A portacath is placed under the skin to provide easy access to the large veins for chemotherapy treatments.
Whilst it may seem easier to have chemotherapy through a small cannula placed in an arm vein, the chemotherapy medicine can be very harsh on the walls of the veins, and the small veins in your arm are usually only 2-3mm in diameter. The chemotherapy damages them. The large vein in your chest is >10mm in diameter, with the chemotherapy medicine flowing throughout the vasculature before it can sit against the vein wall and damage it.
The port is a small bump under the skin, usually on the chest, and is connected to a catheter that goes into the large veins in your chest. It is generally difficult to notice this bump unless you are skinny.
The right side is the best side for the port because the vein in the neck has a straight line to the heart, whereas the vein on the left side takes a few twists and turns, making the port not sit in as much of a favourable position – however, this is not a big deal if it needs to be on the left.
If you have lymphoedema of the arm from previous cancer, then it will be placed in your neck on the other side of the lymphoedema.
Patients worry about seatbelt irritation of the port – this has not been a problem in my experience. The port is buried under the skin, and you do not notice it.
Consulting locations
WOLLONGONG
Artery and Vein Clinic
402 Crown St
Wollongong
NSW 2500
GREGORY HILLS
Artery and Vein Clinic
Soma Centre
Suite 8/7, Gregory Hills drive
Gregory hills
NSW 2557
Orange
Artery and Vein Clinic
117 Molder st
Orange
NSW 2800
Contact Info
Wollongong
Phone: (02) 4226 9333
Fax: (02) 4229 4006
Gregory Hills
Phone: (02) 4601 1055
Fax: (02) 4601 1058
Orange
Phone: (02) 4601 1055
Fax: (02) 4601 1058
Healthlink EDI: wgvascul
Office Hours
9am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday
Phone Hours
7am – 6pm Monday to Friday
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