IV vs Port for Chemotherapy: What's Your Experience?

I didn’t have a port. I had 12 weekly Taxol infusions along with Herceptin for HER2+. My oncologist didn’t order a port for me. I was on a lower dose of Taxol. Not sure if that was the reason why no port. I have small veins and it was sometimes a challenge for the nurses to get the needle in. My record is 4 tries. I was okay with it though. Needles don’t really bother me that much.

I just completed my 3rd treatment of chemo by IV today and have one more to do in 3 weeks. I have veins that make getting an IV in tricky but the nurses I have had have made it a painless process and I am glad I didn’t have to get a port. Hope that helps ! Good luck to you !

Thanks to you both. I am on a similar schedule of4 treatments over 12 weeks. Think I will try to do the IV if I can. !

I've had both. As I understand, it depends on the chemo. Some are so strong, they would do damage to veins, so the port is preferred for those.

Cancer is unpredictable. I can’t imagine doing it all without my port. If your cancer is early stages , I guess you can do it without. I did 6 round of TCHP & after surgery they found residual cancer left….Now I need to continue on Kadcyla for 14 rounds . I also received infusions a week after chemo bc I got dehydrated and could not keep anything down. Anywho, the pain is the same either way…. But with the port you won’t get scaring in your veins.

Verzenio

I LOVE my port!!! I had one when I was diagnosed in 2016 and then had it removed…but now I’m Stage 4 because of these damn metastases so I had a new port put in early 2022 so it is well used 😇

I did IV, 4 rounds of chemo. Don’t go through the process of a port for just 4 rounds. I’m very happy I didn’t.

I start chemo 1/15 and will get a port. Interesting to read the rationale for port vs IV. I will have 6 sessions over 18 weeks.

Denise. I am currently on Verzenio, a pill 2 times a day. Plus faslodex injections every 28 days. Verzenzio is generating diarrhea, but it's generally controlled by imodium for me.

I had a port for 3 years. It never stopped hurting and even got infected at one point. It's been out for for two years and it itches and stings due to nerve damage but it does seem to be getting better. It was miserable for me though and given a choice I would not do it again. I am just now getting a full night sleep without that thing waking me up. However, some people have no problems with a port at all. I have a bony chest so there was no fat cushion for it to float around in.

Nancy, When my cancer went into one axillary lymph node, I required immediate chemo at aggressive doses due to being a triple negative BRCA cancer multiplying at a 95% rate that is very uncommon. I started with a peripheral IV to not delay needs, but a central line or chest port was necessary for aggressive treatments. I had it inserted within the first month and had treatments of Carbo, Taxol, Adriamycin, Cytoxan at high doses over 6 to 7 months. I had the dissolved node removed in September 2024 with port removal at that time. I’m on oral chemo and to begin PARP meds as preventative treatments now. The port was annoying because I’m thin and it stuck out of my chest site, but it was required for aggressive doses of weekly chemo. Best wishes. You can get through this! 🙏

My veins are difficult to find and I don’t like needles, lol. I had a port and I’m so glad I did. I had not only chemo but blood drawn via port. Also ended up in Acute clinic (dehydration), had 4 bags of IV for fluids and electrolytes. Everyone is different. Hope this helps. Prayers and hugs

I didn't have port and did 4 round of TC. I think I choose the best choice between 2. Best of luck to you

To my nursing knowledge, Ports are required for aggressive chemo medications such as Adriamycin. I required weekly and biweekly chemo, beginning with peripheral IVs, but the port was necessary to continue my treatments for BRCA triple negative cancer that spread to one node. I’m still on treatments a year, but it is working. Best wishes for your treatment journeys.

Thanks to all of you for sharing your personal experiences. Grateful for the details and your encouraging words. May all our journeys be toward better days

This is such an important decision to discuss with your treatment team, as they know your specific situation best. Many people in this community have experience with both options, and factors like vein condition, treatment duration, and personal comfort often play a role in what works best for each person. Sharing your concerns about anesthesia and your comfort level with needles will help your medical team guide you toward the right choice for your treatment journey.