Content Overview
- Overview
- Life During a Continuous FOLFOX Infusion: Do's and Don'ts
- FOLFOX and Work
- Paying For FOLFOX Treatment
- FOLFOX: How Treatment Is Delivered (Infusion, Continuous Infusion)
- FOLFOX and Food
- How Chemotherapy Works
- Ports: Defined, Advantages, Risks, Care Of
- FOLFOX Variations
- FOLFOX Side Effects: What They Are And How To Cope With Them
- The Drugs Which Make Up FOLFOX
- How To Prepare For FOLFOX Infusions
- Implanting A Port
- What Happens During a Continuous FOLFOX Infusion
- What Happens During FOLFOX Infusion At The Treatment Center
- What NOT To Do While On FOLFOX Treatment
- Red Flags to Watch For While Undergoing FOLFOX Treatment
- Living With A Port When Not Being Infused
- Removal of A Port
- Nearing The End Of FOLFOX Treatment
- Recovery From FOLFOX Treatment
- Life After FOLFOX Treatment: Long Term
- Your Health Care Team
- Emotions And Feelings While Undergoing FOLFOX Treatment
- Disability Income From SSDI and/or SSI Or A Private Insurer
- FOLFOX and Sex
- If You Have Advanced Colorectal Cancer
- If Treatment Is Not Working
- FOLFOX Family and Friends
Chemotherapy: FOLFOX
Ports: Defined, Advantages, Risks, Care Of
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FOLFOX is generally infused through a port inserted in the body known by a variety of names such as a Chemo Port, Medi-Port, Medport,, Port-a-Cath or VAP (Venal Access Point).
What A Port Is
A port is a plastic or metal device, about the size of a quarter or smaller, that comes in a variety of shapes, that has a thin, flexible tube attached to the inside that is threaded into a large vein.
Purposes Of A Port
- A port allows drugs to be administered directly into a vein while preventing damage that would otherwise occur from continuous infusion through a needle in a vein.
- A port makes it easy to draw blood for testing purposes.
- A port also prevents administered drugs from leaking out and hurting your skin.
Advantages of A Port
Studies indicate that patients feel a port improves quality of life because of:
- Decreased pain
- Less need for needle sticks
- Quicker blood draws.
Risks of a Port
Like all medical procedures, there are risks to be considered before agreeing to a port. Risks of using ports include:
- The risk of damaging a vein or puncturing your lungs.
- The risk that bacteria can access the body where it can cause a severe infection to an already weakened, immune-compromised, body.
- A port can cause blood around it to clot which can cause blood clots or block access to the port.
- Dislodgement of the port.
- Skin erosion.
Care of a Port
A port needs to be flushed periodically when you are not receiving infusions.
NOTE: If you would prefer not to have a port, CAPEOX substitutes 5FU pills for the continuous infusion and is an alternative to FOLFOX infused through a vein. If this is of interest to you, speak with your doctor.
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