I hope all is well with you now and I wish you all the best for the future.

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

I am well thank you. I think in general, if we ‘over’ think everything that is done and used during treatment we would back ourselves into a corner and just want to bury our heads. 

Yes the tubes do go very near the heart but it’s all done in a very controlled manner and once in place the lines are secured and you get on with treatment and life. These are very effective delivery methods for long term treatments.

After the event I asked why not Portacath (I have never heard of a Groshong) and they said it was not suitable for my type of treatments.

Although at one point during my second Stem Cell Transplant both lines on my Hickman were connected to a pump each and I had a cannulas in both arms on a pump each 

You will have read I had a heart attack back in April….. now that was mind blowing ‘watching’ yes I watched everything on the massive screen where the stents and all the work was done by going into a vain on my wrist and all the work was done by camera around ny heart 

I wish you well, whatever delivery method is used, you are basically a passenger during treatment so try and focus on the view (the good stuff that surrounds us) and leave the driving and stress to your medical team.

((hugs))

Hi Mike - Thehighlander, thank you for your kind words. Wow watching your stent implant amazing!

Yes I am an overthinker which doesn't help, I need to go with the flow. I have tried to come to terms with everything to help make things easier and will go with the guidance from my medical team who know what's going to be the best way for me.

Take care, hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

Hi Mike - Thehighlander, I hope you don’t mind but I used your quote (I did say that it was from someone that inspired me with his journey )“you are basically a passenger during treatment so try and focus on the view (the good stuff that surrounds us) and leave the driving and stress to your medical team.”
I think it’s a great way of putting it and I’m not much good at explaining things sometimes. 

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

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