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I have a port question - looking for opinions and personal experiences

Posted by cjay @cjay, Aug 10, 2023

I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in early February. I had the tumor and 26 lymph nodes removed, and was given a resection with a temporary ileostomy. I started chemo in May, and I have one more session to go before I’m finished. My reversal surgery, for the ileostomy is already scheduled, and I was planning on having the port removed. Today I was told that it’s common for most patients to keep the port in for one year, and go 6 to 8 weeks for port flushes in the interim. I don’t plan on keeping my port in! I find that it feels very negative, almost like I’m ‘waiting’ for the cancer to return. I feel like if it does return I’ll deal with it then. Am I being pigheaded and obstinate? I really don’t think I can keep it in for a year. Thanks for any opinions and thoughts. 💗

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cjay | @cjay | Aug 12, 2023
In reply to @amyb5 "I had mine removed a few months after treatment in 2021. It never worked very well,..." + (show)
@amyb5

I had mine removed a few months after treatment in 2021. It never worked very well, was itchy, & I got rashes around it. Two years later, cancer came back, & I had a new port placed, on the other side this time, (we figured out that I have an extra rib that was obstructing the first port) it has been without problems. I didn’t miss the port, & didn’t think having a new one placed was a big deal, personally. I now have scars on both sides of my chest, but that doesn’t bother me.

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Scars are the least of my problems right now also! I plan to have it removed and will ask for a referral at my August 22 appointment (also my last chemo round!)

REPLY
margreet | @margreet | Aug 12, 2023

I had colon cancer stage 4 and had surgery and Chemo afterwards. In 2019 ,I preferred a port. I left it in after all the treatment was done as it did not give any discomfort. I left it in for 3 years, almost forgot I had it in. It was convenient for followup CTscans and MRI ‘s over the years instead of putting an IV in each time for the contrast fluid during the procedures. Now I don’t need it anymore. It was never a problem to have it in all these years.
All the best to you,
Margreet

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cjay | @cjay | Aug 12, 2023
In reply to @margreet "I had colon cancer stage 4 and had surgery and Chemo afterwards. In 2019 ,I preferred..." + (show)
@margreet

I had colon cancer stage 4 and had surgery and Chemo afterwards. In 2019 ,I preferred a port. I left it in after all the treatment was done as it did not give any discomfort. I left it in for 3 years, almost forgot I had it in. It was convenient for followup CTscans and MRI ‘s over the years instead of putting an IV in each time for the contrast fluid during the procedures. Now I don’t need it anymore. It was never a problem to have it in all these years.
All the best to you,
Margreet

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Thanks for your input!

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