Hi, I’m new to the forum. I need a bit of advice and maybe a bit of support too because I’m feeling very vulnerable just now. I had to have a PICC fitted after my first round of EC because I have very shy veins! The PICC was fitted at the end of August. I have now finished my main chemo and I’m onto three weekly Trastuzumab. As I still have my PICC in, I’m getting that through IV. However, I’ve had a few battles over different things and this seems to be the latest one. The senior cancer nurse wants me to have the PICC removed and for me to go onto injections. So far I’ve refused this and I still have my PICC. I’ve had 3/15 infusions. On Thursday I’m going in for a mastectomy (well, I think I am, but that’s another story) and as I still have my PICC the senior cancer nurse wants me to go for my line care the day after my op. Every time I go in for line care or treatment I get the same comments about how much better it would be if I got the PICC removed and had the injections, but reading comments about the injections and speaking to friends who have gone through it makes me think that I should hang onto my PICC for as long as I can! I had major back surgery in 2017, with plates and screws inserted to hold my spine together. My greatest fear is that the injected herceptin will cause the joint/back pain I’ve heard about and go straight for that weak spot. I’ve already been in a wheelchair, I don’t want that again now when I’m having to deal with so much more. I’m really trying not to sound like I’m whinging! Has anyone else got any experience of keeping a PICC until their treatment is complete? Can I ask for a fresh PICC to be inserted to get me to the end of mine?
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