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liamcafs
New User
Joined: 23 Mar 2008
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:39 pm Post subject: Port Question |
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A question for people who have had a chemo port in the upper chest.
I had the procedure last Wednesday, all is well I think.
What I wanted to ask though was if it was normal for it to feel a little uncomfortable when i move my head and arm about. It really feels like there is something foreign under my skin and it does not feel particularly good (not painful) though there is a little bit of pain behind my collar bone.
Its not swollen or infected, I can touch and press the port and the incision is healing fine. I was just wondering if this weird feeling improves with time or will I always have this while I have the port.
I have my first round of R-Chop on Friday btw |
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pbj11
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 805
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| Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Port Question |
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Hi Liam,
Can't say for sure whether the feeling will go away, but you shouldn't have any pain in time. If it continues to feel uncomfortable, let the doctor know, because there are those rare instances where they can infect. Both my husband's brother and sister had to get their ports removed for that reason. Same doctor, same hospital, both infected.
Might just take some time to get used to, but my husband slept the first night with no pain or discomfort and had chemo the next morning.
Hopefully this is just a passing thing.
Maybe others will check in with more information.
Good luck!! Everything is new and scary, so feel free to post and there are people here to give support.
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.
Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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liamcafs
New User
Joined: 23 Mar 2008
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject: Re: Port Question |
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thankyou for your advice, i read you moving story and I hope in time that I will be able to help people as you do.
I also slept the first night no problems, but I can't lay on my port side yet (after a week) I have shown my cancer nurse, she wasn't so concerned and thought everything looked ok. |
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pbj11
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 805
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:17 am Post subject: Re: Port Question |
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Liam,
The only other thing I could think of was they told us that men (especially lean men) have the port stick out more than women because women's ports tend to settle into the breast/chest tissue more.
I know my husband's port stuck out pretty far and I used to refer to it as "his little friend." Maybe this makes them more uncomfortable. I really can't say.
Sounds like they are keeping an eye for infection. Just stay on them if it continues to bother you.
Best of luck with your first infusion! Behave yourself, stay hydrated, and take the meds they give you for nausea (if any).
Thank you also for your kind words.
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.
Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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REB
Experienced user
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 83
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:04 am Post subject: Re: Port Question |
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I have firm chest muscles (Not bragging  ), so mine sticks out.
Sometimes the skin gets sensitive over it. When I first got it, the seat-belt irritated it.
I am about to finish chemo next week, but my doctor told me to keep it in for at least a year to a year and a half- unless it becomes a problem. I'll have to flush it every 6 to 8 weeks to keep it open.
One thing he said not to do it to rotate the arm on the side of the body the port is (Left in my case). An example would be swimming. He said it can cause the port to rotate.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41 |
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