Do I need a port for chemo?

Not everyone needs a port. It depends on your treatment plan and what your care team advises. Most IV chemotherapy is given through a thin needle placed in a vein in the hand or lower arm. A port is another option. It is a small disc placed under the skin during minor surgery, and it connects to a large vein, usually in the chest, through a thin tube called a catheter.

A port is often suggested for people who will have chemotherapy often over a long period. It is also used when a person's veins are hard to reach with a regular needle. Once the port is in place, a nurse can put a needle through the skin into the port to give chemotherapy or draw blood. That avoids repeated needle sticks in the arm. For treatments that last longer than a day, the needle can stay in the port the whole time.

The port stays in place until you finish your course of treatment. If you are not sure whether you need one, ask your care team to walk you through the pros and cons for your own case. That includes how often you will be treated and what your veins are like.