Hi, I opted to not do a port. Many of the patients in the treatment room did have ports. I didn't want this in my body. I try to be very holistic along with traditional medicine. I was thinking I can get through the IV's which went in my wrist. The nurses were great, and they could do the lab work through the IV. They will do your labs CMP/CBC before they start any chemo every time. The Herceptin - aka Kanjinti treatments will require the CMP/CBC as well. If your bloodwork is out of tolerance like your white blood cells, they may send you home. So, if it happens it is not uncommon. Port is a personal decision for sure. So there or I had 12 treatments of Taxol/Herceptin and then another 10 which should have been 14 so that is a lot. I still had the option to get a port if I decided to but, in the end, decided not to. Wishing you all the best. Here if you need anything. Hugs.

Terry

Side note - and this is just me I would have opted for the Chemo given the choice based on the aggressiveness of the Hers2+. I had a double mastectomy, so radiation was not required. It's most likely very hard to think through options right now as it is for all of us while we are on our journeys in the beginning. Once the plan is laid out things get easier, and each day is one day closer to healing. Hugs again. Oh - I also ate yogurt daily to help keep the healthy bacteria in my gut. This is where 80% of your immune system is. :)

Oh my gosh thank you so much for your long reply! I found it helpful and supportive. Did you get a port? I am getting one this week and chemo starts the week after. Both Dr's I saw quoted studies that put reoccurence very low with this treatment. One of them also said radiation only was an option that raises recurrence rate by 4-6%. I opted for chemo but today I'm wondering if i made the right choice. I don't think I can extend this waiting period again though. This way I'd be done with chemo end of March which is not bad. I had an echocardiogram last week and they will do it again throughout treatment like you did.

I started without a port- but by the fourth session, the drugs were just too harsh on my veins in my arm, so the port went in. Having done it both ways, I am team port. It took over 6 months for the scarring in my arm to heal, and even now, years later, the underside of that forearm can get achey. Just keep an eye on things, and let them know if you see discolorations, or feel anything else going on.

Reading all this made me realize how I had forgotten some of the issues I had during Taxol. That is a good thing. To reply to the questions about a port. I did have a port which they put in when I had my surgery. It does make things much easier as you go through this on a weekly basis.

This protocol has had really good outcomes- even though the tumor may be out, there are often cancer cells still circulating. The chemo zaps those, and the Herceptin blocks the messaage to make more. And the Herceptin only is so much easier than the chemo cocktail. Hang in there, we get through this one day, one treatment at a time. Hugs!