actions speak louder than words

many of you have asked me what a port is, how it works, etc. so, i'm going to take one for the team (you know, the team with the big, shiny C on the jersey) and provide a moment of port education.

essentially, a little pocket was cut into my chest and this device about the diameter of a quarter was inserted. it will typically remain there for the duration of treatment and be accessed for chemo administration (the alternative to having a IV inserted in your arm/hand for each treatment). the line runs into the superior vena cava, just upstream of the right atrium of the heart. each time the port needs to be accessed, a needle is inserted in my chest (in the center of the port) providing access for both blood to be drawn and drugs to be injected. my port looks like this one but is purple instead of gray. how cute. :)

now that i'm done with chemo, what happens with this port? the cancer community recommends leaving it in for awhile 'if you're not in a rush to have it removed'. why, you ask (i did). 'just in case.' hmmmm. although they won't say it, i was quick to sense that 'just in case' was code for relapse, more chemo, etc, etc.

after giving it some serious thought, i decided that i am in a rush!  i'm in a rush to get myself back together and put this behind me. i think that if i'm working on believing with my whole heart and soul that this cancer won't be back, my actions better say so too. so... (drum roll)... tomorrow i'm having my port removed. although i'm not excited about any sort of surgery, this is the type that's a lot easier to swallow!