Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Support Group

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), also known as acute myeloid leukemia, is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells. Patients with AML usually present with symptoms such as fatigue, bleeding, infection, prompting medical attention. An abnormal blood test reading will then result in further testing in a hospital with a hematologist to determine AML.

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CajunGirl2015 04/06/2015

My sister had a chest port put in Thursday since she will have chemo for another year. They will remove her Hickman port as soon as she heals from the chest port surgery. Anyone have any experience with these?

Her is swollen and very painful even 4 days post surgery but she didn't want to keep having to change the dressing and worry about getting the other one wet every time she was around their pool or taking a bath/shower.

Just wondering if anyone else had had one done and how it worked for them. Better than the Hickman, worse, same?

Thanks, Debbie

Noodle65 04/06/2015

Debbie,

I had a Hickman. Hopefully those with experience with this type of port will respond. How did Jo's apt go Friday and did she ask about the FLT3 test?

Julie

mtnbyker 04/06/2015

I still have my power port and will have till 2 years post transplant. I had I believe is what people call the Hickman (3 tubes coming out of my chest) for my transplant. They took that out once it became clogged and quit working. The port is WAY better. I don't even really notice it is there any more. I have to have it flushed every month and they do my blood draws through it too. She will be much happier with the port once it gets healed. As long as it isn't accessed she can take showers without it being covered. I will be glad to be rid of mine though because it will mean I have survived two years!

dbrowncsuaedu 04/06/2015

DaveJ -- thanks for that advice -- I had a hickman and a PICC -- the hickman was more durable. It is important on any of them that they are flushed regularly -- one month sounds a little long ... I do not think it hurts to flush it more regularly. From all the people I have known like DaveJ who have had both, they seem to like the chest port better. (Not sure "chest port" is the right name for it, but never heard a good name either -- but we know what you are talking about.) For anyone out there who might be considering a port -- any port is better than none. And I would go with what your med people recommend and not argue about it -- unless they actually give you a choice. But as far as I know the chest port is probably as good as they get and better than most. Thanks -- daveB

CajunGirl2015 04/07/2015

Hi Julie,

They pushed her appointment back because her numbers had not reached the number they wanted them to be. Her appointment is now on the 24th. Her last round started March 9th and her numbers reached the right level on April 2nd but they had already changed the appt. to the 24th by then so I'm not sure if they will move it back up some or not.

xuelan 04/07/2015

Debbie,

I had a Hickman and had not problems with it until very close to my discharge following transplant. I think it got seeded with bacteria, and I had a bacteremia. For that reason, they removed it and I was actually discharged free as a bird. I generally have found that PICC lines are the most problematic, and I am glad that I never had one.

The swelling will subside. Just keep an eye out for any persistent redness, pus, or warmth of the site.

Cliff

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