Hi @dorcarvajal Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Congratulations on your port removal! Wow, this is a moment of celebration for you! Three years is a really long time to have to deal with a port! Yes, it’s convenient for blood work and all the chemo, meds, fluids running through the ‘mixer’…. But I remember how long it took daily to put the waterproof barrier over the top just to take a shower and the inconvenience under clothing!

The biggest triumph is that you no longer need it! I can feel the jubilation in your words! It’s a feeling like no other…that visceral sense of accomplishment when you have faced the most aggressive battle of your life and came out the other side as a victor. Yes! The birds sing louder, you enjoy the buzzing of the bees, you have a sense of calm and patience. Do you also feel a brain shift in that you no longer have a tolerance for negativity and anger? There is a new appreciation for every moment and each day is a gift. Yes, I’ve been there! ☺️

Sharing your story is what Mayo Clinic Connect is all about. We are a community of people who have our own journeys to share. By doing so we help each other by offering encouragement, answering questions and most of all, giving a sense of hope.

May I ask what brought you to Connect?
Again, a heartfelt congratulations! I think all the fireworks for today, being the 4th of July, will be for you. Lori.