Infusion 1 of 4

Yesterday was my first infusion day and it was a long day that started with a port placement. The port-a-cath is implanted under the skin and is designed to permit repeated access to the venous system.

The system consist of three parts: 1) The portal - which is a small titanium chamber, sealed at the top with a septum made of self-sealing silicone 2) The catheter - a thin, flexible tube made of polyurethane 3) The catheter connector - a component that connects the catheter to the portal.

The port-a-cath has a variety of uses however in chemotherapy it is used to administer the drugs into the body and to withdraw blood to carry out other tests. After every procedure, the port is flushed with saline and then diluted heparin is injected to prevent clotting of blood.

After the port placement my chemo buddies and I went to the cafeteria for a bite to eat. Then we stopped in to see my oncologist before heading over for infusion #1. It wasn't horrible and everyone we encountered were not only professional but some were downright entertaining.

• Side effects: minor fatigue, dry mouth, watery eyes, interrupted sleep due to increased fluids and trips to the bathroom during the night.

• Mood: good, focused