Has anyone had a mediport implanted?

Hi!
I had a port. Just removed it about a week ago. I would highly recommend the port. It was easier to drawl blood, chemotherapy was easier too and no bruises or scars on the arm. It's really up to you but for me it made the chemotherapy much better. I hope you the best. Make sure to ear healthy foods and drink plenty of water. Stay 💪 💪

Thank you for your reply. You confirmed what I was told. I am staying strong. This is the beginning of my long journey.....anything to make it easier is appealing. 🙂

Having a port implanted is pretty standard treatment. I think it's ultimately easier for everyone and easier on the body than a needle in the arm everytime. Most of the time you'll forget it's there. I was a little backwards as I had surgery before chemo, so my port was implanted during my lumpectomy. After chemo was finished it was removed at my surgeon's office with only a local anesthetic. It took 15 minutes.

I would highly recomend a port. Old radiology nurse here and patient.
If you need any CT scans or other testing requiring IV solutions/medications it can be used.
Arm veins easily collapse and bruising easy to happen if no port available.
I just finished chemo and my port was a godsend. also surgery can cause lymph edema, may not be able to use surgical arm for awhile. I had lumpectomy and had swelling for a few months. Port will be SO HELPFUL!! Sending positive strength to you in your journey. You Got this!!
P.S. Ice was my best pain reliever post surgery 😉 lots of it

Made chemo much easier. I still have mine and it just gets flushed every 6-8 weeks. Will have it removed once it’s determined no more treatment needed. To me the only downside is that no one else will use it. They don’t use it for blood draws, couldn’t use it for the last MRI or CT. In fact no one will use it except the chemo infusion center down here.

Thanks for the info and sending the positive strength. Scary time, but I am doing my best to stay positive and strong. Mediport and 2nd Treatment on Tuesday. Sounds like I made the right decision to have the port. Hugs.

I am sorry to hear that yours can only be used for chemo. I was told that mine can be used for blood draws, MRIs, CTs, and surgery. I wish you all the best.

I also had a mediport implanted - wisest early decision I made for this journey. During chemo my hands were free - I could read, write or knit. Initially someone suggested applying lidocaine to the port about 30 minutes before treatment to minimize any discomfort when the port was accessed. After a while that was too much trouble - I just breath deeply and there is some slight discomfort but no pain. I completed chemo '22 but still have my port and go about every 6-8 weeks for a port flush. I'm going to find out how long I should keep the port, I've heard of people never having it removed. But as one of the other individuals indicated - nobody else uses the port. So blood draws still from the arm and CT/MRI scan contrasts also through the arm. As I understand there is special training that is required to be certified to use the port so that's probably why it can't be used by other technicians.

When I first got my port, my oncologist said never let anyone but us access this port because an infection here is a real problem. I agreed, it irritated a nurse once but I just said no. My husband had a different kind of port at Mayo and we trusted them with everything and they accessed that port for everything.
I think it depends on who, where, and the level of trust.
@ova are you being treated at a comprehensive hospital or cancer clinic?

You are correct in that. The technicians and maybe even the phlebotomists aren’t supposed to use them. They send me to an imaging facility for CTs and they say they legally can’t use them. At the last MRI, I asked because they had me come early to access the port but then he started a catheter because it would take too long to get a nurse to access the port. I’m currently have minor surgery not related to the cancer and mentioned the port for anesthesia but she said they won’t use them “because everyone isn’t good at disinfecting the. Like they should be”. So it is most likely so they’re not responsible for an infection at the port. As you said, depends on who’s doing it and the level of trust in their ability.