PICC line

[Lydia666]

Those who had a PICC line, is it painful to insert and a nuissance to wear for 5 weeks??

Turns out Xeloda is not covered in Canada, so have to get the 5FU.

Thanks.

[midlifemom]

I have not had a PICC, but my son has several times. Due to his age it was inserted under anesthesia but could have been done under just a local. It did not bother him when it was in, after the first few hours, when it was tender, taken care of with an ice pack.

[MSJC]

I had one put in while awake, it was a little uncomfortable but not painful, I only kept it for a few days and had no problems with it.

[Nik Colon]

I have a port so not sure. Are they doing a picc because of length of time?

[Lydia666]

Well, i don't know... They say 5 weeks, then it's out and i'll have a break before and after surgery, then port for 6 months probably. They claim i might not need chemo after surgery, although i doubt it.

Is the port that much better? Less visible?

[Nik Colon]

If you are going to need a port for future I would just get a port. Port, nothing is hanging outside you, it's completely under your skin

[Tanya]

if you have bed veins, don't think , port it the best choice.

[CRguy]

Those who had a PICC line, is it painful to insert and a nuissance to wear for 5 weeks??
Turns out Xeloda is not covered in Canada, so have to get the 5FU.
Thanks.

Had a powerport for FOLFOX after my recurrence.
Would not have a PICC line ... just me

Xeloda IS covered in Canada ( BC at least ) with certain protocols.

I had it funded with chemoradiation PRE surgery, and paid my own way as adjuvant AFTER surgery ...



See if you can push for a port AND / OR contact Roche for patient reimbursement for some of the Xeloda costs.
PM me for more info ... ????

CR on the Journey

[Ontario Guy]

For what it's worth, I had FOLFOX through a PICC and I didn't find it a problem. Insertion requires a few X-rays and a sterile environment. The line has to be flushed once a week but that's about it for maintenance. The only restriction is that you can't get it wet. Since I don't swim that wasn't a concern.

As for Xeloda vs 5-FU, you don't say what province you live in and what's covered in one province may not be in another. I had quite a discussion with Cancer Care Ontario about this. CCO doesn't fund Xeloda. It doesn't fund oxaliplatin if taken with Xeloda, even if the patient has other sources of funding (drug insurance). It does fund oxaliplatin if taken with 5-FU. It seems weird, but there is a sort of logic to it if you start looking at the money involved.

That said, I am two and a half years out from FOLFOX and still here (yay!). The PICC worked very well, I managed to work a way of taking showers without getting it wet, and it went in and came out easily.

Best,

OG

[Lydia666]

Thank you! Thank you!

I guess 5 weeks, i can handle it. I have to. I dont want to cause any more delays by requiring a port. They told me it was possible i wont need chemo after surgery, although i doubt it. But that's their reason for the picc line.

Things are moving so slowly- i am going crazy. Every week i seem to talk to yet another doc but nothing gets done. Next Wed i will see the radio- oncologist and it is not even sure if she will do my measurements for radiation then!!' I am losing my mind!

[Ontario Guy]

As a lot of people on this site will advise, breathe.

I understand how slowly all this seems to be moving. If you haven't met your radiation oncologist yet, it is likely that your first visit won't involve the simulation session. That requires a CT with lasers and things. Just getting to know your onc can be an event in itself. If you can, bring a friend with a notebook to write down things you won't remember later on.

For me, the time between DX and the actual start of treatment (two months) was a good time to put my affairs in order - bank accounts in common with my spouse, POAs, etc. - and to inform family, friends, enemies, and the like, of what was about to happen. I also read up on anything I could find about colorectal cancer and its treatment, so that I could better participate in what was to come. Since you have already had another form of the disease, you are way up on where I was. Still, increasing knowledge is a very good way to lower anxiety. As it happens, my cancer centre has a decent library. If yours does, you could start there. And, by all means, ask as many questions as you like here.

As for no chemo after surgery, if you don't need it, hurrah! I was very cool through most of my treatment: chemo-rad, pain management, surgery. But so-called adjuvant chemo is in a class by itself. Not impossible by any means, just a slog. Nothing compared to what some of the Stage IVs around here have gone through. Brownbagger is getting near his 100th infusion. I had 8 - big whoop - but I still found it tough going. If your team doesn't recommend it, so much the better.

Good luck,

OG

[Lydia666]

Wow! Two months!!!

Yes, on the 29th i am meeting the radiation oncologist and i dont know if the scan will happen the same day or again in another week and another week! She told my doc she dill try to do it the same day but i dont know what it depends on?!

[SugarBubbie]

I did the PICC line for my anal cancer. Nothing to it. I had it inserted and removed while totally awake and no drugs. My hubby had to flush it (MD Anderson made him take a class on it) and I wrapped it in saran wrap when taking a shower to keep it dry. I used the port for my breast cancer, had surgery to insert it and local to remove it. I prefer the port if doing a lot of chemo. Just easier on the veins I believe (not to mention me since I could get it wet).

[Ontario Guy]

She told my doc she will try to do it the same day but I don't know what it depends on?!

Probably availability of machines or the personnel to run them.

As for the two months between my initial colonoscopy and start of chemo-rad, aside from all the personal stuff there were also multiple consults with family doctor, surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, not to mention CT, MRI, sigmoidoscopies (two of those) and I can't remember how many other tests. As I recall, there was also a question of who was to pay for the chemo in chemo-rad - Cancer Care Ontario, my former employer (I'm retired but still covered), or my private insurance. I was far from bored. Probably you won't be, either.

Keep remembering to breathe.

Best,

OG

[msbfava]

I have to laugh at this topic remembering my own experience. I work at a clerk on a surgical floor in the hospital. So when I was diagnosed with cancer .. one of the doctors I work with put it in for me because I was so anxious about it. One of our gorgeous ortho doctors held my hand while he put it in. He also sang to me. Too funny, but to answer your question, no it did not hurt, just a little uncomfortable. If I ever had to have another one put in it would not brother me.