Kris, what type of cancer? I have PEG fitted for my throat/tongue cancer, I use this for all my feeding and medications, I think it might be similar to that, mine is tube which comes out of my stomach. 

Hi Kris,

That must have been so hard, but you should not feel terrible for you did not ask to get cancer. The main thing is it seems you have a very supportive family and as I know that means so much. I love what your son said; he seems a very sensible young man for there is always hope.

Please take care and stay in contact. Sending best wishes and kind thoughts your way, Brian.

Hi Brian thanks so much for your response I'm new on here and have read some of your posts. Sorry to hear about your Dad, I lost my mum 7 years ago to cancer and my farther in law only last year to cancer. Take care and thanks again 

Kris,

I've not had a PIC line myself, but I know a lot of people who have and it must be better than being canulated time and again.

Don't feel terrible about putting them through this, I mean it isn't like you chose to have cancer is it? They will appreciate your honesty, believe me. I certainly appreciated my own Mum's candour when she was diagnosed and I know my own son appreciated being told the truth when I was diagnosed.

Gastro-oeseophageal junction was my diiagnosis too. Which chemo regime are you starting on Wednesday? I was put on EOX (Epirubicin and Oxalyplatin via a canula and Capecetibine orally). 

Good luck for Wednesday. One practical tip ... take a book or a Kindle with you, the treatment is an anticlimax and, once the lines are in, boring.

Best wishes
Dave 

I had a pic line last year, went in my arm into a vein then up towards a main artery in my chest,  it was done under local and reallybwas fine  took about an hour and you need an exray after to ensure correct placement.  Mine was near my heart so did cause flutters which were a bit Un nerving,  unfortunately mine became infected, my arm locked up and became sore,  went to a and e and they removed the line immediately and admitted me for a week with iv anti biotics.  I then had a Hi ckman line put in... That was horrid and painful but more comfy to live with. Please don't worry aboutbthw pic line...  It was fine, I was a bit unlucky,  you feel nothing when they do it

All the best 

Thanks Dave for your response and info, I've heard of other people having infections and that's what scares me, but I have tiny veins and it's always a struggle to get blood and a cannula in which is really stressful and becomes an ordeal before I even start the chemo. My other concern in one of the chemo' so will be on indefinitely and that would mean the pic staying in indefinitely and that really worries me ie sleeping not getting it wet and infection! I'm really not sure what to do?? Regards Kris

Hi Dave good to hear from you, im going to be on Cisplatin and Herceptin intravenous and Capcitibine orally. For 6 cycles then stay on Herceptin indefinitely every 3 weeks!! But if it keeps me here for as long as possible it has to be done. All the best Kris

Hi Kris, the pic can stay in for months without problem so do not worry,  sleeping with it is fine it's taped down so again don't worry, I had my chemo attached for five days at a time and again it fine, you get used to it,you think you can't but you can. Just keep area dry and clean and you Will be fine.. 

Hi Kris,

I had a PICC line fitted last year to enable me to have my chemo at home during the Christmas period. 

The insertion was painless and as David2 explained, once it has been fitted, you have an X-ray to check that it's in the right place. My partner was given training in how to flush and clean the line and how change the bung on the end of the line and he coped with this just fine.

Like you, I was worried about getting an infection, but this never happened as my partner was extremely careful about taking care of the line. I was also concerned about knocking / dislodging the line, but as David2 has said, it's taped down. I bought a plastic cuff from Boots which patients with plaster casts could use to keep their casts dry during showers. This worked fine and I also got used to having a bath with one arm held up. Over time, I hardly noticed it and it became second nature to put my handbag on the opposite arm! 

For me, the PICC line enabled me to have my chemo at home (I'd had to have it as an inpatient previously)

In the end, it was my intolerance to the chemo that meant I had the line removed, but nothing to do with the line itself. Hope this helps, but it's your decision and what's best for you. 

Jo x