Postby Carol54 » Thu May 15, 2008 10:38 am
I also have the port, and can't imagine having to deal with the picc line with everything I have going on. As far as an appointment, guess it depends on your doctor. My oncologist got my surgeon on the phone, had a consult with him the next day and set surgery for 3 days later. I was told they could actually use it the day it is put in.
If you get the port ask for a script for the "numbing cream," emla cream.
You put the cream on about and hour before chemo and you don't feel a thing. One time I forgot to use it and remembered (depending on the nurse I think)...it hurt, not unbearable, but if I can go without pain, I'm all for it.
My port is not at all visable (just the scar when they put it in). I was there just yesterday and the nurse even called another nurse over to show her that you couldn't even see it. She said it's a good thing you have the scar, to give us a hint of where it is.
Only problem I've had twice is when the test it in the beginning before the chemo, they didn't get blood drawn back out. So, I raised my arms, walked around, then it worked.
Good Luck with your choice.....oh, my surgeon had told me he'd done 2,000 ports, punctured 3 lungs.....2 of them were the same guy. I said, I bet that guy thinks you're a quack....he said, yeah, but I think his lung was in the wrong place....we laughed.
Carol - 54
Diagnosed 11/07 Sigmoid Resection
Stage III Colon/Rectal Cancer
4 out of 15 lymph nodes positive
25 Radiation Treatments along with Xelota 1/2008
Oxi, 5FU body could only take 8 tx of Oxi and 10 tx 5FU