Chemo port issues

Posted by ronzee50 @ronzee50, Apr 21 9:12pm

Has anyone had white spots appear on the skin surrounding their port?I’ve had it for 4months and it was fine. All of a sudden white spots have appeared and they are tender. They look like the kind you would get in your throat when you have an infection.

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Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Apr 22 8:23am

Hi @ronzee50 Those white, tender spots could be a sign of a staph infection. Please go to Urgent care or call your Oncologist ASAP. I don’t want to alarm you but those port infections can turn serious quite quickly.
Do you have an elevated temperature?

jaxfl | @jaxfl | Apr 22 8:41am

Yes. Call or message your clinic ASAP.

I have not had this symptom but sometimes I have an annoying itch near the port and occasionally some discomfort in the neck where it corresponds with where I believe the port was installed.

ronzee50 | @ronzee50 | Apr 22 12:09pm

In reply to @loribmt "Hi @ronzee50 Those white, tender spots could be a sign of a staph infection. Please go..." + (show)

No fever. I sent a message with a pic to my oncologist yesterday. No response yet.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Apr 22 2:33pm

In reply to @ronzee50 "No fever. I sent a message with a pic to my oncologist yesterday. No response yet." + (show)

@ronzee50 Please do not wait for a portal reply! Either call your oncologist or go to urgent care. ASAP . Having had a port myself, what you’re describing is an urgent matter! Don’t take chances with waiting. Infections around ports can be very serious with the potential to go systemic. Please call your oncology team.

ronzee50 | @ronzee50 | Apr 22 3:54pm

I am in the ER now, waiting to be seen. Hopefully, all will be taken care of here. The oncology doctor indicated they may have to remove the port. Thankfully, I finished all my chemo for now and am waiting for bladder removal surgery on May 8.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Apr 23 7:58am

In reply to @ronzee50 "I am in the ER now, waiting to be seen. Hopefully, all will be taken care..." + (show)

Hi @ronzee50. I’ve been thinking about you this morning and hope everything went ok yesterday for you. Ports are great for having chemo/infusions/blood draws while in treatment but they can be notorious for infections. If you did end up having yours removed yesterday, the timing sounds good with your having completed all the chemo for now.
Wishing you well on your upcoming surgery. I know none of this is easy…simply put, cancer stinks! But we do the treatments, have the procedures, then heal and move forward! But if you ever feel uncertain about something, don’t hesitate to call your provider for direction.
Will you please me know how you’re doing?

ronzee50 | @ronzee50 | Apr 24 12:42pm

Hi all. My port was removed yesterday. It turns out that the white spot turned out to be part of the portal coming through the skin. So, they are running tests to see if there is any infection because of it

Unfortunately, I had to stay in the hospital overnight on Tuesday to get the port removed on Wednesday. Of course, they had to run tests on me and found that I have a DVT in my left leg. So I am stuck in the hospital while determine how to treat it. I’m not sure if all this is going to affect my May 8th surgery. Day at a time right now.