use the stinkin’ port!

When I was diagnosed with the Hodge, I got something called a Mediport surgically implanted.  A “port” is basically a disk shaped, small object implanted in the chest that allows them to draw blood or deliver chemo without having to ravage your arm veins.  As anyone who recalls my first few CT scans prior to diagnosis knows, I don’t have the best veins.  For one thing, I am kind of thin and for another I seem to have inherited my father’s bad veins.  This resulted in my arms looking like I went a round with Ali after the CT scans.

So although it was a minor surgical procedure to get the port implanted, I am happy to have it.  Its located on my upper left chest (not far below the collarbone).  I had a pediatric port placed because I had such bulky disease in my chest.  It was the smallest size the surgeon had available.  I know this because I stayed awake through the whole surgery, talking with the surgeon.  :)  He ran tris so we talked about running.

The port nicely tucks away under my sports bra strap and it generally doesn’t bother me except sometimes when I am driving in the car and the seat belt rubs against it.

This last week or so I have been going through some of the initial tests I went through when I was diagnosed with the Hodge.  Among these was the combination PET/CT two weeks ago.  I’ve had a PFT and tomorrow I am supposed to get a MUGA scan.  I am not sure I am going for the MUGA scan.  I am tired of being stabbed.

The PFT is a pulmonary function test.  As regular readers here know, I have been having breathing problems, so the PFT was pretty important for me.  One of the chemo drugs is known to cause lung problems.  I seem to have developed lung inflammation and my PFT showed I had decreased markedly in function.  Whether it was due to the chemo or not is still being determined …

I don’t mind the PFT.  It doesn’t involve needles.  Basically you just breathe into a tube a few different ways and that is it.  I could do a PFT every day and not be all that bugged or bothered.

The PET and the MUGA — the MUGA is a heart scan because one of the drugs can cause heart damage — both require needle sticks.  Those do bother me.

However, the outpatient radiology department won’t use the port.  They don’t “like” to use the port, apparently.  Instead they attack my arms or hands.

This begs the question: what the heck is the point to having the port?!?  I had surgery to put it in.  It works great.  Use it!

My father, who also has a port after his own battle with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, has run into the same issue: the radiology department just flat out doesn’t want to use the port.

Getting a needle stick in the port hurts a lot less than them hunting in my arms.  Only once have I had to be stuck more than once with the port — multiple needle sticks are common for me when the vampires attack my arm or hand veins.

Maybe I am being a little overly sensitive to the issue, but darn it, it’s my body and it’s been through enough pain and sickness and suffering with chemo.  It really ticks me off that radiology won’t use my port for these procedures.

That’s why I have insituted the needle stick rule.  From now on, the vampires are going to be informed that they get ONE chance at the arms.  They can have up to three tries at the port, but its just one try on the arms or hands.  So they better make it count.  No more of this multiple stick business.  From now on, I am sticking up for myself.

Tags: ABVD, chemotherapy, CT scan, hematology, Hodgkin's Disease, oncology, ports, radiology