Portal fitted

I had a portacath fitted before treatment. One of the best decisions I made. I still have it, over 3 and a half years on, as my cancer is metastatic. It works perfectly and gives me no bother other than needing to be flushed every 6 weeks when I am not in treatment. The shape of it is visible under my skin but I am not bothered by that.

For me, it was a 40 minute procedure, done by an interventional radiologist in a theatre equipped with various scanning machines. It was done under local anaesthetic. There was a screen set up so I couldn’t see what they were doing but could also talk to them and keep very still when asked, etc. They made a small incision on my neck to access a vein, and a bigger one on my chest to place the device. Once the tube had been threaded into my vein, they connected it under my skin into the device. The procedure was a bit uncomfortable but no worse than going to see the hygienist. A nurse sat by my side throughout as my blood pressure was also being monitored. They made me stay in the unit for a while afterwards, in case of a reaction, but I was home for lunch after an early morning appointment. I had my first treatment through it the following day.

Once both wounds had healed I am left with something that doesn’t interfere with my life at all. I can get it wet including going for a swim. I can exercise without any restraints on movement. It’s a sharp scratch when they dock into it for treatment (or a flush) but no worse than being cannulated. They give you numbing cream if you want it but I didn’t find it was necessary. Treatment is a breeze with it. 

You will find that no department other than oncology will access it. If you go for a CT scan, they will still cannulate you. If you have an operation, they will still cannulate you. Although the device can go in an MRI, you can’t go in an MRI with it docked, as the needle is metal. 

I had one too. 
I had it fitted a week before my chemo started so it was very painful when they first used it because it was still swollen and sore from insertion. You can ask the nurses to put Emla cream on it about 30mins before they use it to numb the area.
After that though, it was absolutely fine and much less painful than a cannula each time. I’m glad I had it fitted. You can see the bump through the skin but it didn’t bother me either and clothes covered it up anyway. I’d rather have had that than a PICC line. You don’t need to worry about it getting wet and covering it or anything! 
You will be fine. It is sore for a few days but then you shouldn’t really notice it. They took it out at the same time as my lumpectomy.
I hope you feel a little better about it!

Wishing you all the best and try and enjoy your Christmas without worrying too much. X

Thanks for that it's really nice and helpful of you to share your experience with me really appreciate it  as going through blind not good 

Ah thank you that great to hear from people who have been through it it's the best advice to hear hope you have a great day tomorrow  

I had one fitted after getting a blood clot in my arm following my 4th EC infusion. It’s been great throughout the 12 paclitaxels and 5 zometa infusions I still had to go. It’s a strange thought and feeling having a vein in your neck accessed and connected up to the port which they bury in a pocket made in your skin in your chest, but the little jabs of local anaesthetic made it pretty much painless. The advanced skills nurse practitioner who did mine described what she was doing as she went along and I felt fine and just lay back and let her get on with it. It was used the next day for my infusion. 

Im so glad that I have it and that I was able to have it rather than a picc line as I feel happier with everything sealed under my skin. I was usually having to have two or three attempts made at accessing veins and it took all that stress away!

All the best on the 2nd! xx