Guest guest Posted May 8, 2004 Report Share Posted May 8, 2004 Can anyone tell me about a chest port? One is recommended for me now. My colon cancer has come roaring back in my right lung and is now extensive and inoperable (there is a 2 cm node in the hilar region plus several other tumors in the upper lobe). All of this has has happened since my last CT scan 2 and 1/2 months ago. My CEA is now 6.7. I have had surgery on this lung three times. In 2000, I had the lower lobe out. And in 2001 and 2003, I had wedge resections of the upper lobe. Just recently, I have read that wedge resections can spread cancer cells. So maybe I should have had a right pulmonectomy last summer when I had the chance. But hindsight is 2020, and and others (including my surgeon)had recommended a repeat wedge resection. Thanks Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2004 Report Share Posted May 8, 2004 Barry, When had his chest port done it was not that big a deal. They did it as a outpatient. It took about 1 hour and then he stayed in recovery for another hour and home we went. He suffered NO pain and said he would forget it was even there. Hope this helps, Joyce > Can anyone tell me about a chest port? One is recommended for me > now. My colon cancer has come roaring back in my right lung and is > now extensive and inoperable (there is a 2 cm node in the hilar > region plus several other tumors in the upper lobe). All of this has > has happened since my last CT scan 2 and 1/2 months ago. My CEA is > now 6.7. I have had surgery on this lung three times. In 2000, I > had the lower lobe out. And in 2001 and 2003, I had wedge > resections of the upper lobe. Just recently, I have read that wedge > resections can spread cancer cells. So maybe I should have had a > right pulmonectomy last summer when I had the chance. But hindsight > is 2020, and and others (including my surgeon)had recommended > a repeat wedge resection. > > Thanks > Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2004 Report Share Posted May 9, 2004 We are very thankful Dave has a port.It has proven to be a Godsend at this time. He had it put in about 2 weeks after his first bowel resection and suffered very little discomfort from the procedure. He had it done as an outpatient and was home later that day. It was used for his chemo treatments for 6 months. And unfortunately, when we thought everything was ok the cancer came roaring to life again. He had another resection this time of the small bowel and is now receiving TPN. The TPN is his food and is fed thru his port. The port saves a lot of pain when they need to draw blood or administer a lot of drugs through your veins. On the funny side, when we traveled we found out he beeped at every security checkpoint at the airports. > Can anyone tell me about a chest port? One is recommended for me > now. My colon cancer has come roaring back in my right lung and is > now extensive and inoperable (there is a 2 cm node in the hilar > region plus several other tumors in the upper lobe). All of this has > has happened since my last CT scan 2 and 1/2 months ago. My CEA is > now 6.7. I have had surgery on this lung three times. In 2000, I > had the lower lobe out. And in 2001 and 2003, I had wedge > resections of the upper lobe. Just recently, I have read that wedge > resections can spread cancer cells. So maybe I should have had a > right pulmonectomy last summer when I had the chance. But hindsight > is 2020, and and others (including my surgeon)had recommended > a repeat wedge resection. > > Thanks > Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2004 Report Share Posted May 10, 2004 Two things: 1. Port is a good idea. As others have said, it took me about an hour to have it put in, 4 or so days of healing, and from then on all blood and IV's are done via a special needle into the port. If not used, it needs to be flushed once a month. They can poke it as many times as they want, because scar tissue is no concern. Best of all, subsequent accesses don't hurt at all, unlike somebody fishing around your arm. Once it is in, there is no pain whatsoever. 2. There are two types of central access - Central Ports and PICCs. Insist on a central port - it resides under the skin, so you can swim, take baths, etc. PICCs are cheaper, I think, but they stick out of your arm and are prone to infection. Joe > Can anyone tell me about a chest port? One is recommended for me > now. My colon cancer has come roaring back in my right lung and is > now extensive and inoperable (there is a 2 cm node in the hilar > region plus several other tumors in the upper lobe). All of this has > has happened since my last CT scan 2 and 1/2 months ago. My CEA is > now 6.7. I have had surgery on this lung three times. In 2000, I > had the lower lobe out. And in 2001 and 2003, I had wedge > resections of the upper lobe. Just recently, I have read that wedge > resections can spread cancer cells. So maybe I should have had a > right pulmonectomy last summer when I had the chance. But hindsight > is 2020, and and others (including my surgeon)had recommended > a repeat wedge resection. > > Thanks > Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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