Hi friends: I'm a recently diagnosed person with *** cancer. I am going crazy not swimming due to surgery but hope to be back in the pool soon. I am going to have the catheter implanted in my chest for chemo and am wondering about swimming with it. Some sources say that is fine; others say that repetitive motion like swimming or rowing is not good when you have an implanted catheter. Does anyone have any experience with this? Mentally, I need to swim through this. Thanks for you advice/help.
Peggy
Parents
Former Member
Peggy--the best person to check with about swimming with a catheter is your oncologist or surgeon. Do let them know this is important to your health (and mind) to be able to do it. You may have to substitute some other activity if they say no.
Alot would depend on how the catheter is "capped" -- if it's a "port" covered by skin--your chances might be better. But keep in mind--the last thing you want is an infection in something going directly into your bloodstream.
I had a friend with a port last year for his chemo. I don't think he was allowed to go in even his own hot tub or take a bath where the water might contaminate or get into the site.
Good luck in your battle. Half the battle is the mind-set of the person undergoing treatment. The other half is left to God and the medical personnel.
Peggy--the best person to check with about swimming with a catheter is your oncologist or surgeon. Do let them know this is important to your health (and mind) to be able to do it. You may have to substitute some other activity if they say no.
Alot would depend on how the catheter is "capped" -- if it's a "port" covered by skin--your chances might be better. But keep in mind--the last thing you want is an infection in something going directly into your bloodstream.
I had a friend with a port last year for his chemo. I don't think he was allowed to go in even his own hot tub or take a bath where the water might contaminate or get into the site.
Good luck in your battle. Half the battle is the mind-set of the person undergoing treatment. The other half is left to God and the medical personnel.
