Treatmt: Scarring from central veinous catheter?

Hi Ladies


A few weeks back I had a central veinous line (catheter) inserted at the top of my right bazoom in preparation for chemo-rads. Even in the beginning, it was a bit difficult to disguise with clothing.

Just before I was due to actually start treatment, I got a really nasty infection, probably caused when water got under my "waterproof" dressing. BTW ladies - even if your port/catheter is covered with a plastic dressing, make sure to protect it even more with clingfilm or a sheet of plastic held in place with sticky tape when showering and wash your hair under the washbasin tap rather than in the shower.

After removing the catheter and putting me on IV antibiotics for six days, I was released from hospital and they are going to put in another line next week. However, although the dressing came off yesterday and the nurse said it was healing well, I am horrified by the four very obvious red marks and am really scared about what the final scar will look like. For those of you ladies who had this procedure, how long did it take before you dared "show your bosom before three o'clock" (I am mad about "Gone with the Wind")?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

You certainly have been dealt your share of stuff.
First off, how a scar looks at one year is what you are left with, anything that is healing will look quite red for quite awhile and fade at about a year.

I guess this is why I opted not to have a central line for my chemo, I just did not care how many times I got poked, to me the risks of complications from a central line were just not worth it. I had pretty lousy veins throughout, but..... a central line was MUCH scarier for me

Janet

I'm can still weird about it because my scars from the port healed in a raised fashion. At the same time I have those days where I use the scars as a way to show that people survive cancer and move on with their lives.

I as well opted out of a central line for chemo. I didn't care about being poked and my only REAL concern was will my veins hold up. They did and I was never stuck more than once or twice (that being towards the end of chemo). I too was worried over infections connected with a central line and to be honest just didn't want to think about cancer everytime I looked into the mirror and saw it there. Personal preferance... I also wasn't much on keeping up with the maintenance of one. Like all things, central lines have their pros and cons.... I don't know what to say about any potential scarring. I would advise using some vitamin E after your line is removed. They also make scar creams at general nutrition centers. Good luck hon.

I had a central line for five days while I was in the hospital after a colectomy a year after my hyst. I have no visible scar now (it's been 7 years); it was red when the CL was removed, but it faded pretty quickly. If only all the other scars faded as well...

s,
-Linda

Hello Ladies

Thanks for your replies. They -and a conversation with one of the nurse/counsellors at the Centre where I am being treated - did a lot to reassure me.

I am currently rubbing in Vitamin E oil and might consider taking out a mortgage on my apartment to buy some Crème de la Mer" once the treatment is over LOL.

To go completely off subject - as far as actually eating Vitamin E goes, I imagined that in the run-up to my starting the rads diet next week, I would have the urge to stuff myself with the "forbidden" foods, ie pizza and beer for lunch every day - orgies of spinach and brocolli .... not to mention kilos of chocolate ....but I don't. Maybe it's the effect of the mega-antiboitics I'm still taking.

Wish me luck for 10 March - start of treatments!

Hugs

One thing grimalkin
Whatever you do take BE SURE TO take probiotics, especially after having been on antibiotics.
I have ended up with a chronic issue post radiation, and everything I have read, studies have shown that probiotics DURING radiation make a difference.
Also a full bladder, which does not necessarily help the short term problems, but more importantly does decrease the risk of long term problems.
Janet

Be careful about ingesting Vitamen E. Some chemos can cause your ability to clot lesson. I know the chemo I am on does this and I was warned to be very careful with brushing my teeth, and can't even shave my legs, I use NAIR for now. Taking Vitamin E could make this condition worse.

I do love my port I have to say. I am lucky, I do not have to have any tape or anything covering it and I don't even notice it unless I am looking at it in the mirror. Because I am thin it is noticable which is a good thing cause the nurses don't have to feel around and dig to find the spot to hit with the IV.

Vitamin E is great to rub on scars. I had been doing that after my TPE because it was advice given to me by a nurse in the hospital. And believe it or not, given the fact that I had over a 12" scar, it is barely noticable, and the scarring from below the navel to the pubic area isn't even there anymore. But I didn't have staples or stitches on the outside. I had internal stitches and body glue.

Hi Ladies

In fact, the stupid nurse/counsellor didn't know what she was talking about. They put the new catheter beside the site of the old one so there is no way on earth I'll be able to disguise the scars now and I am very upset.

And I don't want anyone telling me what counts is being alive. I don't call not being able to wear normal clothes "life" and I wish I had refused to have a central line. In fact, nobody ever explained the risks to me and I never signed a consent form.

What makes it even worse is that the infection was caused by the famous MRSA and was due to the hospital's sloppy hygiene and not to be washing my hair in the shower.

Sorry for moaning on like this, but it is just so depressing.

When you in the midst of all of this it seems terrible, but I would think that perhaps after this is all over there might be some sort of plastic surgery that could be done to the scarring, in an attempt to hide it.
SOme days it just seems toooooo much, isn't it enough to have cancer in the first place and then to have to have chemo, isn't that enough??, not to have something like this to deal with as well.
Can't "the system" make an exception for cancer patients and try just a little harder to make things easier........
I feel so badly you are going through this.

Janet