Daughter has breast cancer

[leeny]

Hi every one. I have not posted for a long time but I am hoping someone can give me some help.This is not about sjogrens but about breast cancer.I have sjogrens but my daughter has breast cancer and I am hoping I can get one of you to help me out with a question, My daughter had a port put into her chest for chemo treatment.Has anyone else had this done and can you give me some answers to my question on it. She says she feels like it hurts when she breaths.She went back to the doctor today and they said everything looks ok.Did anyone out there have discomfort after getting a port put in.I would greatly appreciate any help.Thanks to all

[genko_b]

Hi Leeny:

So sorry to hear about your daughter's illness. There are several people on this site who have experience with cancer treatment who can undoubtedly answer your question. In the meantime, we are thinking of you and wish your daughter the best and swift healing.

Genko

[leeny]

Thank You Genko.I have been going crazy on the computer to get some answers but cant find any information on it.

[Pooh]

Hi Leeny,
I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter.  I know nothing about this either, but just wanted to wish you daughter well and I hope the chemo does the trick.  I will keep you and she in my prayers. 

As Genko mentioned, there are several members here who have been through chemo for breast cancer.  I know they will try to answer your questions. 

Take care,

Pooh

[eyeamdry]

Hi leeny,
I had breast cancer a year ago.  I had a lumpectomy and radiation--but no chemo.   You don't give much information except your daughter has had a port put in.  Has she begun chemo yet?  Is it that the port is hurting her that's the problem? 
My friend's daughter who is 36 had pancreatic cancer about 6 months ago and she had her pancreas, plus a few other things removed and she had a port.  Recently she has been given the green light to stop chemo because the cancer is gone and they were going to remove the port.

I'm sorry I can't help more, but maybe if you give more info, others who have had chemo can help.  Also Web MD has a breast cancer forum........."Friend 2 Friend" that you might want to check into.  Lucy

[Annj5]

Hi leeny,

I am so sorry to hear about your daughter's battle with cancer.

I know a little bit about ports. They are a surgically implanted device that lies just under the skin. It is connected by a catheter to a large vein that runs under the collarbone, usually the subclavian vein. Usually ports are sore at the site of implantation for a week or two - mostly because of the incision and also because the surgeon needs to make a pocket under the skin for the port to fit into, which can be uncomfortable.

Ports can be really useful in saving the patient from really uncomfortable needle sticks for chemo and labs, since the skin over the port becomes somewhat desensitized after being used repeatedly, and spares the patient from repeated attempts at finding good veins for IV treatments.

There can be a small amount of bleeding from the port implant incision for a few days after the surgery, but otherwise the site should not bleed. it also may appear slightly reddened and slightly puffy after being implanted but the redness and puffiness should consistently reduce over a week or so. The patient should never run a temp, have large amount of bleeding from the site, or have yellow or green drainage from the site. If those things happen, she needs to have someone look at the port asap.

I am not sure how severe the pain your daughter is experiencing. If it's limited to soreness just over and around the port, I would say it's just from the implantation. If, however, she feels shortness of breath, chest pain and pressure, is having bleeding, or running a temp, I would say she should get herself into an ER.

Please keep us posted!
Julia

[Dejibo]

I have added you to my prayer list.

I am a loooong time survivor. I was told I wouldnt live out the year, and well...I lived 16 more. I am still couting! dont give up.

[YICKelly]

I know when I had a port that ran from my arm into my heart (well near it) for intravienous iron, I had a slight pressure,shortness of breath and they found they needed to pull the tube out a few inches.  Have they X-rayed to make sure the port and tubes are where they need to be?  Give your daughter our love and let her know we are praying for her.

[salsen]

Hope your daughter finds her answer so she can find relief.  I will keep her in my prayers.

[leeny]

Thank you all for your help and prayers.My daughter has not started the chemo treatments yet, the port was put in her chest last Friday,her veins are to small so they chose to put in the port..On Saturday she started to feel pain in her chest around the sternum.She went back to the doctor and they took ex rays on Monday and they felt everything looked ok.She went to her primary doctor today and he said it may be inflammation due to the surgery of putting in the port.This has not been a good start for her.She has had the lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy and the gene testing for the BRAC 1 and BRAC 2.The tumor was over 2cm but under 5cm,her gene testing came back negative so that was great and the sentinel node came back negative that was great .Watching my little girl ( 32 years young) go through this is heart retching.She has requested  not start treatment until after the first of Aug because she needs to heal from the port being put in.Thank you all for your prayers and the knowledge you can offer.Hugs to all my fellow sjogys.