Info on arm port?
Question:
Does anyone have any information on arm ports? I had MRM with all lymph nodes removed three years ago. Chose not to have a port for my 6 months of chemo. Have not used my right arm for any blood work or blood pressure cuff since. Now, cancer in other breast and I know going in to this that I will have my lymph nodes removed because my new doctor does not perform the sentinel procedure. So, the big question? How do I give blood, get blood pressure taken, etc. The answer. All that is out the window because nodes on both sides will be gone. I’m okay with that, I have no other choice. Here is the problem. I do want a port this time for chemo and asked about it. My surgeon told me that they will put a port in my right arm, my most current MRM is on the left. Why in the world would they even suggest that? Would it not make more sense not to take any chances, or at least as few as possible with my arms? Why not my chest? I’m a little confused because it seems so simple to me but I want to trust in what my doctors are saying. Does anyone have any insight? Thanks… Amy
Response:
<< My surgeon told me that they will put a port in my right arm, my most current MRM is on the left. I don’t know but am guessing that is the type of port he may be most familiar with and/or the nurses that he works with are trained to use. I know of someone who had a port in her mid thigh and was quite happy about that. I am guessing she did not have it in her chest because she had had inflammatory breast cancer. Did you ask the surgeon why an arm port was recommended as opposed to one in the chest? You might want to get a second surgical opinion. If you can’t have blood drawn from your arms, I understand that you can have it taken from your legs or neck. However, the lab tech must be trained to do it that way.
