Chemotherapy port types and procedure

Chemotherapy is the treatment procedure that makes use of chemicals which help destroy the micro organisms or cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is used to treat cancer. It is sometimes used in combination with cytotoxin to improve the treatment regimen. The chemotherapy port is a device that is implemented under your skin so that you can receive the chemotherapy treatments. There are a variety of chemotherapy treatments. Chemotherapy is typically administered through a pill, a shot or intravenously. The intravenous chemotherapy is the most common treatment for cancer.

Chemotherapy is the most effective form of cancer treatment; however, it also kills some healthy cells in the body of the patient and causes side effects like nausea, sore mouth, vomiting, and dry skin.

Use of chemotherapy for treatment of cancer began in 1940. It first utilized nitrogen mustards and folic acid antagonist drugs for treatment. The development of a cancer drug has exploded into the multi-billion dollar industry. Still today, there is no effective drug for treating cancer and the limitations of chemotherapy discovered by researchers in early days still apply.

Types of Chemotherapy Ports:

Implantable Port:

The implantable port is an important port in cancer treatment. It is a soft, flexible, long tube attached to the vein to transfer the chemotherapeutic drugs through the blood. This tube is called catheter and has a subcutaneous opening. The diameter of this port ranges from 2.5 centimeter to 4 centimeter. When this port is attached to the body of the patient, he can feel the presence of the port but it will not be detected from outside. You can transfuse the blood, give antibiotics or treat the patient through chemotherapy.

Tunneled Port:

Tunneled ports are placed into the chest below the subcutaneous tissue that lies under the skin. Then the port is inserted into the large vein above the entrance to the right atrium of the heart. The catheter is kept in place by the scar tissue.

The intravenous chemotherapy is sometimes given through the plastic port that is small, made of stainless steel or titanium device. It is inserted under the skin of upper arm or chest. This port connects to the large vein and makes the chemotherapy doses easier to administer.

Chemotherapy port can be inserted in the spheres when the vein walls are hardened due to some previous application of needles.

The chemotherapy ports are generally inserted when you are awake. You may be given pain killers or sedatives. Chemotherapy is the painless treatment method usually implemented to treat cancer patients.