Chemo

You can opt for a picc line any time even if you start off with a cannula. As for not supposed to have anything done on the right, there are different schools of thought on that (for instane, my own surgeon told me to use both arms freely for whatever I want, but that could be speific to myself) and in my opinion, it would also vary from patient to patient, so the only general advise they can give is, "don't use that arm," because they don't know yet what your own body would be like in that regard. However, the chemo ward as experience with other ladies who have had right-side surgery, so they would have protocols in place for that.

As for what is better, picc or canula, again, a matter of opinion (the doctors) and individual preferene (the patients.)

When you first go in, you could ask them about their protocols for fitting picc lines in patients such as yourself, so if you ever consider the possibility of changing your mind you would have all the information you want.

Ah ok, the nurse I spoke to had no idea, yeah I will ask when I go in. I only had my surgery Jan 12 so it's still early days for I guess. Cheers

Hi Etna. Not from this group, but I did have a PICC line in for several months. I was asked which arm I preferred, and chose the left. Painless going in and taped up most of the time. Does away with all the needles for blood tests. I hope all goes well for you. Best wishes.

Hi Etna

I had most of my chemo with a picc, and a couple with cannula.  The picc was way easier and quicker - the nurses can just plug in the drip and off you go.  Plus it leaves both your hands free to do stuff during chemo, whereas you have to be careful not to knock the cannula.  I didn’t experience any pain when my picc was fitted.

My surgery was on the right side so picc was on the left - no-one ever suggested that was an issue.  All the best!