Do I need a port for chemo?

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

A port is often recommended for people who will be getting chemotherapy often over a long period of time, or whose veins are hard to access with a regular needle. Once the port is in place, a nurse can insert a needle through the skin into the port to give chemotherapy or draw blood, which 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 through the pros and cons for your specific situation, including how often you will be treated and what your veins are like.