Stephanie, female, 33, Florida
My Experience
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After four months of chemotherapy, I receive an infusion of Herceptin through my port(surgically placed reusable intravenous access) every three weeks. The drug reduces recurrence rate in patients with my type of breast cancer.
If I’m having bloodwork, I go straight to the chemotherapy ward and have them draw my blood through my port. They send the blood to the lab ASAP, then I head over to the oncologist where he looks at the bloodwork and does a physical exam. Typically I get bloodwork every other visit. I get the CA 15-3 and CA-125 tests (cancer markers).
I then head back to the chemotherapy ward and the chemotherapy infusion process begins. It’s an hour and a half on the IV (through the port), but from start to finish, I’m at the hospital at least two-and-a-half hours on infusion days.
I feel absolutely normal after infusions. There is no recovery except for a band-aid over the port.
My Advice
Be your own advocate with the nurses, technicians and doctors. Make sure they double check your name and birth date, hook up the IV the right way and locate the port before they prick you
- posted by HealthAngle April 21, 2009
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