How can I sleep with a chemo port?
If you have a chemo port, the most ideal sleeping position is on your back. Sleeping on your back places minimal pressure on your port. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, especially during the recovery period. This could put pressure on your port and lead to increased soreness.
You can also sleep on your side. If your chemo port is on the right side of your chest, try sleeping on your left side — or vice versa.
There’s really no sleep position that’s dangerous for someone with a chemo port. But you should avoid positions that could place unnecessary pressure on your port — like sleeping with your arms raised above your head.
How soon can you start chemo after port placement?
You can begin chemotherapy as soon as your port is in place.
Is chemo port placement major surgery?
No, chemo port placement isn’t a major surgery. The necessary incision is usually about an inch long. In most cases, chemo port placement is an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home on the same day.
Is it painful to use a chemo port?
You might feel pressure or a slight pinch when your provider places a needle in your chemo port. But having a chemo port makes blood draws, infusions and injections much more tolerable compared to cancer treatment through a traditional intravenous (IV) line.
Can you shower with a chemo port?
Yes, as long as your healthcare provider says it’s OK, you can shower 24 to 48 hours after your chemo port procedure. You’ll need to cover the surgical site with plastic wrap so it doesn’t get wet.
Once you’ve healed from your procedure, you can shower, bathe or even swim with your chemo port.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A chemotherapy port, or chemo port, is a small, implantable device. It delivers chemotherapy drugs directly to your bloodstream through a vein in your chest, arm or abdomen. Healthcare providers can also use your port to draw blood and give you fluids. Having a chemo port can greatly reduce the number of needle sticks required at your oncology appointments — and in many cases, it can make cancer treatments safer. Talk to your oncologist to find out if a chemo port is right for you.
