Hi All, I have been advised that I will need a PICC line for my Chemo. I am needle phobic, so the thought of this is causing me great anxiety and sleepless nights, it just terrifies me.. anyone else feel/felt this way ??
If you are needle phobic then a picc line is a great idea for you! Rather than sleepless nights think thank goodness that you don't have to have all those needles during chemo which does look really painful. I had my picc straight from the start so didn't have to go through that. But I remember sitting there and looking at nurses trying to find veins in other patients, and just being thankful that I had a picc line. Blood samples can also be taken from the picc line too - so no needles there either!
I did get anxious about it being fitted. But it was fine - I just didn't look.It was painless and very quick. Having a picc can be a slight inconvenience, but in my opinion the benefits far overcome any negative points.
Also I will add that the staff at the hospital were fantastic. When I had my picc fitted, I had to go on my own. The nurse could see that I was a bit scared, so she offered to come in whilst it was being fitted and hold my hand. I declined her offer but appreciated the thought. The ladies fitting it were lovey. They were chatting away, including me in the conversation which really helped me take my mind off what was happening. I am sure they are used to seeing anxious, nervous patients everyday. So please let the staff know how you are feeling if you are anxious on the day.
At this point I guess there is a lot to take in, so much to learn, and everything happens so quickly.
Did u have yours in your arm or chest ? Not sure one is given a choice but feel it would be more discreet on the chest especially during the summer wearing short sleeves.
I didn't have a PICC line for my chemo but i so wish i had. I wasn't needle phobic before i started all this poopiness but now they cause me so much anxiety. My second chemo damaged one of the veins in my right arm, so i had to have my last 4 in my left arm. They also struggled to get canulas in and to take blood.
If i could turn back the clock i would have had a picc line fitted. So if you can bare it go for it. One picc line over lots of blood tests and canullas for chemo it will make it so much easier for you.
I understand your fear of needles. I suspect like me you don't have good veins to insert needles in which is possibly why you've already been offered an alternative.
I didn't have the pic but a portacath. Ask of you can have one of those and you won't need to worry about anything because you don't see the needle and nothing is left on the surface after chemo.
Hopefully your chemo will go well and it will soon be over. It is now nearly 4 years since I was diagnosed. It is hard at the time but there is a light on the other side!!!
I think picc lines are in the arm and ports go in the chest. I don't think I had a choice really. I don't think I was aware that there were other options.
Hi, I am new to the community as of this morning but would add here that a year ago I had 6 months of chemo with all the trauma of needles for blood tests, scans, and chemo and it messed up all the good veins on my right arm. My left arm was supposedly untouchable having had my breast lump and all lymph nodes removed that side in 2014. So when I found my cancer back in Jan this year i was given a PICCline straight away which has been brilliant for the ensuing weekly chemo and blood tests and for ct scans. I have now been offered a Port (in the chest) for going forwards which means I can shower without the arm cover and swim etc which will be great. Apparently I had the PICC line because they could do it so quickly at my hospital to get going on treatment straight away but the Port would have been the best but I will need to travel further away to get it fitted.
I have recently met patients with the Port who say it is excellent!
I certainly had no problems or complaints with my port. If available and offered, I would definitely recommend. It does go in the chest( mine just below collar bone) and I had a general anesthetic with a half day in hospital.There is a very tiny scar now it has been removed which fades weekly. I wasn't offered any other option.....it was standard at my hospital and because of that, they were organised to do it quickly.
Dec 15th ....Biopsy results after lumpectomy showing need for chemo
.Dec 20th....port fitted ,
Dec 24th ......oncology appointment.
Jan 2nd ....chemo started.
It can be done if they want ........
Since then I needed intravenous antibiotics to combat sepsis after another operation. My chemo port had been removed and I found out a little of what some of you have to suffer with chemo into veins as antibiotics notoriously block veins too and I had eight different attempts in 48 hours to establish the flow before I was taken to an anesthetist for a picc line. It did take a long time for the swelling and bruising to go. So, I just emphasize my previous point......if offered an alternative, don't be frightened of it....take it!
I certainly had no problems or complaints with my port. If available and offered, I would definitely recommend. It does go in the chest( mine just below collar bone) and I had a general anesthetic with a half day in hospital.There is a very tiny scar now it has been removed which fades weekly. I wasn't offered any other option.....it was standard at my hospital and because of that, they were organised to do it quickly.
Dec 15th ....Biopsy results after lumpectomy showing need for chemo
.Dec 20th....port fitted ,
Dec 24th ......oncology appointment.
Jan 2nd ....chemo started.
It can be done if they want ........
Since then I needed intravenous antibiotics to combat sepsis after another operation. My chemo port had been removed and I found out a little of what some of you have to suffer with chemo into veins as antibiotics notoriously block veins too and I had eight different attempts in 48 hours to establish the flow before I was taken to an anesthetist for a picc line. It did take a long time for the swelling and bruising to go. So, I just emphasize my previous point......if offered an alternative, don't be frightened of it....take it!
