Scrap medical titanium

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Anyone know what kind of reguLations there are regarding medical titanium that gets removed from patients?
@Chuckman @Jointdoc
My chemo port is being removed a week from now, would like to keep a memento...

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I told the Dr I would to keep metal removed during repeat surgery. Mine was given to me after sterilizing.
 
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Can it be used for reloading? :)

Thanks-

Actually I was hoping to be able to sell it for a quarter of what me and the insurance were charged for it, lol. Would buy a fair amount of reloading stuff.

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Like others have said, request them to keep it so you can take it home. I had hardware removed from my knees before I left the army. I told the Major that was gonna be doing my surgery that I wanted the stuff they are pulling out.

They put the stuff in a baggie and and I still have it to this day
 
I still have mine, but it's because my lazy butt never went back to have it removed. It was just there to hold a broken arm bone together.

After 28 years, I don't really see a need in having it removed.
 
I hope I never have to have mine removed. It sucked too much putting it in.....

But if they ever take it out you bet I'm keeping it.....
 
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Congrats on getting past that!

The medical field is some bs. You guys got to keep your stuff? Maybe it’s hardware only...

They wouldn’t let me keep my nut even though I asked..
 
Bars that my boy wore in his chest two years. He kept them.

IMG_0342.JPG
 
Congrats on getting past that!

The medical field is some bs. You guys got to keep your stuff? Maybe it’s hardware only...

They wouldn’t let me keep my nut even though I asked..
I'm not surprised lol.

From the time I was about 8 yrs old, I've been getting strange looks from medical personnel whenever I asked to watch while they're stitching me up etc.
I had to stop watching while the nurses at the cancer center stuck me for whatever reason it was that day, I think it made them nervous.
My last port flush 3 weeks ago the new nurse almost forgot to flush the port with saline, then heparin. She was new, I reminded her gentle-like. Really.
They've all been pretty good to me, even when I was being stubborn.

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Short answer, it depends. If it is chemo-related....does it contain or emit chemo? There are special regulations about that stuff. But if they can sterilize it and make it OK, I don't see why you can't get it.
 
I'm not surprised lol.

From the time I was about 8 yrs old, I've been getting strange looks from medical personnel whenever I asked to watch while they're stitching me up etc.
I had to stop watching while the nurses at the cancer center stuck me for whatever reason it was that day, I think it made them nervous.
My last port flush 3 weeks ago the new nurse almost forgot to flush the port with saline, then heparin. She was new, I reminded her gentle-like. Really.
They've all been pretty good to me, even when I was being stubborn.

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That's huge, man. Congrats! I'm just at the beginning stages so have lots to learn. Which hospital(s) did you use?
 
As long as they flush it well, they should let you keep it. I doubt they'll even sterilize it since it sits in a subcutaneous pocket, but unsure if they'll let you keep the 16" (or whatever) of catheter attached or give it to you with the port.
 
That's huge, man. Congrats! I'm just at the beginning stages so have lots to learn. Which hospital(s) did you use?
Southeastern Regional and Gipson Cancer Center in Lumberton- both affliliated with Duke. My oncologist drives in from Durham every day she's there.
Feel free to PM any questions.

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Southeastern Regional and Gipson Cancer Center in Lumberton- both affliliated with Duke. My oncologist drives in from Durham every day she's there.
Feel free to PM any questions.

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Thanks. I will likely be PMing some questions in the future as the docs do their best to confuse me!
Jack
 
Don't mean to hijack, thinking out loud. Wonder how many of us here are on chemo? In the two years I've been on (UNC Chapel Hill) I've seen and been told that the patient load is constantly growing. System seems overwhelmed at times. Observe mostly boomers but more younger folks than when I started. Something's catching up with us?
 
I want the hardware removed from my back, I want to pack it in tannerite, and blow it up. This stuff is making me miserable but no one will touch removal of it, at least no one close by
 
Don't mean to hijack, thinking out loud. Wonder how many of us here are on chemo? In the two years I've been on (UNC Chapel Hill) I've seen and been told that the patient load is constantly growing. System seems overwhelmed at times. Observe mostly boomers but more younger folks than when I started. Something's catching up with us?
If there are enough with interest perhaps we should start a new thread or sub-forum. A sub-forum may be better as I could easily see the scope of cancer discussion expanding.
 
IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH, DON'T LOOK.....

It's out, melt price is way low, dammit.





277baa3f2e185e4856ec0b83c107d808.jpg
a4de9c4756f3f3d8ea678ac052c561a6.jpg


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IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH, DON'T LOOK.....

It's out, melt price is way low, dammit.





277baa3f2e185e4856ec0b83c107d808.jpg
a4de9c4756f3f3d8ea678ac052c561a6.jpg


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I plead ignorance. What is that?
 
Generically, it's known as a port-a-cath (sp).
It's surgically implanted under the skin to facilitate chemo infusions. The tube part is inserted into the carotid vein, so the veins in one's arm aren't affected by the chemo drugs (Can be pretty hard on veins).
Forgive if my somewhat layman's explanations aren't entirely accurate, just what I've understood so far.

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Specifically, it's a titanium-bodied Power Port 2, made by Bard.

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Generically, it's known as a port-a-cath (sp).
It's surgically implanted under the skin to facilitate chemo infusions. The tube part is inserted into the carotid vein, so the veins in one's arm aren't affected by the chemo drugs (Can be pretty hard on veins).
Forgive if my somewhat layman's explanations aren't entirely accurate, just what I've understood so far.

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Great explanation, except that it was placed in the jugular, subclavian, or vena cava. I worked in vascular radiology where we put these in all day, every day.
 
Don't mean to hijack, thinking out loud. Wonder how many of us here are on chemo? In the two years I've been on (UNC Chapel Hill) I've seen and been told that the patient load is constantly growing. System seems overwhelmed at times. Observe mostly boomers but more younger folks than when I started. Something's catching up with us?

There are about a million articles in the literature on this, but almost all of them are hard to find unless you have access to an academic medical center library. Google Scholar would be a good resource, too. Increased surveillance, early detection, better genetic mapping, better treatments, all add up to longer lifespans and better outcomes. The question is (or, one of a thousand questions...), is the significantly higher diagnosis rate because of all those thing I mentioned, or has environmental factors just made people get cancer earlier and more often, or both?
 
Great explanation, except that it was placed in the jugular, subclavian, or vena cava. I worked in vascular radiology where we put these in all day, every day.
I knew I had part of it wrong- [emoji3]
My biggest concern was the removal of the tube; wasn't just pulling it free going to cause a bleeding event?
Apparently not, (lol) since it didn't bleed like crazy...

Side note-
Whichever vein it was, I could feel it just underneath the skin right at the juncture of my neck and torso- was rather creepy at first and when new, I could feel it pull a little when I turned my head extreme left...

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I knew I had part of it wrong- [emoji3]
My biggest concern was the removal of the tube; wasn't just pulling it free going to cause a bleeding event?
Apparently not, (lol) since it didn't bleed like crazy...

Side note-
Whichever vein it was, I could feel it just underneath the skin right at the juncture of my neck and torso- was rather creepy at first and when new, I could feel it pull a little when I turned my head extreme left...

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When it doesn't pull free it's almost always because of adherence to the tissue: the tissue grows onto it. Sometimes there is bleeding, but almost always it's very minimal and never a problem.

It sounds like yours snaked through the subclavian and into the superior vena cava, which is the most common placement.

Ports are a Godsend, especially if you have crappy veins or are going to get chemo (which nukes veins). I mush prefer sticking a port rather than starting an IV.
 
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