UPDATE - All about the chemo port

UPDATE: Discharge instructions after port placement say it's OK to remove the outer dressing. I cannot get an edge started by myself, so I've texted both sons, saying one of you needs to come by after work and get these off me--y'all talk and decide which one. It will be taken care of, I have no doubt.

I'm on my 3rd 28-ounce mug of water for today. I have not had any hot tea--not sure why, but I haven't wanted any. Possibly the lack of interest in food/drink that accompanies chemotherapy.

Slept from around 10:30 p.m. til 4:30 a.m. the longest span of time I've slept in I don't know how long.

Still no nausea, yea! One mouth sore at the back right side of my tongue--rats. Made a recommended mouth rinse of a quart of water, a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking powder. It does make my mouth more comfortable.

My goal now is to build up my stamina, walking. So, I've been out in the shade on the narrow sidewalk on the north side of the building and walked five times for about 10 minutes each time. I'm setting the timer on my phone to go off so that I don't forget to give it a go. One time I walked inside the building, too, up the stairs to the top floor which is only 15 more steps up, then back down, but every step is one in the right direction. With those pinpointed walks and the regular around-the-apartment steps, I'm up to 3,549 today which is right at three times my daily average in August. I'm back, cautiously, listening to my body, one hundred percent.

I am blessed. Thank you for your continued prayers, love, and concern.



This is a photo of the port from the Patient Guide that they gave me when I was all done on Wednesday. Dr. Klein showed me one beforehand, and described in detail exactly what he would do and why. He's the same guy who did the needle biopsy--I really like him a lot!



When I go back for Chemo Round Two on August 19, I'll have that sort of needle inserted into my port so that the chemo will get inside me through it. No need to be stuck here and there, trying to find a vein. In fact, on August 18, when I go to have pre-chemo blood work done, they will get the blood out of the port--at least, that's what I've been told. I hope it's the truth.



Here's one of the places that I've been told about the uses of the port. I like that part about being less harmful to my veins. After all, they're 67 and a half years old, like the rest of me.



I felt the three bumps on the sample port that Dr. Klein showed me. I have not felt the bumps on mine because I cannot get the outer dressing off by myself. Like I said earlier in the post, one of my sons will come over in the next few hours and help me remove them. 



More detail about accessing the port. These folks have steady hands. 



My port incision and the other one needed during the placement procedure have been glued shut, after stitches. The stitches will dissolve and the glue will turn into a scab which will eventually come off. That's what the glue did for the six incisions I had after the robot surgery on June 25.



I have my Identification Card in my coin purse, along with my Kaiser Insurance card. I'm not wearing that bracelet because it will get in the way of my acupressure motion sickness bracelets. I slipped the cardboard key ring card onto my key chain--I wonder if it will last throughout this process since my keys get a work out whenever I go anywhere, tucked into my waistband or a pocket or my purse.

UPDATE - Woke up way too early. I'm about to take my first nap of the day, y'all.

--> UPDATE:

Made it through all that went on yesterday without any problems. Got my ride to the hospital for the chemo port placement--thanks to a sweet friend. The doctor who placed it was the same guy who did my needle biopsy on June 17. I really like that guy! And his crew was top-knotch!

I will be able to take off the bandages over the two incisions tomorrow. So far, I have had no pain associated with either incision, although I have no desire to lie on my right side in bed, nor do I want to do jumping jacks or reach too high, period.

Still no nausea, taste alterations, and thankfully less peripheral neuropathy. Thank you for your continued prayers, love and concern.



I fell asleep between 10-10:30 p.m. Woke up at 2:45 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep. So, by 4:52 a.m. I had eaten some oatmeal and prunes and finished off several ounces of water. I decided to go outside since the sun had not yet come up. I checked the temperature on my phone--59 degrees. Wow. I put on my Mickey Mouse sweatshirt jacket, zipped it up, pulled up the hood and walked out the building's front door. At the end of our sidewalk, I could hear the sprinklers to the south doing their thing. They cut off within a minute or two, and then the ones to the north cut on. So, I walked down the still dry front steps and across the street to the front yard at Albertina Kerr's. I sat on the bench for a few minutes because I heard the sprays of water begin to hit the banana tree leaves which are right up against our sidewalk and its steps. I knew I needed to wait for silence before walking back inside my building. When I got across the street once all was quiet, I saw this image and knew that I had to photograph it and share it with y'all. Who in the world wouldn't want to call this building home?

I won't be going here tonight--it's now known as Providence Park. UPDATE.

As a season ticket holder for the Portland Trail Blazers, I had the chance to go see the women's soccer team play tonight--the Portland Thorns. This is one thing I won't be doing because of the cancer and the chemotherapy. Plus I have the placement of the port in a few hours.

As I understand it, the port will be placed just beneath my skin somewhere near my collarbone. It will remain in there until I am done with all of the chemo--presently scheduled for Round 6 on November 11. This port will enable my caregivers to infuse chemotherapy at that site so that I don't have to be stuck here and stuck there. Yea!

Lamont, Leland, Rachel, and Brody are going to watch the Thorns play this evening. I am so happy that they will be there, yelling for me!

UPDATE: Still no nausea, hallelujah! Still some peripheral neuopathy, which continues to wax and wane. Not feeling at this moment that I am wobbly or out of balance. I am blessed.

My ride to the hospital for the port placement will be here soon. Later, y'all!