Understanding chemotherapy - Macmillan Cancer

How chemotherapy is givenWhen your course of treatment is over the line or port will betaken out. A doctor or nurse will do this for you, usually in theoutpatients department.Many people won’t need to have a line or a port – it dependson the chemotherapy treatment you’re having. They can alsobe used if there are problems with the veins in your arm,or if you’re very anxious about having needles put in.Central lineA central line is a long, thin, hollow tube that is inserted intoa vein in your chest. They’re sometimes called skin-tunnelledcentral venous catheters. But you may hear them called bythe brand names of commonly used central lines, such asHickman ® or Groshong ® lines.How it’s put inYour central line will be put in at the hospital by a doctor orspecially trained nurse. You’ll usually have it done under alocal anaesthetic, but sometimes a general anaesthetic is used.Before the procedure, you’ll have your neck checked for asuitable vein using a small ultrasound machine.Your doctor makes a small cut in the skin near your collarboneand gently threads the tip of the line into a large vein just aboveyour heart.The other end of the line is tunnelled under the skin to reachthe site where it comes out of your body (exit site). You’ll havea chest x-ray to make sure it’s in the right position.27