My dad was just dx'ed last week. Not quite to the chemo point *yet*, but will be soon. Been reading up here and elsewhere and see that putting a port in is usually considered ideal. Made me think. Dad scars....BAD! He's had surgeries in the past that they had to go in and try to clean up scar tissue..which caused more, so they finally just left it. The drs always warned him about things like angioplasty and the like. Mom's always figured the scarring from that or open-heart surgery or something would be far worse than doing nothing; at least if he wasn't given some mega-good anti-scarring something. (We've not heard of any.)

So the question is: would a port be prudent for my dad? He doesn't seem to have issues with IVs...has good veins, and no scarring issues there. Would the scarring issue negate the advantages of the port?

ohec,

Sorry to hear about your dad.

The reason for a port is that it does make your life easier while getting chemo. Depending on how serious it is, most likely he will be hooked up to chemo 3 days a week every other week. My first round of chemo I had to get it in my hand. For three days I could not use that hand (it was banaged up as a reminder NOT TO

I know that most people recommend a port but my husband, who did not have good veins, managed to get a total of 30 treatments of chemotherapy without one. I have also opted not to have a port but my veins are pretty good. Mind you, my hand is a bit swollen tonight having had treatment today but that is unusual. I think the nurse just chose a bad vein.

Love and prayers,

well that was odds, my machine posted and I wasn't finished

Anyway, as I was saying, my hand was banged as a reminder not to use it ( think in terms of only having one hand). Day and night it was VERY important that I kept my arm and hand straight at all times. I had to do this for 2 nights and 3 days.

If any alarm went off on my chemo pack, I was to have my husband RUSH me to ER. If he was not available I was to call 911, and not wait for him to come home.

Believe me, the port is ALOT easier to deal with. Less likely for any of the above to happen.

good luck