I'm so sorry to hear you're having to start chemo.
My mum is currently half way through her FEC-T. In regards to the wait between the picc line insertion and your chemo starting, it depends on your hospital, and when they can get you in to get your treatment started.
My mum had her Picc line inserted on the Friday, had it flushed and bloods taken on the Saturday, and then had her first round of chemo on the Tuesday. This may be quicker or slower for you, but I just thought I'd let you know at least one idea of the waiting time. If you haven't had your bloods done already, you will have those first, so maybe your chemo will be soon. I'm not sure, because when we met with my mums oncologist, she booked the appointments for the picc line, the flush/bloods and the first chemo all at one time.
Either way, I hope you're not waiting too long, and can start your treatment soon. I also hope it goes as well as it can do for you, and I hope you don't have too bad a time with the symptoms.
I take it your veins are already shot from previous treatments? I only ask cause FEC-T is often the first line chemotherapy so people's veins are still good and no ports are required.
I had FEC-T last year and my veins are now shot. With at least year of another chemotherapy ahead of me I've asked to have a port-a-cath fitted. I'm having mine fitted in my left upper arm because I'll need radiotherapy on my upper torso. Do you definitely need a PICC line or would a port-a-cath be an option?
Sorry if this is all stuff you've already considered and you've already decided on the PICC line, just thought it worth mentioning in case other options hadn't been mentioned.
Just to add another side to this, my Mum hadn't had any previous treatments that made her veins bad, her veins are just small and weak anyway, and blow easily during bloods. So the decision for her to have a Picc line was a no brainer with her oncologist and chemo nurses. They said that the strength of the FEC would mean she would end up having multiple problems and lots of sore places where veins had blew and they'd have to keep trying new places for her treatment to go through, so I think sometimes a picc insertion is recommended so that the person definitely gets all their chemo at each round, rather than having to stop half way etc. My mums half way and she's so so glad even to this day that they recommended the line and that she had it done.
I think maybe hospitals do things differently and try different things.
Hope your treatment is going as well as it can do.
Totally get it if it's an older person, didn't know what age NannyJosie is. Not sure if I've missed something or if chemo brain means I just haven't picked up on something she said.
Glad your mum's treatment is going well. I get my port-a-cath next week, can't wait.
Yeah Haha, my mum isn't all that old, I think it's just if you have weak veins, nurses dont want to ruin the good ones you have, that might be needed for other things etc. My mums picc line isn't a blender so she has to have bloods taken from her other arm, and has her chemo and flush through the line, and hopefully will have her anesthesia for her operation through the line before it is, fingers crossed, removed for good.
Good Luck with the porta, I hope it goes well and you can continue treatment without a glitch.
