mediport? - Cancer: Colon Message Board

cinda · 08-07-2005, 11:37 PM

I'm getting a mediport in 2 weeks, and it's the first thing that I'm getting that makes this seem real (well, besides my fertility treatments), and I'm kind of scared about it. Probably more so than the chemo and radiation right now! Can anyone tell me about it? does it hurt? is it noticable? I'm going to have chemo 24/7 (I'm wearing a bottle of it connected to the port, it gets refilled once a week), and i'm afraid that it's going to be very noticable.

On a separate note, did people find it difficult to work during pre-op chemo/radiation? I'm a teacher, and I'm worried about being able to keep my condition from my students (I'm a coach this year, and I'll be working with lots of classes and teachers, so that would complicate it too).

ktee_uk · 08-08-2005, 02:28 AM

Hi cinda

my husband had a port in the crook of his arm. it went through the vein, under collar bone and the end of the tube sat between collar bone and heart.

I have read the other posters talk about ports in their chest. I think they all work in a similar way. It does make it easier to administer the chemo especially if you have to take it 24 hr day infusion. They used to connect my husband every 2 weeks for his chemo and when he had radiotherapy he had it continuously so they would change the pump once a week.

When it was first described to us I kind of imagined that he would have to lug a battery pack and some kind of hissing machine on his back. However it turned out to be much simpler. The pump is a plastic housing which contains a " rubber thing " in which the drug is kept. They vary in size depending on what you are having and for how long. It is air pressure that administers the drug through your port. It does mean having a thin tube attached to you, similar in size to the ones used for i.v.'s and is very flexible. The pump can be kept in a waist bag or pouch that they supply you with. my husband found the best way was to used a long piece of tubular bandage, tie a knot in one end and slip the pump into it, halve the remaining strip and tie knot in that end and then he could loop it around his neck and wear it under his clothes. He did sometimes put it into his trouser pocket but that would be more difficult for a woman cos we dont have such big pockets.

I am sure that they will explain things in more detail to you. If you are attending a regualar type of chemo clinic there will be others there who could show you how they deal with the practicalities of such things too.

The only thing that singled husband out was that with his elbow port, he always wore a tube bandage over it to protect the valve so in short sleeve weather it could be seen. Most people didnt know what it was for but anyone who knows about this kind of thing would have spotted him quite easily. If your port is in your chest I would not think you would notice it.

A lot of people work through their therapies. Husband could not because of risk of infections (he works in a dirty environment) but I am sure that the others here will chip in with how it was for them.

Good luck
ktee

CancerDad · 08-08-2005, 09:15 AM

Cinda:
The port is not that big a deal... I'm assuming that you are having the mediport implanted in your chest like me, unless your not in the US, and they seem to favor the ones Ktee describes. The port itself just hurts after surgey. They do it with mild sedation, so you are just in and out of sleep. There is a small incision on your chest, and depending on how muscular you are, they have to fish around to snake a tube to your jugular (where another small incision is made.) You will be able to feel the port, but no one will see it unless your shirt is off. I was in pain and had a lot of bruising. They told me I was very muscular, which kind of made me feel good (31y/o male at the time... still a male!). Afterward, I had pain killers but it was done on a Friday morning, I took the day off... and recuperated over the weekend. It healed pretty quickly and they were able to hook me up to pre-op chemo 2 weeks later.

I'm also assuming that you have rectal cancer since radiation is the treatment protocol. That's me too... did the same thing. I "Worked" during it, but some days the fatigue was incredible. Nothing you probably can't hide by not telling if you don't want to. Depending on what Stage you are, you probably will have to tell at some point (after surgery during post-op chemo). I got really tired toward the end of my pre-op chemo/rad and was unable to work because the burns start to show from rad around the buttocks and genitals... we'll help you through... and I just felt terrible. Some make out better, some worse.

As far as the "pump" goes for the 5FU.. it's like one of those "fanny packs" people used to wear in the 80's. You can conceal it. You will have to go in daily for leucovorin too, again assuming, but you can probably schedule for after/before school or during free periods. If you can at the end of the day it's better so if you get tired.

I know this all seems so surreal right now. Your head is probably spinning. It will eventually sink in and you will be angry and sad, and feel lots of different stuff. Feel free to vent too. We STILL DO. BTW I'm now 33 and I guess you can call me a one plus year Survivor!

Hang in there!

Warm Regards,
CancerDad

PS Sorry for meeting under these circumstances, but Welcome.

PPS Cinda: I looked back and remember your postings now... I apologize. Just so you know, I was 28 when I began bleeding... My Internist dismissed it too, and I never got referred to a gastro. There are MANY of us who are diagnosed at ages well before 50. I wish doctors would start to recognize this fact! They think it might be genetic for me too... Have you tested positive for HNPCC, and how about testing before beginning the chemo/rad. All they need is a tube of blood. I have two boys already, my wife and I always wanted the third though. I have started the process of testing... met with the counselor, etc... just need to give blood.-- CD

edinaman · 08-08-2005, 08:33 PM

Cinda, I also had a port in my chest. I was sure I would have clear tubes sticking out of me. Actually like CancerDad described it, it is a small bump. When I had it put in, the surgeon asked me if I wanted to be awake or asleep-I told him to put me out totally. It was such a minor surgery that they just wheeled me into the operating room in a wheel chair instead of those gurneys. After it was put in, I was taken to post recovery instead of recovery, because once they were sure it was in correctly, I could leave. I was probably in the hospital for less than an hour after they put it in. My pump was in a sort of fanny pack that I wore on my belt. There was also a strap that I used at night or in the morning before getting dressed. I would put the pump in my nightstand drawer at night-that way it didn't get in the way and I didn't have to worry about it falling on the floor. For some strange reason, I was more afraid of getting the pump out-that they did in the surgeon's office with a local. I know it seems like a long time until you get the port out, but that time will come! I would think if you wore loose fitting clothes, you could wear the pump under them and it wouldn't be noticeable. Keep us informed about what is going on. It is a terribly frightening time, and we are all here for you.

ktee_uk · 08-09-2005, 02:34 PM

Cdad

I couldnt bring myself to say "fanny pack"

as it has a totally different meaning here in the UK !!!!!!!