Get a cut on the chest and put a tube into it

Last friday, I went for a Port-A (portacath) implantation beneath my skin. The port was inserted under my upper left chest, just beneath my collar bone. It was implanted to make sure that I don't need to be poked everytime I need to undergo chemotherapy or blood test.

It was totally hidden under my skin, but you can see a buldge on my upper chest, so swimming and bathing is not really a problem (see attachment). Not a big ones, with the diameter 1-1.5cm. My activity is not really constricted, just that I am advised not to swing my arm 360 degree. I was locally anesthetized for this surgery. The process was quite fun. I was accompanied with one of my collegue aka friend in my lab.

One of our doctor in my working lab scheduled this surgery for me. Although he is an urologist, but the surgeon who was responsible for this installation is his friend. So, an urologist and a general surgeon did this operation for me (funny huh?). I was a little bit nervous in the operating room (OR) at first. However, after I saw my friend, and a lot of jokes made by him, my tension was released. He played some taiwanese song in the OR, and the general atmosphere in the OR is basically very joyful. My whole face was initially covered with sterile clothes, but the surgeon insist that my eyes to be off the cloth, so that he could have eye contact with me. I was informed and advised throughout the surgery, every steps they did, every incomfortable that I might feel.

They connect the Port into a vein (usually ended up in the superior vena cava) so that the drug could be diffuse to the body quickly and efficiently. I heard a lot of gossips through out the surgery, haha. After both of them sew my wound up, the surgeon said I could get contact with him if I have any problem. My urologist friend said goodbye to me and proceed to another surgery. I am so blessed to have him as my friend, we usually call each other "buddies" (兄弟 in mandarin).

I went home right after the surgery. I was prescribed with some antibiotics and painkiller. (I complained to one of my doctor friend that the painkiller don't really work cos I still feel pain after taking the painkiller. It ended up that I mistakenlly took antibiotics instead of painkiller to kill pain, stupid me) Anyway, that night after the surgery was truly torturing. The pain was so intense that I couldn't really sleep well (I ate both painkiller and antibioticS!) cos I woke up every an hour or so that night. However, I feel much more better the next day and I feel no pain now.

That's all for now, next up will be my #1 chemotherapy session. Lotsa funny things coming up. Haha.

Ciao for now.