tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post10392752647218926..comments2023-12-24T15:15:24.647-05:00Comments on Kate Has Cancer: I'm Not Doing It, The Port That IsJim's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03158792309730805894noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-85202086338395945872016-01-17T12:42:16.772-05:002016-01-17T12:42:16.772-05:00thanks for the write up. I am FINALLY getting my p...thanks for the write up. I am FINALLY getting my port out after 1 chemo session. I was very sick that week. I had enough. So I have to wait 3 weeks for the dam thing to get out. I hate this feeling in my neck. I have to sleep on the couch and not my bed. My veins were fried the first time I had breast cancer stage 1 in 2002. This is my second time with breast cancer on the opposite side and stage one. <br />Nadinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03200756600017331382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-91047662091907299532013-10-01T12:03:55.260-04:002013-10-01T12:03:55.260-04:00Looking at the bruise forming on the back of my ha...Looking at the bruise forming on the back of my hand (from treatment Friday), I ask myself if I did the right thing. Still, all in all, I think the port just isn't for me. ~KateJim's Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03158792309730805894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-20821583103385419492013-09-30T10:25:55.992-04:002013-09-30T10:25:55.992-04:00Thanks for the helpful info. I completely lost it ...Thanks for the helpful info. I completely lost it and broke down right in my doctor's presence on the day I learned I'd be needing a port...<br /><br /> I'm glad you made the decision that feels right for you at this time. Nancy's Pointhttp://www.nancyspoint.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-69751143149614426192013-09-28T20:17:55.276-04:002013-09-28T20:17:55.276-04:00I was really scared that my port infection would r...I was really scared that my port infection would result in sepsis. There's no fooling around with these infections. ~KateJim's Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03158792309730805894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-77370663778833812782013-09-28T20:16:40.683-04:002013-09-28T20:16:40.683-04:00I wish I'd had a better discussion about the p...I wish I'd had a better discussion about the pros and cons of each side before getting it installed in the first place. I am pretty sure they went left because they thought I might get radiation on my right breast because that's where the tumour was. What they didn't seem to understand is that I have Stage IV cancer and there is little point in using surgery or radiation on my breast at this point. Geez, I'd need radiation head to toe!<br /><br />And I will post the pictures soon. Our puppy Mango is beautiful, though troublesome. ~KateJim's Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03158792309730805894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-80679279253970259352013-09-28T20:11:00.542-04:002013-09-28T20:11:00.542-04:00My husband's friend Donald Cyr shared another ...My husband's friend Donald Cyr shared another consideration which I'm copying from Facebook:<br /><br />"Something I can add to the pros/cons of ports thanks to what my cancer support group members taught me during last week's session is that they can (and do) set off some security alarms at some airports. Apparently it is advisable to either travel with the card that comes with the port or a letter from the person's doctor. As well, ensure that whatever documentation you are travelling with has been translated into the language of the country you are travelling to. One of our members mentioned having a lot of difficulty with security at a Barcelona airport due to his documentation only being in English."Jim's Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03158792309730805894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-79993329648862678062013-09-28T20:06:54.335-04:002013-09-28T20:06:54.335-04:00Oh, that is a shame, Laurie.Oh, that is a shame, Laurie.Jim's Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03158792309730805894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-23611476934490076472013-09-28T12:25:40.683-04:002013-09-28T12:25:40.683-04:00I was told that the staff here in Ottawa were trai...I was told that the staff here in Ottawa were trained in how to use power ports but then the hospital decided that not enough of us would use them for it to be cost effective. I wish...lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14533311678025418958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-47449359864379463302013-09-28T12:19:27.123-04:002013-09-28T12:19:27.123-04:00Great post! I'm still sorting through my feeli...Great post! I'm still sorting through my feelings about this port business. One thing: I'm only on herceptin but my veins are already quite damaged from years of chemo. The port stops me from becoming a pincushion and a source of great stress for all. <br />As you know, I miss my left-side post and have found out that my original port surgeon, actually preferred the left side. I'd love to know why.<br />Also: puppy pictures, please.lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14533311678025418958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-30365756579916055052013-09-27T10:56:39.408-04:002013-09-27T10:56:39.408-04:00Here's hoping that if you need one on the righ...Here's hoping that if you need one on the right it will work stellar! My next will have to be on the left. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02720848479838074524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-26691303092690488082013-09-26T16:44:35.302-04:002013-09-26T16:44:35.302-04:00Another con, especially to PICC lines, is that the...Another con, especially to PICC lines, is that they can get infected by the time you are done with chemo. DH had an infection, which they successfully treated, which of course was succeeded by C. diff, because the initial antibiotic killed beneficial bacteria.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-16983673732034276182013-09-25T15:06:29.885-04:002013-09-25T15:06:29.885-04:00Thank you, Carolyn.
I forgot to mention that the ...Thank you, Carolyn.<br /><br />I forgot to mention that the ports on the left side like mine tend to have more problems.<br /><br />~KateJim's Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03158792309730805894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138640911323105852.post-87134347697266570242013-09-25T11:44:50.351-04:002013-09-25T11:44:50.351-04:00Great write up of the pros and cons Kate... I didn...Great write up of the pros and cons Kate... I didn't realize that you had a PICC, or I had forgotten. I reacted to the PICC adhesives, we tried a few different types but my skin was always in some form of irritation. I didn't make notes on the brands... Here in Calgary you have to make an appointment as well, for any access to the PICC line.<br /><br />No one other than chemo nurses could access my port, it was not a power port so that meant the techs at CT scans etc couldn't access it either. There was a problem where the tubes of my port entered the artery and it was removed. I have a lot of scaring from the incisions, and could see the port and the tubes inside my chest, very strange for sure. They told me there is risk of clotting with the ports in your chest. <br /><br />Personally, I think you made the right choice... hugs...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02720848479838074524noreply@blogger.com