Guest guest Posted January 15, 2006 Report Share Posted January 15, 2006 It stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter and is actually anagrammed as PICC, I forgot to add a C, LOL. I'm not sure how or if this will come through but here is a note and picture of it or you can go to the site I got this from and read the whole thing at http://www.christie.nhs.uk/patientinfo/booklets/TextBooklets/picc/picc.htm : What is a PICC?A PICC is a peripherally inserted central catheter. It is a thin flexible tube that is inserted into a vein, usually in the bend of your arm. The PICC is then threaded along the vein so that the tip lies in one of the large veins in the chest. It can remain in position for up to six months. A specially trained nurse or doctor will insert your PICC. Not all patients are suitable for a PICC, so a doctor or nurse will assess you before one is inserted. The illustration below shows the PICC line, and where it enters the vein at the inside of the elbow. LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/ -----Original Message-----From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]On Behalf Of DennisSent: Sunday, January 15, 2006 11:21 AMTo: breastcancer2 Subject: PIC line June what is a PIC line? I had to have some blood cultures after an infection I got during my second round and they had to come from both a port draw and a vein draw. The vein draw was horrid as it too five trys to get two samples. I'm worried that I'm never going to be able to get blood samples for tests if I don't have something artificial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 > > It stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter and is actually > anagrammed as PICC, I have not seen this type of access to the vein, around here everyone has had a port that you just puncture each time you need blood or chemotherapy- mine stuck out a bit from my bicep and I bumped it sometimes- it was in the way! When they removed it they showed it to me at that moment ( gee, thanks!) as they only deaden the site and not put you to sleep... but afterwards I was glad they had done that- the site stayed swollen and hard afterward for about three months and I would have sworn they left something in there had I not seen it out of there with my own eyes- I am celebrating my two years as a survivor next month, it sure seems like yesterday! Andree www.essentialsoapsinc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 > > It stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter and is actually > anagrammed as PICC, I have not seen this type of access to the vein, around here everyone has had a port that you just puncture each time you need blood or chemotherapy- mine stuck out a bit from my bicep and I bumped it sometimes- it was in the way! When they removed it they showed it to me at that moment ( gee, thanks!) as they only deaden the site and not put you to sleep... but afterwards I was glad they had done that- the site stayed swollen and hard afterward for about three months and I would have sworn they left something in there had I not seen it out of there with my own eyes- I am celebrating my two years as a survivor next month, it sure seems like yesterday! Andree www.essentialsoapsinc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 They only use the PICC line as a short, temporary solution. It is more prone to infection than a port but since they can't reinsert my port for another month, until I'm completely healed at the incision site, then I have to use the PICC. I'll only have 3 more treatments after that and 7 weeks of radiation so, if it works out well, I might just stick with the PICC since I'll only need it for 4 or 5 months max and it would mean I wouldn't need another surgery. The biggest problem with it, aside from the obvious possible infection, is you have to clean it every day according to the medical staff at the hospital here. LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/ >> It stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter and is actually> anagrammed as PICC, I have not seen this type of access to the vein, around here everyone has had a port that you just puncture each time you need blood or chemotherapy- mine stuck out a bit from my bicep and I bumped it sometimes- it was in the way!When they removed it they showed it to me at that moment ( gee, thanks!)as they only deaden the site and not put you to sleep...but afterwards I was glad they had done that- the site stayed swollen and hard afterward for about three months and I would have sworn they left something in therehad I not seen it out of there with my own eyes-I am celebrating my two years as a survivor next month,it sure seems like yesterday!Andreewww.essentialsoapsinc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 Andree! Congratulations on two years!! xoxo Nan --- Andree Terry wrote: > I am celebrating my two years as a survivor next > month, > it sure seems like yesterday! > Andree > www.essentialsoapsinc.com > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 June...sounds like a better than nothing. I'm sorry you had to have your port removed. I dread having to have blood drawn from my veins after I have mine removed whenever that is. For now it is still healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 June...sounds like a better than nothing. I'm sorry you had to have your port removed. I dread having to have blood drawn from my veins after I have mine removed whenever that is. For now it is still healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 June...sounds like a better than nothing. I'm sorry you had to have your port removed. I dread having to have blood drawn from my veins after I have mine removed whenever that is. For now it is still healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 Thanks . If I decide to have them reinstall the port I will leave it in for a year. That way all the blood tests I have can be done through the port. The PICC I can leave in for 6 months if I'm willing to flush it every day myself. I hate that taste of metal in my mouth with a saline flush so we'll see. But I know I'm going to have at least a year ahead of me of continuous testing and such. They now use my right arm to draw blood but don't use a tourniquet (sp?). It's not so bad when they use a butterfly needle. Whenever you go in for any kind of needle in your vein, request a butterfly needle. They are almost painless. LICS June "The best protection any woman can have...is courage." Cady Stanton Secular Breast Cancer Support group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SecularBCSupport/ -----Original Message-----From: breastcancer2 [mailto:breastcancer2 ]On Behalf Of DennisSent: Monday, January 16, 2006 5:14 PMTo: breastcancer2 Subject: Re: PIC line June...sounds like a better than nothing. I'm sorry you had to have your port removed. I dread having to have blood drawn from my veins after I have mine removed whenever that is. For now it is still healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.