Having the port, port-a-cath, was a good decision for me. It provided access to a vein easily so that a nurse did not have to find one every three weeks when I had my treatments. She just needed to find the port and put the needle through my skin. It had a catheter connected to it that accessed a good vein below my left collarbone. It worked perfectly.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025, four weeks after my last Kadcyla treatment, my surgeon removed the purple heart, my port. The port had not hurt, or really bothered me much, but I did not want it in me any longer than I had to.
If you do not use the port for infusions, you need to go to the cancer center to have it flushed with a saline solution every three months to prevent infections. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but in order to do it, the nurse needs to access it as if you are going to get an infusion. The saline solution “tastes” like they are putting a chemical in your body. It’s nasty.
It doesn’t take long, but why go through that if you don’t have to. So now I am free! No more alien parts in my body.
The removal was simple. It took no more than 30 minutes. Some opt for a general anesthesia, but since it is not needed, I chose to be given a local.
The surgeon cleaned the area with iodine, then covered it with a sterile cloth. The anesthetic was given by several injections around the area that was going to be cut. It felt like novocaine injections at the dentist.
I did not feel when the doctor cut, when he pulled out the port, nor when he stitched me up. After he sutured the incision, he put superglue on top to keep the area from getting infected. This way I did not need a bandage.
The procedure started about 3:15pm and was finished before 3:45pm. It was simple, and if my husband had not taken me there I could have driven myself home.
The night after the removal the area was tender, so I took Tylenol to make sure I would be able to sleep. It was still tender the following day, but no drugs needed.
Thursday, two days after the procedure, was my weight exercise class. I was concerned about the glue and stitches coming undone, so I did not go, but other than not having complete range of motion with my left arm and the area being itchy, I have no issues.
It feels wonderful not seeing that reminder every day, and not having to worry about playful pups hitting the port. I feel free.
An illustration of what the port with the catheter looks like inside a body.
This is what the port looked like under my skin. You can see the three dots. It is very important that the nurse inserts the needle in the correct spot. If she misses, the drug will go into your body rather than the vein.
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