Portacath advice

Hi Harvestmoon

Yes you are doing the right thing.  The Port lies just under the skin and you don't have to worry about it getting wet unlike a picc line so it will certainly make life easier for the next two months.  Also unlike a picc line it doesn't have to flushed out once a week, it just needs to be flushed after every infusion.  They can also take bloods from it.

I've had one in for just over a year and I haven't had any problems with it.

Wishing you the best of luck with the rest of your treatment.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Thank you so much for that Daisy, it's when they,  as they have to, tell you about the risks of infection and blood clots it puts doubts in your mind.  I'm fine with bloods if they get it right first time, multiple attempts and I embarrass myself by turning into a fainter!  Good luck to you too.

I have had a port in place for almost 3 years. I was initially diagnosed with what was thought to be early stage TNBC in Feb 22, and after surgery was advised to have 4 cycles each of EC and Paclitaxel. My oncology unit insists on a line for EC but I wasn’t willing to have the restrictions that a PICC would place on my life given I like to swim. I was lucky to get fast tracked for the port and it was fitted the day before I had chemo. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic in a radiology day case unit. It involved a bot of pulling around, but no worse than going to the dentist. What made it such a good move was that I soon learned I was metastatic so would be having continuing treatment. So it remained in place. I have been in remission for some time thanks to immunotherapy and haven’t had treatment through it for over a year. I just have to go to get it flushed once every 4-6 weeks. I coincide one of them with the surveillance bloods. It’s never given me a moment’s bother. 

Thank you and long may your remission continue.   I love to swim too, managed a couple in-between the mastectomy and first chemo, but banded now due to risk of infection. 

Daughter had a picc line for her first eight chemos. It was fine but a nuisance - no swimming and the faff of a rubber 'sleeve' when showering. Post surgery and radiotherapy, it was decided she needed 14 further chemos. She chose to have a port fitted and it has been great. She swims regularly and has had no problems with it at all.

Very best wishes for your successful treatment. xxx

Thank you Cherry, I guess she swims in the ocean as my team told me no swimming due to swimming pools being a hot bed of germs. I can't wait to get swimming again.  I am having it fitted on 5th March just before my next chemotherapy.   Relieved as the veins have proved challenging for the last two sessions.