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All,
I had a port put in my chest a couple weeks ago. It still hurts. Have any of you had pain with your port? I'm hoping it gets better. My doctor said it would.
I start chemo next week. Do any of you have advice for me? I'm anxious to see what it is like. I will have carbo/taxol and the IV will be in me for about 6 hours. I will have to do this every three weeks for 6 cycles.
Thank you!
Cancer Taxol Tylenol Surgery Claritin Ibuprofen Allergies Ativan Fever Vicodin Taxotere Constipation Pain Peripheral neuropathy Benadryl Stress
I had pain in my port for sometime. I still occasionally a year later get achiness and the nurse said that is normal. After having the port put in, it hurt terribly for weeks. They cut into your muscle and imbed it and I am told that area is very sensitive. I was a nervous wreck facing my first chemo. I had to take a tranquilizer the night before I was so scared...even more scared than the surgery. I had worked myself up so much that it was far better than I expected so the first one was not too bad. I will tell you that as time goes on, your pain threshold increases and things don't bother you as much. It used to bother me to get IVs and blood drawn and now I don't blink an eye. Having the infusion needle for the port inserted doesn't hurt like having your blood drawn or an IV started. You will thank your lucky stars that you got that port as you watch poor ladies get stuck over and over trying to get their IV started for infusion. I used to watch these poor ladies have heating pads put on their arms when after stick after stick the nurse couldn't find a good vein. The taxol causes achiness of your joints and back so be prepared to have some joint pain for several days after chemo. For me, it would eventually go away after a few days to a week. I also got Neulasta shots a day after each infusion and that stuff causes terrible bone pain. If you are getting that, get a prescription for vicodin or something prescription strength for pain. It starts a day after the shot and lasts a few days. When you feel bad, remind yourself of the good this medicine is doing you in killing all those cancer cells and it will help you get through. VERY IMPORTANT....drink lots and lots of water and juices after chemo and for several days. It prevents the drugs from doing any damage to your kidneys and helps wash it and the dead cancer cells out of your body. I also drank cranberry juice around infusion time....some studies think it sensitizes the cancer cells to the chemo drugs. Hang in there and post anytime you are in need of support. Or if you have worries or concerns that others can share some info on. I found better advise on this site than from the medical people oftentimes. ALSO my oncologist told me that chewing on ice chips during infusion lessens the chance of mouth sores from the chemo. I did it and only had them once. And after chemo, be careful of sick people, wash your hands alot especially when you go out, and be careful and wash fresh produce you eat. Keep your teeth brushed regularly and do floss gently. The immune system is low from the chemo and that affects oral flora too. I pray you have an uneventful infusion and that it whoops up on those cancer cells.
Sorry to hear that your port is causing you pain, I hope you feel better soon. I had 6 treatments of carbo/taxol, but I didn't get a port. I begged my doc and he said we would wait and see how my veins did with each treatment. Luckly, my veins behaved pretty good. As far as the chemo I didn't fell too bad. I would take Emend the day before, the day of and the day after and I never threw up. I felt a little sick to my stomach put nothing out of this world. The nurses recommended that I keep myself very hydrated so I would drink lots of fluid the day before treatment. It did take about 5 1/2 hrs for each treatment (take some magazines,laptop,movies) anything that will keep you busy so that time can go by fast or you can always Sleep.
The topic that's that toughest for most of us is "hair" and mine did start to fall out about 2 weeks after my first treatment. I had long hair so I cut it short and that kind of helped with the transiton. I recommened that you cut it before it starts falling out~it makes you feel a little more in control of the situation. My eye brows and eye lashes thinned out but I didn't lose then completely ( I little eyeliner will do the trick). I know you must be very worried right now, I know I was, but having gone through it I can tell you it is very doable and you will do fine. I finished my treatments 6 weeks ago and other than my hair I really have no side effects.If you woulk like to talk or ask me any questions pls call me 786-246-4422. I will keep you in my prayers, God Bless! Aida
I forgot to mention the Neulasta shot I got 24 hrs after every treatment. This shot helps you with your white blood count and many people say they experience lots of bone pain and aches. I felt a little achy for a day or two. If the pain is unbearable you can alway take something for pain just as your doc or the nurses. And I would also get a little constipated the following day.
What stage were you?
I see ladies speaking about the Neulasta shots we got the day after our chemo when our white blood cell counts got too low. If you have to have them, take a claritin (not claritin D) the morning of the shot, one that night and then one the next 2 days also...this really works to lessen the pain...I hardly noticed any pain when I took them..a pharmaceutical rep mentioned it to the nurse one day and she told my girlfriend who is a cancer patient...I just got the walmart brand...it works!
Did you receive a prescription for Licodaine/Prilocaine cream for your port? You put it on the area of your port and cover it with a large bandaid 2-3 hours before your infusion(I put it on 3 hrs. before)....it numbs it very well and you won't even feel the needle go into the port :)
Blessings!
I don't have a port, but have had taxol/carbo twice. Six treatments every 3 weeks is the norm. The first infusion is the longest because they have to do it very slowly. The following ones will probably be a little shorter - maybe 5- 5 1/2 hours.
You'll probably be very tired, have some nausea, might find it hard to sleep the night of chemo (because of the drugs). Mouth sores are possible with any chemo. They can give you things to take for any side effects - some before, and some after you get them. You'll lose your hair about the second or third week after the first chemo. Get it cut real short before and it will be easier to deal with. Eyebrows and lashes usually go a little later, but they will probably go too. I always continued to use eye makeup and substituted eyeliner for mascara.
You have to be very careful about staying away from crowds and sick people because the chemo lowers your immunity. I know the first time I had to take my temperature twice a day. Wash you hands frequently.
Drink plenty of fluids and try to eat good, balanced meals. You'll probably find that smaller meals spread through the day will work better than 3 main ones. And get plenty of rest - give in to it when you feel tired.
Peripheral Neuropathy can be a problem, so watch for tingling in hands and feet that does not dissipate before the next treatment. I actually had to switch from Taxol to Taxotere midway during treatments because of that. Your doctor will be asking you about it each time.
I also had to get Neulasta shots the day after each treatment because of low white cell counts. I had bone pain for about 2-3 days, but Tylenol usually worked for me. They will do a CBC blood test the day of each treatment to check you cell count levels; if they are okay, you get the treatment - if they are too low, it will be postponed and they will give you something to boost whichever one is too low. Also, you can't go to the dentist while on chemo, so if you want a cleaning, go beforetime.
Your doctor will monitor all the side effects, so be sure to tell him everything that happens. Just remember - the chemo is there to get rid of the cancer - so try to think of that when you don't feel well. I wish you the very best of luck.
I find that the day before chemo, that if I hydrate, like 3 quarts of water, I do better and of course continue to drink water for days after.
An ativan the morning before chemo helps with anxiousness and nausea and I took Zofran the morning of chemo even before going to the hospita. Never nausea but I did get sour stomach if I missed the Zofran.
Be sure to take the antinausea medicne even if you don't feel nauseated,,the prevention is better than the cure.
Imagine Ca cells being killed by the chemo, I have a whole imagery thing I do while getting chemo and after and it makes me happy,,I see those little green monsters getting zapped by a laser. The hypnotist taught me that and it works.
It gets easier after the third or fourth cycle. I am now on seven and it is a piece of cake for me.
Good luck,,you will be surprised at yourself and the way you can adapt and be happy while going through this. Truly,,I am happy and contented and less frightened than I was. The first month or two is the hardest.
Pray,,it helps and comforts!
I've had my "chest port" for 2 years. At first, it really hurt! It felt like such a foreign object and was just always there, dully aching. Now usually I don't think of it. It did take me a long time to get used to it, and I still baby it. I hate to have a seat belt over it. I went to a small country hospital a few weeks ago, and they didn't know how to access it and poked three times--three different people, just for the novelty of it, I think. They bruised it and it went back to aching again. Also, if it gets really tender to the touch and swollen and tender, it may be infected, and this probably should never be taken lightly. I immediately to and IV of antibiotics.
I also had an abdominal port and it was never comfortable, I always felt like there was an alien living in my stomach. I had it removed as soon as I was done with the IP treatments.
I hope all goes well, and like me, you will be able to consider your port a wonderful friend! It took time to be really comfortable with it--like 6 months or so, but hopefully the pain will dissipate.
Best of luck,
CarolAnn
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that the port I had never really gave me any problems and I had it for 3 years. I just got it out on Feb. 13 this year. Yea!
However, I have a friend who had a port put in that never was right for her. It hurt all the time and was very uncomfortable. Finally after about 3 months they discovered she had a blood clot, not in the port, but away from it in her arm. They took it out and the pain went away.
I'm not saying you have a blood clot. But, you need to know the possibilities, I think.
If your dr is anything like mine, he won't offer any info or advice, you will have to ask. Nearly everything I've learned about ovca and its side effects has been from a patient.
God will always be with you. I'm praying for you.
I know your scared. I was, too. But it really isn't that bad. I didn't have a port. Had carbo/taxol every 3 weeks for 6 treatments...Here are some of the things that worked for me...... Be sure to take your nausea medication religously even if you think you don't need it. Constipation was also a big problem. I took stool softeners but didn't work that well. ..I also had the Neulasta shot which made me ache a little. I just took Tylenol of Ibuprofen. (others need something stronger. this was just in my case.) All in all it's not as bad as you think. It will all soon be routine and just become a part of your life. Remember, we're just a click away! You'll do just fine!
Hi,
I had minimal discomfort with my port, and only right after it had been put in. Boy, did that first needle hurt. But then I saw my body and saw that the port area was black and blue. Duh!
But, no problem with the Neulasta (sic?), no problem with the port. I just felt the nuisance of a bump where there had been none. On the other hand, after the removal of my port there was more discomfort. I guess from the scar tissue that doc said would have built up around my port.
My problem was Taxol in the belly really made my gut hurt for a couple of days, made me walk kind of hunched over.
After reading all these posts, you're probably terrified. Don't be. Different things happen to different ones of us. The first treatment was the worst for me because of fear. I've told this story before, but I'll tell you again, so you'll have--I hope--at least one smile over all this.
My sister had died of ovca seven months before I was diagnosed. She'd been allergic to some of the chemo drugs, but could tolerate them with massive doses of benadryl and a very slow drip.
I'm allergic to many things, so I was primed. After starting the IV, the nurse put the call button right next to my hand with repeated warnings to call her if I felt the slightest symptom--itchiness, shortness of breath, tightness of throat or chest, ect. Sure enough, two minutes after she left the room, I started itching. I was, however, determined to be a brave patient, so I didn't want to complain unless absolutely necessary. Then I started thinking how stupid it would be to die from an allergic reaction after surviving cancer surgery. So mentally I went back and forth: press the button; don't press the button. I was ready to summon help when I glanced at the label on my IV bag. It was saline! I burst out laughing, and was still laughing when the nurse came back in.
She asked what was so funny. I expected her to laugh with me, but she said, "You know, this first chemo can be very stressful. Why don't I give you some Ativan?"
I slept through most of the rest of that treatment, although I did suddenly have massive diarhhea and had to go home in scrubs. Take a change of clothes just in case!
My main advice would be to look at the facial expression chart used for pain with children and for stress levels with adults rather than trying to gauge pain on your idea of 1 to 10. I was furious with the callousness of the entire oncology staff. Then one day at our local hospital, I saw the pain chart used for children. I'd been describing a 7 or 8 level of pain as a 3, which is a Tylenol!
After the first day or two, my port gave me very little trouble except for itching. The lidocaine patch is an excellent idea. It should be SOP. I'd definitely tell my oncologist how much it's hurting. It may be nothing. I'll tell you I had a much tougher time adjusting emotionally to the presence of the port than I ever did over hair. I lost every hair in/on my body. Not having nostril hair was the most annoying for me. I have allergies, so I had to remember to keep a tissue with me at all times. There was nothing to dam up the drips!
Seriously, take your antinausea drugs at the first hint of nausea. This is crucial. You've probably already been told this, and it's so true.
After my first treatment, I had very little trouble with side effects. Some people went back to work the next day. I'd take my treatments on Thursday, then be off from work Friday, Monday and Tuesday. I taught middle schoolers full-time and never caught a thing from them. I did keep BIG bottles of hand sanitizer in my room, and most kids were very, very good about using them. I also kept a thermometer in my desk, and sent kids home if they had fever. (That turned out to be good in several ways. The kids who are very sensitive to pain would feel much better when they found their temp was normal!)
Most of the parents were aware of my situation, so they were very supportive throughout the year.
I had my port put in on aug 16 2009 it was sensitive for the last three treatments 9 weeks, but getting better, but I have had trouble with it clogging, 3 times had to fill with desolving meds, I guess my body keeps sealing off the opening inside,
For me, chemo wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. My port did hurt for a few weeks and then it was fine. I had pretty bad nausea the first time but then I told my doc and he prescribed different meds for that. Take your nausea meds even if you don't think you'll need them. Talk to the doc or the chemo nurse. Tell them EVERYTHING that is going on with you so that they can make adjustments as needed. I finished chemo in April and I'm feeling quite normal these days, so you can have that to look forward to. Good luck.
Bev
Oletymer, Both times when they did not get a return right away, they also gave me more stuff and had me turn on my left side (that is the side the port is on) and they got a return right away.
DGUH, I have had three ports and they all have hurt for the first three weeks. The first one they put right in the bra line and that hurt even longer due to the rubbing against it. Hang in there! It will get better. Of course, if it does not, talk to your dr as they need to check it. My Dr would not give me Lidocaine because she said, "We only give it to people who put up a fuss." Excuse me! Somedays I am a Wuss! LOL I don't think any of us have to put up with any unnecessary pain. However, I still do the deep breath, punch routine without using anything on it. Maybe I need to address this again. :)
I completed my Chemo Carboplatinum and Taxol 8 months ago. I had 8 treatments 5hours every 3 weeks. I still have my port and have it flushed every 6 weeks. I am almost afraid to have it removed, When I asked about removal Dr. said lets leave it in at least 6 more month. It does not bother me. I can't wear a lot of tops, but I can deal with that. The port makes treatments a lot easier. Good luck and God Bless
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