What are the advantages of administering chemotherapy through a port as opposed to other methods for a colorectal tumor?
Academic Title: Clinical Professor
Director, Center to Eliminate Cancer Disparities
Program Leader, Gastrointestinal Oncology
Board Certifications:
Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine
Chemotherapy through a port allows for constant predicted infusions over a long period of time, days to weeks, or longer if necessary. Whereas, the needle stick may be quite painful and the vein difficult to find, thus requiring multiple sticks.
Infusions through peripheral vessels can cause irritation and pain to the vein, may allow leakage of chemotherapy into soft tissues of the arm and cause pain and tissue destruction with permanent nerve and muscle damage, unpredictable changes in the infusion rate, and a host of other problems.