Portacath and first round of chemo

That’s funny I took the kids into town yesterday after telling them all what’s going on. They were amazing. But whilst in town I bought a notepad for exactly that cuffcake. must have got that tipelepathically.  Thanks x

Good morning all....

As most of you are still having treatment and therefore still have the port, I thought you might like to know what happens after treatment doesn't require it anymore. 

I had my port for about ten months. As someone has already said, it made actually having the chemo so simple. I was given a local anesthetic patch to put over it an hour before going to chemo. 

Once it was removed, I had a small white scar . It is still there but very neat, close to the collar bone and has faded over time. I don't even remember it's there until I read posts asking questions. At my hospital everyone having chemo had a port. My treatment was in 2015.

After another op with complications, I had a picc. There is no comparison.  The port was so much easier that it is worth the small scar. 

I wish you all well. Treatment isn't always easy but the end results are often successful  so worth the discomforts.

Take care. Love Karen

Good idea on the placement to accommodate a sports bra. Have you managed to continue swimming throughout? I’ve been thinking of starting swimming again as part of my looking after myself during the treatment. Yoga, walking and swimming. What have you managed to do? I already walk a lot and do yoga. X

Thank you for that. Yes that is really useful to know. I was initially nervous of having the Portacath but after everyone’s response it does seem like the best option. 

mx

Hi. From experience medical professionals do tend to over state the awfulness of chemo to protect themselves especially as you sign consent. I might have been lucky but I had very few side effects from my chemo and was able to work although on reduced hours all the way through my chemo. I normally had treatment day off which was normally a Friday and had the weekend to recover. I always booked first workday after cycle off sick but didn't need it. The only extended time I had off was when I got neutropenic sepsis. 

I had a portacath inserted in my chest four days ago (late Tuesday) under general anaesthetic. They used it for my second chemo on Friday. My first chemo was through a cannula in my arm. The portacath was definitely easier for receiving the chemo drips and other meds they just pumped into it. (I’m Her2 and hormone positive invasive ductal carcinoma. Six rounds of chemo/Herceptin then 4/8 week gap before non-nipple sparing mastectomy : ( )

I was very swollen from the surgery and had a big compression dressing on it for the swelling that I took off almost two days later. Four days on I’m very bruised and sore and it feels tight where the tube goes from my neck vein to the device in my chest - feels more sore in the evening, so checked my temp before taking a paracetamol. So far I can only sleep on my back. My breast cancer is on my left, plus I’m right handed and would sleep on my right. I asked if the portacath could be put on the left, leaving my good side clear, but anatomically they had to put it on the right, so four days in I can’t sleep on that side, can’t lift stuff and can’t drive and feel very sore.  That should pass as it heals, but it feels like a step back at the mo, but receiving chemo through it was definitely so much better! (I was scared of having a PICC line and didn’t want tubes hanging out of my arm for months, esp as I’m squeamish and have dog that jumps up to me and a teenager). Like you, I didn’t read up about portacath as scared to read about it. I’ve got a small incision on a vein at base of my neck and incision on my chest (can’t see the size of it as still got tape on it.) The portacath looks like it’s about the width of a 10p piece. My chemo nurse said it’ll settle down and it’s deffo better than a PICC line. I’m just feeling sore and uncomfortable at the mo, so guessing it’ll take at least two weeks for bruising to go, but like I said, deffo better for receiving chemo!

Drug wise… after my first chemo they sent me home with loads of anti-diarrhoea meds. They gave me Ondansetron anti sickness tablets, 1 a day for three days… they were the worst thing I could have taken, gave me horrendous constipation, pain, could barely eat or drink for a week and lost half a stone struggling on the loo for a week. I reported all that and this week they took the Ondansetron away and gave me a different anti sickness tablet called Akynzeo… one tablet lasts 5 days. They also gave me gentle Lacido sachets so I’ve been taking three drinks of it a day to keep me regular… it’s a miracle! I feel so much better! Ask for Akynzeo and don’t risk the Ondansetron anti sickness - it slows your digestive system! Akynzeo works in a different way and seems more gentle and I’ve had no nausea either. 

sending you love! Ask me any questions! 
Debbie x

i had mine put in after two rounds of chemo, it seemed to take a long time to heal too. i have a bit of tight feeling in my neck and for the first few weeks i was mindful of lifting my arm over my head, even sleepin was kind of awkward. it has settled, but i still get occasional twinges from it, but allin all it is true it makes the experience so much less traumatic l hope yours settles in soon

Thanks so much for that, I look forward to mine settling too! I didn’t expect it to be like this x 

I had my chemo in 2022, it’s been immunotherapy more recently. I was able to swim and do things like Aqua and weights work all the way through chemo, but I slowly lost the ability to run. I was able to restart running once the chemo stopped. Immunotherapy didn’t really bring side effects until I had an ‘immunotherapy related adverse event’, where my immune system attacked healthy organs. That’s giving me some more substantial recovery issues but I hope to get back into the pool in another week or too and eventually start running again n

Hi all..sorry just jumping on here .. I’ve just finished 3rd chemo cycle (docetaxel/carb & Phesgo jab).. & interested to read about the swimming etc…. I really want to go back to swim but been advised best not to ..my blood count was almost too low to have treatment last time so can see why but just wondering if you had any issues..did you go to pool or sea etc?! I’ve also found running harder too.. my resting heart rate has risen a lot - think that’s the Phesgo…. Anyone else?

Mumofthree & all good luck with your treatment - I’m still having the hand cannula at the moment so no experience with a port.. did have an issue with soreness in right hand & arm feels sore so see what happens on no 4!!!  There’s a lady in my ‘Tues chemo club’ with one though and she thinks it’s much better so good luck xx