What are the benefits and risks of a Chemotherapy Port? Chemotherapy is a major treatment for cancer and involves taking drug “agents” (or “chemotherapy agents”) that attack cancer cells. These agents are taken into cancer’s “infection” area where they attack the cancer cells. When these drugs are given, they kill off the cancer cells, but sometimes, the drugs can damage healthy cells also. This can result in a chemo patient having a “leukemia” type tumor.
A chemo port is a specialized room where the drugs are received, intravenously taken, and used. Chemotherapy treatment can take several days or sometimes longer than that. The benefit of using this type of port is that patients will remain in the hospital under observation and monitored constantly for any side effects or problems.
How are the drugs used? There are various types of drugs used for chemotherapy, but they are usually injected intravenously or taken as pills. Many types of drugs used for chemotherapy are administered through ports to allow them to reach the cancer site quickly and efficiently. Chemotherapy port calls are especially used when a doctor wants to give a new drug to an older patient who might experience side effects from previous treatments.
Who gets a port called? Most doctors choose to use a dedicated port when possible. In some cases, patients might get a port call when another form of chemotherapy is being administered to keep the patient from losing the effectiveness of the current treatment.
How are the drugs used? The drugs used in chemotherapy are very powerful. Some can even destroy cancer cells that normally live within the body. However, chemotherapy can have some serious side effects, such as severe hair loss, vomiting, and nausea. In order to protect these patients, doctors have developed a chemo port to administer chemotherapy sessions.
What are the benefits and risks of a drug shot? A drug shot is taken at the beginning of a chemotherapy session to administer the drug as well as boost the immune system. The side effects are typically headaches, nausea, and general feelings of being “off.”
How are port calls used in the treatment of cancer? A port call can be used for many types of cancers including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and colon cancer. The port calls are used to give the chemotherapy drug, norepinephrine, before or after each drug dose. The drug gets metabolized into norepinephrine immediately, which gives the patient more energy and helps with nausea.
I’m not a doctor or medical professional. This article is for information only. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tips given in this article only after consulting your doctor.
Norepinephrine, or also known as adrenaline, is a hormone generated by the adrenal gland that increases blood flow throughout the body. When given the appropriate drugs, norepinephrine helps boost the immune system and increase its effect on tumors. However, prolonged use of a chemo port can have serious side effects and can even lead to death if the dosage is not reduced accordingly.
The risks of norepinephrine include an increased risk of panic attacks, chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating, fast heart rate, palpitations, tachycardia, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, leg pain, and swelling. The side effects can be reduced with changes in diet and exercise, but patients should be careful not to take norepinephrine if they are allergic to it. It is very dangerous and should never be prescribed to a patient.
Chemotherapy drugs used in a chemo port treatment may cause some serious side effects such as nausea, dizziness, liver damage, and hair loss. Although rare, there are also cases of skin sensitivity and changes in skin pigment. Chemotherapy patients should be sure to ask their doctor about the possible side effects associated with this treatment. Chemotherapy patients who smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products while on medication should absolutely avoid this option. Smoking while on treatment is strongly discouraged because smoking does not help you achieve your goals.
What are the benefits and risks of a chemo port for breast cancer patients? The benefits are that the treatments are minimally invasive, and there are very few side effects. If you are considering a treatment to treat your cancer, make sure you discuss all options with your doctor and weigh the pros and cons.
