Chemo Port or Port-a-Cath

Before I began any treatments I was given options for how the chemo would be administererd. I could be injected as with normal shots, or a temporary catheter could be placed in my arm or chest for one or several treatments. I think that sort of thing leaves a tube hanging out of your arm or chest which must be safe-guarded until the chemo is over and it's removed. In any case, I didn't like the sound of these options. Medical people have had trouble finding and hitting my veins, so I certainly didn't want to be going through that any more than necessary. I was also a bit squeemish and concerned about the prospect of some tube hanging out of me.

Last, but most definitely best, in my opinion, was the option to have a 'port-a-cath' aka 'port' installed. While this required surgery, it was minor surgery and the port would be under my skin, unseen, except for a flat, rounded bump about the size of a button. The port is an access point which feeds a catheter tube that is inserted into a superior vein so the chemicals could be fed directly into my bloodstream. Again, all of this would be invisible to me.

Everytime the port is 'accessed', a special needle is inserted into the center of the port 'button' then all IV medications can be applied as needed from that one needle stick through an attached tube. I liked that whole idea much better. As I understood it, the port could be left in place for years, if need be.

So I picked the port option and my surgeon installed it. The only discomfort I had was from the small incision and the fact that the port is sewn to a muscle to anchor it so it doesn't move around under the skin. For a few days it just felt like I had pulled a muscle in my shoulder from lifting or throwing something too heavy.

Thus, I have a small bump high on my chest, near my left shoulder, which is barely noticeable. With the proper topical anesthetic and a numbing lidocaine injection near the port, I don't even feel the special needle going into the device, nor do I feel any of the delivery of medicine through that line. MUCH better than a lot of needle sticks or a waggling tube hanging out of a hole in my skin.