As a caregiver to someone who appeared to have perfect veins, I'd recommend anyone undergoing chemo get a port.

This was not an option offered to us, and no one warned us about the damaging effects of chemo on the veins. Even if you are only scheduled for 3 chemos (like my husband was)...there are weekly blood draws and extra draws for when/if there are fevers or hydration needed.

Then, my husband's regime switched to weekly chemo.

On one of our last visits at the chemo center, he was poked by 3 nurses for 1 1/2 hours and they still couldn't get enough blood to do lab work...and, they were working with a pediatric needle.

And, when he got a staph infection post treatment, when the IV antibiotic was given it blew a vein and they had no idea how much medication he received.

It was terrible. I am a big advocate of a port for any H&N patient going through chemo.

Our biggest regret is not getting a port. Watching Dan get stuck repeatedly then last week watching two veins blow... And just the tension and stress when they are looking for a good vein. Our MO didn't think Dan would need one. Theoretically you think oh 7 chemos - 7 sticks - no big deal. BEST case is 14 sticks (lab + treatment) and that is truly PERFECT. Any extra labwork, dehydration issues, any veins blow, etc. you start addding sticks and believe me - they add up fast. I bet Dan's been stuck 36 times so far. And he's having a pretty good go of it, all things considered.

I wish you the best of luck with your treatment and you of course have to make the decision that feels best to you. I just see so many things that are hard for Dan and they can't be helped, but this could have been helped - so now it's like why didn't we do this - UGH!

What does it mean when people say that veins blow? Is this some kind of serious damage? Is it permanent?

I'll try to explain what I saw last week. They would put the needle in and for the first 10 seconds think they had it - then you would see it swell and then flatten and it would bleed. Once it did that they couldn't get anything out of it and they had to start over.

I don't think it's serious or permanent, but you know I honestly don't know that for sure. Hopefully somebody with alot more knowledge than me can answer.