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#164632 05-07-2013 03:12 PM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 151
terrib Offline OP
Senior Member (100+ posts)
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Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 151
My husband is 13 months out of treatment and still has his port. They originally said it would be in for 2 years. However, he spent 4 hours today having them try to flush it with no luck. Just wondering how long most have kept theirs and are there any risks at leaving it in. In December the Pet scan showed a possible blockage but that was ruled out with an ultrasound.

He is very leary about having it removed due to the comments from a friend when her's did not come out very easily. I have already checked with one of his doctors to be sure they will put him out for it. (He doesn't even like to hear the word needle let alone see one.) If your's has been removed, were you awake or asleep?


Husband diagnosed Oct '11 Cancer of the vocal cord Nov '11 removed right vocal cord. Neck Dissection, cancer in one node, .2, very small & contained) Jan '12 Radiation and Cisplatin, 6 doses. June '12 & Dec '12 clear Pet scan. April '13 Celebrating 1 year cancer free since treatment ended.
terrib #164638 05-07-2013 05:51 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
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Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 7
A port will be removed when the patient is put to sleep. The surgery is no big deal at all! The worst part of it is getting the IV, then everything goes thru that. My port, I kept for about 2 years after I finished my initial round of OC.

In my opinion, its better to leave the port than remove it if your husband could be needing it for something in the future. It does require maintenance with monthly flushes.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
terrib #164642 05-07-2013 06:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 4
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 4
I had mine since Nov '09.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






terrib #164647 05-07-2013 09:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 2
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 2
I had mine taken out at the doctor's office. He had a small procedure room, local anathema and snip, snip cut it out. I was surprised at how thick and how much scar tissue.


SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023

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