1. < Breast Cancer

Has anyone had a mediport implanted?

Posted by ova @ova, Aug 7 5:24pm

Just diagnosed with breast cancer stage 2. Having a mediport implanted before my second treatment. I am nervous about it. Should I be? I have been told it makes treatments and blood draws easier and can be used during my surgery when the time comes.

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ova | @ova | Aug 11 9:10pm
In reply to @auntieoakley "When I first got my port, my oncologist said never let anyone but us access this..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

When I first got my port, my oncologist said never let anyone but us access this port because an infection here is a real problem. I agreed, it irritated a nurse once but I just said no. My husband had a different kind of port at Mayo and we trusted them with everything and they accessed that port for everything.
I think it depends on who, where, and the level of trust.
@ova are you being treated at a comprehensive hospital or cancer clinic?

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I am being treated at a facility/hospital that only deals with cancer. They told me that it will be used for treatment, blood, draws, PET scans, MRIs, IVs, and my surgery. I guess because everything is being handled at the same place that I will be able to have them use the port for all procedures. The reason I considered it was because they told me it would be used for everything. I will ask my oncologist on Tuesday to make sure. Thanks for the information.

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ova | @ova | Aug 11 9:15pm
In reply to @bpknitter53 "I also had a mediport implanted - wisest early decision I made for this journey. During..." + (show)
@bpknitter53

I also had a mediport implanted - wisest early decision I made for this journey. During chemo my hands were free - I could read, write or knit. Initially someone suggested applying lidocaine to the port about 30 minutes before treatment to minimize any discomfort when the port was accessed. After a while that was too much trouble - I just breath deeply and there is some slight discomfort but no pain. I completed chemo '22 but still have my port and go about every 6-8 weeks for a port flush. I'm going to find out how long I should keep the port, I've heard of people never having it removed. But as one of the other individuals indicated - nobody else uses the port. So blood draws still from the arm and CT/MRI scan contrasts also through the arm. As I understand there is special training that is required to be certified to use the port so that's probably why it can't be used by other technicians.

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It is funny you mention having your hands free. When I had my first treatment two weeks ago after using the restroom, I kinked the line and it set off alarms. After reading everyone's response to my question, I feel that I made the right decision to get a port. It will be implanted this Tuesday. They mentioned giving me a numbing cream to use before the port is accessed. I told them I definitely wanted it. I am nervous about how it will feel under my skin. I assume that I will eventually get used to it. Thanks for your reply.

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 11 9:20pm
In reply to @ova "I am being treated at a facility/hospital that only deals with cancer. They told me that..." + (show)
@ova

I am being treated at a facility/hospital that only deals with cancer. They told me that it will be used for treatment, blood, draws, PET scans, MRIs, IVs, and my surgery. I guess because everything is being handled at the same place that I will be able to have them use the port for all procedures. The reason I considered it was because they told me it would be used for everything. I will ask my oncologist on Tuesday to make sure. Thanks for the information.

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They are also really good at preventing some of the damage to your veins from the chemotherapy. I am really glad I had one.

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bpknitter53 | @bpknitter53 | Aug 12 8:33pm

The only thing I think to be concerned when having the mediport implanted is it's placement. Mine periodically gets rubbed by my bra strap. So sometimes I'll just place a bandaid over the mediport to minimize the slight irritation. It's not painful just uncomfortable.

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mdr3 | @mdr3 | Aug 13 5:57am

I wouldn't do chemo or any other infusion without it. But then again, the same surgeon who did the mastectomy did the implant as well. I have heard that some implants are more successful than others. If you can make sure of that, I would suggest not to hesitate. And this is my own thought (nothing upheld by doctors or scientists) -- I credit the implant with the success of drug delivery.

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dlmdinia | @dlmdinia | Aug 13 8:51am
In reply to @ova "It is funny you mention having your hands free. When I had my first treatment two..." + (show)
@ova

It is funny you mention having your hands free. When I had my first treatment two weeks ago after using the restroom, I kinked the line and it set off alarms. After reading everyone's response to my question, I feel that I made the right decision to get a port. It will be implanted this Tuesday. They mentioned giving me a numbing cream to use before the port is accessed. I told them I definitely wanted it. I am nervous about how it will feel under my skin. I assume that I will eventually get used to it. Thanks for your reply.

Jump to this post

I'm a side-sleeper, and the port was placed in a spot that made my usual sleep position uncomfortable as it seemed to be jabbing into something. After three nights something must have shifted just enough that the discomfort went away. After that I could feel it when showering or putting on the lidocaine cream before treatment, but otherwise forgot it was there.

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maryanne7 | @maryanne7 | Aug 14 9:10am

Mine was only used for infusions. Nobody else would touch it. I had chemo six times over a few months but I had Herceptin and Perjeta infusions for a year. The port was a good thing.

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raebaby | @raebaby | Aug 14 11:13pm

I had a port implanted at the age of 79. I had no problems with it and it was very handy during my chemo treatments.

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sharon72 | @sharonsturdivan | Nov 1 1:12pm

Hello,
I had my port put in this week. Followed 2 days later by immunotherapy. I am able to see/feel what feels like fishing line running from the cut in my neck to the port. Is this normal? I realize I am not healed yet, but just wondering if I should be concerned?

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jillianb | @jillianb | Nov 2 10:21am

I had the same. Less noticable after port removed

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