Port Infection

[Cb75]

Over the past few months, every time my port was accessed I would have a very strange reaction where I would get chills, start shaking and couldn't breath. Often with vomiting. After complying to my oncologist, he said in a very nonshelant way "it happens sometimes". Yeah, right. A few weeks ago, I developed a fever and ended up in the ER. After a myriad of tests, it turns out that my port had a pretty awful bacteria growing in it. As a result I was admitted for a few days, put on heavy antibiotics and had the port removed. I also had to miss a round of chemo that I really really need after my last awful recurrence. After getting the port out, the surgeon exclaimed that she was surprised, as it wasn't typical for a port to be in for more than three years. Just a heads up for those with a port for a long time, it can turn into a nightmare.

cb <3

[JDinNC]

My port will be in for three years next July. I'm so scare to have it remove because I know the chances of a recurrence somewhere down the road. I 'd be curious to see what was the longest someone had theirs in. Also if you do have your port removed and there's a recurrence...how do you recieve your treatment?

[plastikos]

Sorry to hear about this development. I assume they'll be using a peripheral vein for now? As with any implant or foreign body, infection is always a possibility down the line. Thats why whenever a nurse or even a resident doctor accesses my port I pay particular attention to their technique. It should be aseptic (adequate skin prep, sterile gloves, no breaks in sterility).

[Steph20021]

My port will be in for three years next July. I'm so scare to have it remove because I know the chances of a recurrence somewhere down the road. I 'd be curious to see what was the longest someone had theirs in. Also if you do have your port removed and there's a recurrence...how do you recieve your treatment?

I remember Rob in PA posting he had had his port for 7 years and 10 months!

[dudette]

Couldn't they implant a port on the other side. For example, my port is on the right because I have some small scar tissue on my left lung. However, I'm pretty sure that if they HAD to, the docs would implant a port on the left. Just a naive thought that this might be an option.

[jalusa]

People do get their ports replaced.

[arizona mom]

My original port gave me a blood clot, so they took it out and put in another one. I was put on blood thinners to prevent another clot with the new port. When I was NED, they took the port out 3 months after my treatment ended. A few months later, when I needed to go back on chemo, I got port #3. I believe they are planning to take this port out right after I finish these next rounds of chemo. My doctor would rather put in a new port than keep me on blood thinners indefinitely.

Getting ports in and out is pretty simple surgery compared to everything else.