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Should you get your chemo port flushed periodically?

Posted by hopenjoy2024 @hopenjoy2024, May 19 5:19pm

Are you supposed to get your chemo port flushed periodically? This is the first time I have heard of such a thing, and my last treatment was October 2024.

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isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | Jun 8 7:49am
In reply to @hopenjoy2024 "Thank you everyone for your replies. I found out there is a difference, depending on if..." + (show)
@hopenjoy2024

Thank you everyone for your replies. I found out there is a difference, depending on if you have an accessible versus under the skin. As a follow up question, has anyone had any issues with their port? Mine has been “uncomfortable” since it was put in, cannot touch it or the area. I also get a rash quite often. It hurt each time it was used (I had a drip and there was only two rounds of chemo).

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@hopenjoy2024 I’m sorry your port is uncomfortable and you’re having issues with it. Mine was truly amazing and became just another part of me. Most of the time I forgot I had it. I stopped using it in May 2022, had 3 monthly flushes and recently had it removed under general anaesthetic because it suddenly stopped working. I wonder why yours is troublesome.

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hopenjoy2024 | @hopenjoy2024 | Jun 8 8:36am

Thanks for the kind words- like everyone’s journey, there seems not to be a standard answer; some had no issues, others had plenty. I hope it is just a mental block because it truly is the worst part of my journey, not sure why but my journey also includes health insurance and finding the right therapist….

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kenc | @kenc | Jun 8 1:21pm

I have an under the skin port. Still looks pretty ugly, bruises and all.

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hopenjoy2024 | @hopenjoy2024 | Jun 8 2:05pm
In reply to @kenc "I have an under the skin port. Still looks pretty ugly, bruises and all." + (show)
@kenc

I have an under the skin port. Still looks pretty ugly, bruises and all.

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Just one of those things we go through.

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aardvark2118 | @aardvark2118 | Jun 8 4:17pm
In reply to @beebe "Hopenjoy, My port creeps me out. It looks so alien. After placement it was bruised for..." + (show)
@beebe

Hopenjoy,
My port creeps me out. It looks so alien. After placement it was bruised for a few months, healed very slowly. It is sensitive to some clothing, has pains that come and go, itches at times, and lets me know when an overhead lifting activity is not good---think the vein gets pressure from the port arms.
My chemo nurse told me I could put a gauze pad over it to keep my clothing off of it, they are sold with some type of gel adhesive so will peel off easily. I am sensitive to many adhesives so won't try it.
Yes, my port hurts each time it is used too, but is better than the alternative of using arm veins. There was a gal in the infusion room yesterday getting Carboplatin through a vein. Her veins are getting damaged from the Chemo, It took two Nurses to locate a vein that was healthy enough to feed a line into. So I am happy to have a port and avoid those consequences.
Have you tried cortisone ointment on your port? Just dab it on. I try to moisture the skin over it daily since chemo dries out your skin I feel it needs help. Hang in there, best of luck!

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Sorry to hear of the issues with the port. I had no issues with the port. Made the infusions easy. Had it flushed every 6 weeks when chemo was completed and the removed a littl over one year after implanted. Hope things settle down

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beebe | @beebe | Jun 9 1:08pm
In reply to @aardvark2118 "Sorry to hear of the issues with the port. I had no issues with the port...." + (show)
@aardvark2118

Sorry to hear of the issues with the port. I had no issues with the port. Made the infusions easy. Had it flushed every 6 weeks when chemo was completed and the removed a littl over one year after implanted. Hope things settle down

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Thanks for the kind words. I have eczema so my skin tends to overreact to stimulus, just something I have to deal with. Thankfully there are a lot of gentle moisturizers available to help settle down the upset stretched out port skin.

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