Portacath problem

[Liz2011]

Mum couldn't have round 3 of Folfox today because there is a problem with the portacath. They need to remove this one and put a new one in in a slightly different location apparently... This means that round 3 will be delayed by 10 days. The silver lining is that she gets to spend a week feeling decent. She was in floods of tears though when I spoke to her.

Chemo, we hate you yet we want you...

Has any of you experienced similar problems with the portacath? Wonder if she's in the best hands sometimes...

L

[SkiFletch]

Port problems are not normal, but far from unusual. Sorry your mum has to go through it, especially the feelings regarding the chemo. Such a conundrum those are

[Lee]

Sometimes people have problems with them, not sure why. I had my port in for 2 years when I suddenly had to get it removed. My port had been placed in my right breast and it kind of "moved" during a mamogram . I was finished with chemo, but they were unable to access it for my monthly flush, thus it was removed. The surgeon/Dr who took it out was O.K. with putting it back where it was suppose to be (I was awake during the removal), but told him no, I wanted it gone.

Lee

[jjlist]

the incision opened up wide on my first one 5 weeks after finishing neo adjuvant chemo rad . i could literarly see a sliver of the port through the incision. My surgeon said the chemo weekend my healing and thats why it opened up 10 weeks after it was put in. yeah right........ He told me it had to come out. I was scheduled for my resection in another 10 days, i told him i will just keep it covered and replace it when i am on the table for the resection. He agreed to it and put me on an oral antibiotic to keep it from getting infected. After he replaced it (on the other side of my chest) the new incision was a nice clean line and closed with glue. I remember the first one was jagged and closed with 3 widely spaced stiches. It looked like I could have stitched it better. now i have another ugly hole and scar on my chest I am convinced he botched that one up. I never made it an issue cause i had other things to deal with, and didnt feel like suing my surgeon. maybe i should have.

[RixInPhx]

I got my first port, right clavical, in July '10.
Worked flawlessly thru Jan of this year.

Then, at every infusion the nurse were getting a 'poor draw', so they tried the cath-clearing gymnastics and the special flush solution.
Everytime, Feb thru April.
And everytime, they had to draw blood for labs thru an arm IV; no biggie, I have great veins.
And the infusion went IN thru the portacath just fine everytime.

By end of April, the onc took note when I complained, and arranged for a CT scan.
Which showed that the catheter down my carotid vein had coiled all the way back on itself to the point of vein insertion!
The surgeon said this condition isn't unheard of, but most often occurs to large-breasted women for some reason, perhaps sleeping position.
I have slight man-boobs, but nothing that rates a "man-bra'
I do sleep only on my side, often with the lower arm stretched to th headboard. :shrug:
I have a souvenir of the CT screen showing the coil, that I took with my phone camera.

They removed the old port and inserted a new one, which has been fine until now.
At yesterday's infusion, we were again getting a poor draw, but that changed with the gymnastics.
We'll see how this progresses.

Find out from your mum's onc just what the problem is with her port.

So portacaths can fail in some odd ways.
Hope all goes smoothly with her chemo holiday!
-Rick

[Kathryn in MN]

Problems arise with ports - it doesn't mean anything about a medical team. Some people never have an issue, and others have constant problems. I am on my third port, and it isn't doing well lately either...

It is good that they noticed the problem, rather than going ahead with chemo. If the catheter doesn't run into the vein the way it should, it can cause a lot of problems.

While treatment goes almost like clockwork for some people, for the majority something will go "wrong" on the journey. You have to learn to breath, and take it in stride, or it will make you crazy! A cycle of chemo might get moved out due to low blood counts, port problems, a blood clot, or another issue. Pushing out one week longer for one cycle really shouldn't make a difference in the long run.

Sorry your mother has to go through this (I do understand, being on my third port). Try to get her to cheer up and enjoy having an extra week to feel better and get stronger before the next chemo. It can really help mentally and physically to get a little break now and then.

[michelle c]

I've never had a problem but it's not unusual. Sorry that your mum has had this happen to her. It's stressful enough without all the unpredictable things that pop up. Just a little bump in the road. xox

[jules10100]

Sorry bout your mum. I've had my port for 4 years, so far no issues! Knock on wood. My is in my left arm and I am always surprised when a Chemo nurse comments that they never see ports in the arm. I don't understand why they don't use the arm rather then the chest.

[NWgirl]

I'm on my 3rd chemo port. The first one I made 10 rounds of Oxi - but the last 3-4 rounds caused increasing pain with each round until it was completely unbearable. My oncologist ordered the port to be removed and we finished up the last 2 rounds on Xeloda.

When I had my recurrence, I had the same surgeon install the port. We discussed the previous problems I had - which no one ever could figure out (other than my oncologist finally said IT'S THE PORT!!). Anyway - she put in a new port - but used a different vein this time. Once again - problems. This time I woke up with a slightly numb right thumb. Over the next couple of weeks the pain started in my lower arm and began working its way up. Similar to the last time - just a slightly different location for the pain and the numb thumb was new.

Due to a serious of other complications I ended up in the hospital and this time had a PA pull that port and put one in on the left side instead of the right. I haven't had ANY problems since. I don't know why the two ports the first surgeon did caused me such extreme pain, but I've decided not to use that particular surgeon (ever) again. I didn't feel she was particularly responsive to my problems - especially the second time around, which didn't help either.

[Terry]

My first one was put in by an interventional radiologist and he put it in in such a way that it was threaded up in my neck and stuck out like a sore thumb (hated that)! Anyway, it would clog up all the time. I spent so much time with them putting in the stuff (forget what it's called) to clear it up it was ridiculous. I seriously had to stand on one foot bent over with my arm over my head to get it to work some times

The 2nd one was put in by a surgeon and he did a beutiful job. No line in my neck and he put it in a great spot. Mine flipped a little though in time so it;s a little harder for them to palpate but still no problem.

Those things do happen. I hope her next one turns out better. Maybe ask for a surgeon to do it if possible. or at least a different interventional rad.

Your poor mom:(

She's in my prayers.
Terry

[Holly]

Personally, my first became infected 6 weeks post placement. My second port was removed shortly aftr final chemo due to possible cracked catheter as it was making a whistling noise when accessed.

I pray your mums second port works flawlessly. All things are possible if you believe.

Hugs,

Holly

[Liz2011]

Thank YOU for sharing your experiences, I will share this with my mum in the hope that it will cheer her up a little.
She's at her wits' end and close to quitting I think. Unfortunately she shared a room on Friday (day when she was due to have the next round of Folfox) with a lady who had been on the hard core chemo for 2 years with only a month break in between tx, so my mum's now convinced that it will be no different for her. I try to tell her that she may have 'easier' chemos in the future if Folfox works well but she's not listening, think she wants out and knows what the outcome will be. I feel so powerless.