Chemotherapy Ports - Patient Experience

Chemotherapy "Ports"

The following are reports from various patients posting to the hrpca email support group. A chemotherapy port is officially a central venous catheter (CVC) device. There are various manufacturers of these devices.

My port was installed October 2003. The oncology nurses had too much difficulty finding a vein that could be accessed. A group called, "Interventional Radiology" installed it on the right side, below the collar bone. Mine is fairly prominent. It is used for everything - infusions and blood draws. I have had some intermittent problems with blood draw. The nurses are very careful to avoid infections. I've never heard of that being a problem. There is some increased risk of clots associated with it. Maintenance? Not much - they flush it out before and after use (a small amt of heparin is used along with saline).

There is a lengthy analysis of PORTS and clotting at http://www.hrpca.org/bloodclots.htm -- it is way down the page, so scroll away until you see it. There is also a table indicating where it is best placed. The right side is better than the left.

Net: a port has been a savior to me -- I just hope it keeps working and doesn't need to be replaced. The installation procedure was under sedation -- I was somewhat awake and asked the radiologist what he was doing at one point -- he said "tunneling" and to go back to sleep which I did.

After I had a bad taxotere spill I immediately got a Port-A-Cath implanted. Best thing I ever did!!! I have had it in my body for 6 years and it still works like a charm. Unless you have sloppy oncology nurses who don’t wash their hands and don’t wear sterile gloves I can’t possible see how one could become infected. And I will tell you that Taxotere spill really hurt my hand. See

http://www.ric-masten.net/PCaOdyssey/Prostate%20spill%20page.html And you can read all about Port-A-Cath. See April 4th entry and read all about it. http://www.ric-masten.net/PCaOdyssey/03pc2001.html

I haven’t met anyone yet who had infection problems. And I know a lot of Cancer patients.

My husband, Mark, and I had some fears about ports causing or becoming infected; however, he was encouraged to get one when he was on adriamycin. He has had the port now since December of last year and no problems at all. He feels the pros do outweigh the cons--seems everything we do carries risks.

I am sending this message for Dan. I pained for him as they prodded and poked his hands and wrists after a years of chemo. His veins were collapsing and the nurses patiently tried to find a good vein. Then they would find a vein, but the blood would come out too slow and they would have to find another vein.

Finally, 14 months ago a nurse talked him into getting a port. We went into the hospital at 8am, he had the procedure done, and they wheeled him right into the treatment room for chemo that afternoon. He did have anesthesia.

Although Dan doesn't walk around w/o a tee shirt, he could. You can't see the port, it is completely under the skin. There is just a bump under the skin up by the right collarbone.

As for blood tests or treatments, what a pleasure for Dan! He has all his blood drawn as well as his chemo and zometa with the port. After years of needles and pins, it is just one pin prick and once connected, you can sit and do the crossword puzzle or read a book with both hands during your treatment!!! Any extra shots he gets, Lupron or for the blood count, that goes right into the arm or butt.

It has to be cared for, which the nurses do before and after treatment. If you are 'on vacation' from chemo, you still have to go in and have the port flushed out - Dan doesn't have that problem, he's always having a treatment.

Dan has been very happy with the port.

Editor: Howard Hansen

Date: 6/24/07