The devices used for infusion are temporary and will be removed after you complete the infusion or when you complete your full chemotherapy regimen.
This article will discuss what to expect on infusion days and will outline the options of intravenous (IV) methods for infusions.
What to Expect on Infusion Day
On each infusion day, expect the following on arrival:
A physical exam Blood pressure measured Temperature taken Respiration (breathing rate) measured
Your oncology team may also review the results of recent tests. They want to see that your white blood cell count (the infection fighters) numbers are within a healthy range.
To offset side effects such as an allergic reaction, you may be given Benadryl (diphenhydramine) before the infusion. This causes sleepiness, so ask for a warm blanket at your infusion chair. You may also receive medication to prevent nausea and vomiting.
Bring with you:
Water bottle so you can stay hydratedComfort foods to snack onBooks to read or music to listen toA laptop or another mall electronic device
How It’s Done
A nurse will insert the needle into a vein in your hand or arm, and tape it in place with the tube. When the procedure is over, the needle and catheter are removed.
This method is often used even when up to eight infusions are needed in a treatment series. It doesn;t have the risk of scarring that can occur as a result of port insertion.
How It’s Done
For this procedure, a doctor, nurse, or technician will insert the catheter line into your arm and secure it in place. Since PICC lines are usually placed in deeper veins, a numbing agent and local anesthetic may be used during the placement to reduce pain.
Whenever you need infusions, the nurse can access the catheter portal rather than sticking a needle into your skin with every visit. Another advantage is that PICC lines can also be used to draw blood.
PICC lines are more reliable and durable than peripheral IV lines. They allow for larger amounts of fluid to be delivered and have a lower risk of leaking.
Side effects include localized infection, clogging of the PICC line, and abnormal heartbeats if the end of the catheter is placed too close to the heart.
PICC lines are commonly used when people need to continue IV antibiotic therapy at home following discharge from the hospital.
How It’s Done
Similar to midterm IV catheters, you’ll have a length of tubing placed inside an arm or chest vein. However, this one will go almost all the way to your heart, ending at a large vein. Long-term VADs are either tunneled catheters with external injection caps or implanted vascular access devices (called ports).
Ports work well for people who have fragile veins, and they can be used to take blood samples and deliver other types of medications.
Examples of long-term IV devices include:
Implanted VADs placed just beneath the skin by a surgeon or interventional radiologistCentral venous catheters (CVC), which have tunneled lines with external injection caps
Ports are often placed at the time of surgery when a tumor is removed, and they can be used as soon as the day after being placed.
Some chemotherapy drugs can cause damage to veins, so the medical team will recommend a port in the chest to reduce that risk.
The advantage of a port over IV lines is that you are protecting the veins, and the port can also be used to collect blood and deliver other medications.
Disadvantages include the risk of clogging the port and infection. Infections can sometimes be serious, especially because many people have a low white blood count after chemotherapy.
A Word From Verywell
Whether you are considering a peripheral IV, PICC line, or port for chemotherapy, be sure to discuss all of your options with your oncologist and surgeon. A medical expert will be able to give you advice based on your treatment needs, current health, and personal preferences.
Anemia (lack of healthy red blood cells)BruisingFatigueHair lossInfectionNauseaVomiting
