*** December Chemo Club 2019 ***

I think it depends on the consultant.  Mine generally gives all women having 4xEC & 4 x 2- weekly/12 x weekly Paclitaxel a PICC line without assessing veins a the E element can play havoc rough them. Women who are also HER2+(so have longer treatment) are offered a port. She does this to everyone unless they have issues with having one.  

I hate my PICC line,  but have come to just forget it's there most of the time,  and I'm grateful for it too, a its made visits easier. I can't wait to go swimming and have a proper bath though,  which I've not been able to do for five months! X

Hi ,

There are no silly questions here!!

At my hospital, they weren't keen on putting a cannula in every time, some chemo drugs can be harsh on veins - I think they called it cording.

I was given an appointment to have a PICC line put in, but when I went for the appointment, the nurse there was chatting to me about my treatment and how long it was to continue for (I have had chemo from 23 August to 27 December - 3 x EC, 4 x docetaxel/Herceptin/perjeta). However, I will then have 14 more rounds of Herceptin & perjeta until October 2020. In view of this, I was offered to have a port put in instead of a PICC line. Essentially, the line is put into the arm and runs into the chest the same as a PICC line, but instead of the line access being outside of the arm, which needs to be flushed and dressed every week and kept dry, my port is like a little button completely underneath the skin.

I'm not sure how much more of a procedure it is than the PICC line but it was done under local anaesthetic, took about 1.5 hours and I didn't feel a thing. They made a small cut on the inside of my upper arm and once this had healed, in about 10 days - 2 weeks, I could pretty much forget about it. I can bath or shower without worrying about getting it wet. I don't have to have it dressed every week. I literally just turn up for treatment every 3 weeks and that's the only time I think about it. Also, they can take the blood tests before treatment through the port.

I'm really happy that I was offered this option instead of the PICC line. I would also say that, I had 2 EC treatments through a cannula before the port was fitted - one in each hand. I do sometimes still feel some tightness in the veins in my forearm, which is maybe the cording that they mentioned to me. It is easing over time.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your treatment.

xx

Hi , I was on Docetaxel, Carboplatin, Herceptin and Pertuzumab every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. I then had Herceptin by IV for another 12 cycles. They found my veins got a bit thin towards the end of my treatment and I had the hot water treatment a few times, but they managed to get the cannula in every time. Lots of girls on my unit had pic lines and ports, so I think it just depends on how well your veins stand up to the constant assault!

Just to second West end girl getting a port was the best option, my veins were playing hide & seek far too often and as well as the annoyance of repeated efforts to find a suitable vein in hand and arm it could be quite painful. Plus I'm lazy and couldn't be bothered with any PICC maintenance.

The port is used for taking blood and delivery of chemo.  I decided to have mine after speaking to a lady who had both.  I would get your name down as there can be a waiting list.

Just one annoyance which is more the hospital I am at where it is policy to not use the port to deliver the contrast they use for the regular MRIs (that you may have) to determine how the lumps are responding to chemo.  This is annoying as it can now sometimes be quite painful to use the cannula to do this.  Unfortunately I only found this out once two MRIs had been done and then, due to MRI machines being differently calibrated, couldn't go to another hospital where they do use ports.  

There are different types so would make sure you get a port that can deal with contrast delivered automatically (i.e. By machine).

Good luck

Sam X

Thank you so much for your replies 

last time I went for a blood test they had a problem finding a vain  and on my 3rd operation they had to “ fiddle” about trying to get a line in ( tried 3 times on the back of my hand but finally found it) 

I was thinking about it today that’s what made  me ask on here  

ill be seeing oncologist on Wednesday so I’ll ask them too 

thanks everyone ️️ xx

Hi all

not posted much lately as not really had much to say but today has been a big day for me! 

After a couple of crappy weeks today was my last chemotherapy session! 7th cycle.....  

Hubby came with me for the first time as not been able to get time off work before (was never on my own tho for other my wonderful daughter has been with me every step of the way)

Today I finally got to ring that bell for the end of my chemo. Some people think I should of waited till after op next year but to me today was the end of the first part of my journey xx 

Few weeks to recover from chemo n enjoy Christmas and New Year with my family before surgery n radiotherapy in new year xx video attached of me ringing bell not best video but my face says it all xx 

We are going to beat this people xx

Congratulations so pleased for you 

big hugs gorgeous lady 

xxxx

Well done Sal  Must feel great and hope you have had a good response to chemo. I am just behind you. Last chemo 26th December and then like you surgery and radio. I agree though that’s your first part done . Fantastic.

Now enjoy the festive season

Jojodot

Jojodot
Saw consultant first before chemo n he’s happy nnsaid lump has shrunk with chemo. So bad days are certainly worth it! 
Good luck with your final one n surgery in new year

I intend to enjoy festive season while I finally get round to wrapping presents and writing xmas cards xx

Yes it does make all the hard days worthwhile. I was only told this week that as a result of my first treatment of doc/her/ per which was 4th treatment that there was a dramatic reduction and if MRI confirms I will hopefully  have a lumpectomy instead of mastectomy.

 Love Jojodot