Colon Cancer Support Group
Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from mushroom-like growths that are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time. The majority of the time, the diagnosis of localized colon cancer is through colonoscopy.
I was to start chemo 5 days ago, but the nurses couldn't get a picc line in me, my veins would not cooperate. My onc suggested I start on folfox via IV, but the nurse said it would destroy my little veins. Now I question my onc, but that's for another post. So now my options are Hickman or port a cath, but the surgeons office yesterday did not have written material on them and I looked on the Internet but not enough info to make my decision. The nurse did suggest a port since I have "sensitive skin" and all the dressing changes I would need to go through. While the surgeon suggest the less invasive Hickman. Any tips on either one would be nice. Thanks! The procedure will be on the 15th, so I have time to decide.
I really had no problems with the line (I suppose catheter since it is the same thing used for dialysis patients) because the oncology nurses were extremely efficient and flushed it regularly etc. Although changing the dressing by myself was almost impossible, I lived with it for 11 months without any side-effects or problems.
Good luck!
Don't feel bad about having emotional issues about the port. I cried when I saw it and was told it would go under my skin. It looked so intrusive and foreign, like a sci-fi movie.
But I learned to like it, like a pair of glasses, that helps me to function. I began to appreciate that science can make this difficult process easier.
Keep us posted.