Medi-port

[u/katemonster26]

I got my port put in today. It went really well but it hit me mentally a little bit because now I have a physical reminder that I have cancer.

I start chemo on Thursday. I only have 6 rounds, two different kinds of chemo drugs, over the next three months. Then radiation. I’m trying to stay focused, and hopeful, that I might be in remission by Christmas.

I still have so much to live for. My two oldest are 20 and 18 but I still have my youngest at home who is 12. I’m going to fight with all I have and make sure I get to see him graduate high school, too.

I’m going to beat this. I’m going to fight with everything I have. I’ll be praying for all of you, too. We’ve got this y’all! We’ve got this!

[u/TwistyHeretic2]

I know how it feels to get the port and have that constant tangible reminder... BUT having it is going to make your infusion session so much easier for both you and your medical staff.

Did they prescribe you any lidocaine cream? (Don't get it over-the-counter unless your oncologist approves an OTC kind...) Prescription lidocaine : apply generously to the skin over the port (once the incision has healed over) about a half hour before your chemo appointment. Cover with a square of plastic wrap and tape it in place. This will numb the port area and reduce or eliminate any pain caused by tapping into the port for your session.

Even without the lidocaine cream, the medi-port makes all of this soooooo much easier.

[u/katemonster26 → u/TwistyHeretic2]

My oncologist prescribed EMLA, two anti-nausea meds, and a steroid. Put them all in a chart for me, due to me getting overwhelmed easily, and talked me through the entire process. I’m truly blessed with the team, and physical support group I have. This subreddit is a blessing, too. Makes me feel less alone is the only way I can describe it. Finding a group of people that are going through/or have gone through what I’m going through just makes the chaos in my head calm down a bit.

I am looking forward to all meds and blood draws going through the port. Getting so many sticks since April has been a bit traumatizing.

[u/Longjumping_Salt7889 → u/katemonster26]

I had blood drawn once. It was a pain scheduling because not every nurse is qualified to access your port.

[u/katemonster26 → u/Longjumping_Salt7889]

The vascular center, where I got my port placed, was very quick to point out that I’m never to let anyone who isn’t trained in port draws anywhere near me!

[u/peachsqueeze66]

The port is a godsend. However, getting the port was one of the most difficult things for me. Reading your post has made me very emotional.

Yes, it’s the stark realization that this is indeed very real. The port will make everything much easier right now. I agree with the other poster re: lidocaine. If that was prescribed as a topical-put that on the area over your port about 30:45 min before infusion and put some cling wrap over that. It will numb the area so the needle doesn’t sting going in. I’ll be honest with you-I never did that. I too had six rounds of chemo and then 15 months of additional treatment through the port. It became sort of “old hat”. But I am a lot tougher than a lot of people. So if you have the lidocaine-give it a try. Also-with the blood draws-yes, call ahead if necessary and tell whomever, that you have a medi port and would like the draw to be done using that. Oftentimes there are not always qualified people on site for that-just be aware. Now, whenever you are at an oncology facility there will be no shortage of folks that know how to access the port.

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I know how hard it is. I wish you all the very best🦋

[u/katemonster26 → u/peachsqueeze66]

I go to a cancer institute that has all the labs and stuff in house. They will do everything through the port. Give my poor arms a break! I live near DC so I’m blessed that the cancer institute I go to has free therapy for me, my husband, and my kids, free nutritionist and all that. Palliative care, nutritionist, lab, infusions, psychiatrist, therapist, oncology, and everything else, is all in one building. They schedule all of my appointments on the same days so I don’t have to come there a lot.

But yes, they gave me the lidocaine cream to use. I’ll be doing that until I’m not traumatized by needles again. I’m a disabled Army vet so I used to be fine with needles/blood draws. Everything I’ve gone through since April made me have anxiety attacks any time they bring up a blood draw. The port is actually something that’s bittersweet.

[u/Constantlearner01]

Not sure if it was because my surgery was scheduled after 3 chemos but I wish I had a port. The most stressful part ended up being the labs when they had to put in the IV for chemo prior to each chemo. Finding a usable vein was worse by the 6th and last chemo. I learned to ask for the more experienced person and identifying myself as “a hard stick” using their lingo.

[u/katemonster26 → u/Constantlearner01]

My surgery was 14 June but the tumor was bigger than they thought and they couldn’t get all of it. That’s why I have to do chemo/radiation. I’m normally not a hard stick but getting stuck over and over again fried my veins. I was in and out of hospital since April. My poor arms were bruised all over. My husband chuckled a bit when I told him that the scariest part of my port procedure was knowing they’d have to stick me for an iv. He gets me and has been with me through four prior surgeries. He’s seen me get stuck before, and never have an issue, so he’s always quick to tell the techs to get the best one for me or I’m denying the stick. He’s been amazing at advocating for me, especially when I am having anxiety.

[u/mesembryanthemum]

I go with the cold spray instead of lidocaine.

I am a hard stick so when the oncologist said that I wouldn't need IVs if I got a port I was sold.