How to prepare for getting a chest port for chemo?

I made shirts for my brother by putting a zipper from the neckline down at an angle. I used a 9” inch zipper in his favorite brand of shirt, I made him 5 since he has 5 days of chemo in a row, this way he can be comfortable in the type of shirt he likes.
If anyone needs a picture to copy it, just private message me. It is pretty easy.

Button up shirts are good and any loose fitting t-shirt works. Just so shirt can be pulled to the side a little to access the port. Does not take much to do this. Getting a port goes pretty smoothly and it heals fairly quick but it is a foreign object in your body so tell her it will be ok. So necessary for treatment. I pray all goes well for her during this difficult time.

Expect some pain for about a week. My mom who is very fragile got one 3 weeks ago and now is very thankful to have it after starting chemo. She should ice it as much as she can tolerate the first few days. The actual wound is small and should heal quickly. My mom is now having a few issues like how to wear a seat belt without it rubbing the port which can cause it to get soar.

@kdeacon19 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I do hope your mom is feeling better each day. I found some chest port seatbelt covers on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Chemo-Port-Pillow-for-Post-Surgery/dp/B08BLLP1ZR that might be of help. Or, if you are crafty or have someone nearby who is, you could use this design to make one for your mom?
Ginger

You can get a cover for the seat belt. Furry or fuzzy with velcro that fits around the belt that touches your chest. It will help.

Having a similar implant in March - and still using it for chemo- my experience has been one of minimal discomfort or inconvenience. A week later, she’ll forget about it except being thankful that chemo is easy. I was initially reluctant to have something inserted but better sense prevailed. It does not interfere with clothing though she may initially find sleeping positions have to be adjusted slightly. Good luck….. Mike

The best thing I have ever done was to get an implant for chemo and blood tests. There is a minor discomfort, but nothing compared to injecting chemo into the veins or looking for veins for blood draws. Using the port is almost painless, just a small jab.

My husbands was just a day surgery and only prep was just as for any day surgery. He actually had his first infusion the day after it was placed. He loves his port as it makes blood draws, IVs, Scans with contrast, and his infusions so painless and easy.

Mayo in Phoenix implanted an intravascular Port-A-Cath almost as soon as they realized that I had stage 3C ovarian cancer. It was within days.
I donot know the name of the manufacturer, but it definitely made my treatments more tolerable.

Its not very painful but I was glad to get it out...now have to get second one 3 years later so not happy about that but better than veins and mine are scarred from a year drug trial! It is standable but I found sometimes it hurts when the nurses prick it to use it. Im with you on don't want anything implanted. Good luck hope it all goes well!