Should I get a Port?

Question

I am 24 and starting chemo for Hodgkins on wednesday. I have difficult but not impossible veins and they reccomend a port. I hopefully will only get six sessions of chemo spaced out every two weeks. I dont want another scar or a port a cath that will show under my clothes etc... so i decided agianst it. anybody have thoughts on the pros and cons of ports?

Answer 1

Hello

I am sorry about your diagnosis and wish you all the best.



Pros of a portacath :

No IV sticks, No sticks for blood draws.

A simple puncture to access the cath when blood is needed

or you are going to get your medication.



Cons of the portacath.

INFECTION

It is a small round shaped device that is implanted under the skin

just below the collar bone.

Most people will not notice it. But you will.

It does leave a scar when it is removed.

Biggest risk is INFECTION. You have to depend on all your caregivers to have good technique when ever they access your portacath, and when ever they are administrating your medications.



I think they are wonderful for people who will be receiving longer term medication administration then you are going to receive especially people who do not have good veins.

However you state that you don;t mind the IV sticks so why do it.



Another option to consider if you did need some kind of access would be a PICLINE. Which is a longer term access device that is placed in your antecubital area and can be hidden under your sleeves. However it has the same risks as the portacath.



See how it goes with the IV sticks before you decide is my opinion.



I wish you all the best.

Answer 2

The chemo drugs will scar and destroy your veins so I'd highly recommend a port. I was treated with some very strong antibiotics and they burned going into my vein, however when I had a picc line (peripherally inserted central catheter) inserted I didn't feel a thing. I don't have any visible scars left after the picc line either. I was 28 when I had my aortic vavle transplant, which is why I was on antibiotics in the first place.

Answer 3

Best of luck with this. Talk it over again with your oncologist. Although a port would be noticeable in a formal gown or revealing top or swim suit, it may make your therapy much easier on you because some chemo is very sclerosing to the veins. And it wouldn't just be used for the 6 sessions of chemo---blood can be drawn from it (and you'll have plenty of blood draws, believe me), you could require IV therapy like fluids or antibiotics which could also be given through it, and if your chemo is nauseating, anti emetics can be given through it, or blood/blood products, as well. Eventually, it would have to be removed when therapy is completed, but you may find it's worthwhile to have a port for a while.



Best of luck. I'll keep you in my thoughts. This cancer is beatable!

Answer 4

I think that having a port is much easier to access but since you are only having six sessions then I would not get one but if you end up having to have more than six sessions I would get a port. In an emergency situtation ports are very easy to access. Also if you start having problems with your chemo treatments I would get a port.

Answer 5

I understand your concern... if you are okay with being stuck numerous times, then I say good decision... I would choose the same. I would rather have the nurse have to stick me 2-3 times to get a vein, than have a port put in.



BUT- you may end up needing a port in the long run for some other reasons. This will just be a pospone for you... you can make that decision should it ever come up again.



Pros- no more needle sticks (IV and blood draws can be done through a port)



Cons- risk for infection, risk for punctured lung

Answer 6

I didn't get one and I did six months of chemo. There was only one instance of having repeated sticks and that was because I had a very early morning appointment and was a little dehydrated. That's a pretty good track record for me because my veins can be a little tricky. Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Answer 7

Yes, get a port. I had Hodgkin's and had a low-profile port implanted. You can barely see it. Six sessions probally means six cylces, which is a total of 12 infusions. Also like someone else mentioned, blood can be drawn from the port. If you need surgery (additional biopsy, splenectomy,etc) it comes in quite handy.



The only cons I can think of is the pontential for infection, which I am not too worried about. Before every dentist appoitment you will need to take antibiotics. That's about it. The surgery isnt that bad and you can go home the same day. That being said though, if you are recently diagnosed life can become quite the whirlwind. Another surgery can add to that. That being said,all in all, I would highlu recommend getting a medi-port.



Good luck

Answer 8

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. There are many things to consider when deciding on a port or not.



First: Cost, mine cost (with plastic surgeon, hospital fees, Etc) about $10-11,000. My insurance completely covered this.



Second: Conveinence, I know you don't think so now, but 6 treatments are going to go very fast. Are they putting you on ABVD? It is much more conveinent to have the port when administering chemo. It is one stick for the whole couple of hours you are there. You will be getting blood drawn every treatment and different medications to help your blood count like steroids, procrit, etc, put in the IV (They will tell you everything you are getting) But if you have an IV in every 2 weeks, it shouldn't be so bad, but the port doesn't fail!!! Your veins may. Then you would have to delay treatment which could give you a worse prognosis ( I had 12 treatments and 4 wks of radiation).



Third: Vanity I am kind of a vane person, and worry about how I look. You will very soon outgrow this with a cancer diagnosis. My port is placed in a nondiscreet location right below my collarbone. The straps of tank tops cover it, but in a bikini you can see it. You learn that it doesn't matter because you are healthy and alive. And you will soon be part of this exclusive club that you will embrace called "Survivorship".



Obviously I am all for the port. I barely have a scar. I know I had a great doctor insert the port though.



Good luck and keep your head up!!! Any more info you need let me know. Just to let you know I am also 24 also and was diagnosed 11 months ago and have been in remission for 3 months.

Answer 9

My father-in-law asked me the same question and I advised that he get the port. He was thrilled with it. It was completely under his skin so that he did not have to worry about infection from an indwelling cath. Infection is a major life-threatening complication of chemotherapy. Anything that you can do to lessen the threat will help your odds of fighting infection and not missing any of your chemo. I have drawn blood from lots of patients in the hospital. Giving chemo through a vein is VERY hard on the vein. It is not the same as a simple stick to get blood or even a simple IV solution. These drugs are very hard on your body because they have to be very hard on you to kill all the cancer. I vote - get the port!

Answer 10

The port is the way to go - I had one and had it in over a six month period - easy to access for blood work and the chemo. When chemo is over it can be taken out within weeks - the scar is barely noticeable after about a year. With summer almost over you will be wearing clothing which will definitely cover the port - it really is not bad and saves the stress of being poked every two weeks - good luck to you.

Answer 11

You need to get the port. The scar will be small. You also can ask for a pass-port. They are small and go on the inner aspect of your arm. The port prevents multiple IV sticks plus it prevents extravasation. extravasation is when the IV comes out of the vein and goes into the tissue in your body. It depends what type of chemo you are getting, but some extravasation can cause amputation of the limb. I give chemo everyday and ports are the way to go

Answer 12

a ported field will continually out carry out a sealed field in sound high quality, reaction, and with any sort of song. they key's to have a top outfitted and tuned ported field. those that say a ported field is greater perfect for a undeniable sort of song over yet another....is ultimate for low deep bass yet no longer the better bass (40-80Hz)...have not had a top made and tuned one. genuine, a ported field would be greater suitable to make amends for the port's quantity. you are able to song a ported field to grant a flat reaction, in basic terms like a sealed field, yet in addition get the earnings of the low end bass. for a sealed field to create that low end, it would prefer to be approximately as huge as your motor vehicle. for spl applications and ported field is a could because of the fact it strikes greater air. (surely, a ported field creates greater inner rigidity than a sealed one.) if sound high quality substitute right into a undertaking, then why do such different dwelling house theatre set united stateshave a ported sub? back, the nice and comfortable button is all interior the tuning...it is going to be tuned on your objective. a sealed field can't be tuned.in the adventure that your objective is sound high quality, then in basic terms song it to attain a flat reaction.

Answer 13

I am a nurse and have some experience with this. I recommend the port. Even if you had incredible veins the chemo would weaken them, causing you to be stuck over and over. The port is barely visible. Anything other than getting the port would just be torture to you.

There is a risk of infection with getting the port inserted but I've seen one infected port in 9 years of nursing.

Answer 14

I am getting 8 treatments and I did get a port. No problem with it and its easy to access for the nurses. No pain for me. To me its a win - win situation. The scar isn't that bad, maybe 2 inches and my doc put it where I am still wearing tank tops and nobody can see it.

Answer 15

i have small veins and i also decided against a port...the doctors wonted me to get a port...ive had 12 rounds chemo and no port....

Answer 16

I'm assuming that a port is an IV that they leave in.

Upside is, You won't have to feel the pain of getting an IV inserted every 2 weeks.

Downside is that it'll probably show.

Answer 17

pro, there are alot of injections into veins, there will be many more scars, please consider the port-best option, it really does not give a bad scar and will save your life.

Answer 18

there are some small ports that are really discreet. if your doctor rec commended it, i would get it.

Answer 19

I dunno what a "port" like you're describing is.



Can I put you in my prayers, however? You're welcome