What Is a — Chemoport?
The small lump that appears on your chest after a port is placed can feel alarming. It is a medical device, not a complication. This page explains what sits under the skin, why it is there, and what to expect from the day it goes in to the day it comes out.
Medically reviewed by Dr. N. Kiranmayee, Medical Oncologist · Last reviewed September 2026
- Under the skin, not deep inside — The port sits just beneath your chest skin. A thin tube reaches a large vein — nothing is near your organs.
- No arm needle every visit — Once the port is in, one access through the skin replaces repeated arm cannulas at each treatment.
- A small firm lump is normal — A raised bump on your upper chest is expected after placement. It is not a complication or a warning sign.
- It comes out when treatment ends — Ports are usually removed once your treatment course is complete, in a short day procedure.
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A chemotherapy port (chemoport) is a small disc implanted just under the skin of your upper chest. A thin tube connects it to a large vein near your heart. It gives your treatment team reliable access to your bloodstream without a fresh needle in your arm at every visit.
What is a chemoport and why does your team recommend one?
A chemoport is a small, round reservoir — roughly the size of a large button — made of metal or hard plastic. It sits just beneath the skin of your upper chest, held in a small surgical pocket. A thin silicone tube called a catheter runs from the reservoir into a large vein near your heart.
When you arrive for treatment, a nurse inserts a special needle through your skin into the centre of the reservoir. Your chemotherapy drugs go in, and blood samples can come out, through the same access point. The needle is removed when you leave.
Chemotherapy drugs are often too concentrated for small arm veins. Delivered through a port into a large central vein, the blood flow dilutes them quickly. This reduces vein damage over a long course of treatment and removes the need for a fresh arm cannula at every visit.
What happens when the port is used for your treatment?
- Day care, no bed neededTreatments through a port are given in a day care chair. You do not need a hospital admission for each cycle.
- Numbing cream applied firstAsk your nurse about topical cream on the skin before the needle. It reduces the sting significantly.
- One needle, brieflyA Huber needle goes through the skin into the port dome. The sting lasts only seconds.
- Everything through one pointDrugs, fluids and blood draws all use the same access during your visit. No separate arm needle is needed.
- Needle removed when you leaveNothing hangs outside your body between visits. The port sits sealed under the skin.
- Check the skin daily at homeLook for redness, warmth, swelling or discharge at the port site. Report any of these to your team the same day.
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Where exactly is the port placed and what does the procedure involve?
The port is placed in a theatre or procedure room, usually under local anaesthetic with light sedation. You will not be fully asleep, but you should not feel pain during the procedure. It typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, and most people go home the same day.
The surgeon makes two small incisions: one near your collarbone to thread the catheter into the vein, and one a few centimetres lower to create the pocket where the reservoir sits. Both are closed with sutures or surgical glue. You will have a small scar at each site.
You can expect soreness around the port site for a few days after placement. Your team will advise on what to avoid — such as lifting — while the wound heals. The port is not usually accessed for treatment until the site has settled.
How long does a chemoport stay in?
A port is usually left in for the full course of treatment and removed once your team is satisfied it is no longer needed. That may be several months or longer, depending on what your treatment involves.
Removal is a shorter and simpler procedure than placement — usually done under local anaesthetic as a day procedure. Most people go home within a few hours.
At any point while the port is in place, tell your team the same day if you notice redness spreading from the port site, swelling, warmth, any discharge, fever, or pain when the port is accessed. These can be signs of infection. Early treatment is straightforward; a delayed one is not.
What questions do people have about living with a port?
Will people be able to see the port through my clothes?
The port creates a small raised dome under the skin of your upper chest — roughly the size of a large button. In most everyday clothing it is not visible. A close-fitting neckline or a very thin fabric may show an outline. Some people prefer slightly higher necklines or a scarf while the port is in place. There is no external device, no tube, and nothing that needs covering between treatment visits.
Can I shower, bathe and swim normally?
You can shower and bathe normally once the wound from the placement procedure has healed — your team will tell you when that is. Swimming is generally permitted once healing is complete, but check with your team before returning to a pool or open water, as the timing varies by individual. Between treatment visits there is no external needle or line at the site, so daily washing does not need special precautions once the wound is closed.
Will the port set off metal detectors at airports?
Ports contain a small amount of metal that may trigger a security detector. Ask your treatment centre for a card or letter describing the implanted device — most centres can provide one. Carry it when you travel. Letting security staff know before you walk through is the simplest approach, and most staff are familiar with medical implants. The device does not affect your ability to fly or travel by train.
Can I have an MRI scan with the port in place?
Most modern ports are MRI-compatible, but you must tell the radiology team about your port before any scan. Compatibility depends on the specific model implanted in you, and the radiology team will check the device record before proceeding. Do not assume it is safe to go through without informing them. If you do not know the make or model of your port, your oncology team can find it in your procedure record.
What signs mean something is wrong with the port?
Contact your team the same day if you notice redness spreading around the port site, swelling that was not there before, skin over the port that feels warm or looks changed, any discharge from the site, fever, or pain when the port is accessed. These can be signs of infection or a catheter problem. Early reporting keeps a manageable problem from becoming a serious one. Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment.
What happens when the port is removed?
Removal is a day procedure, usually done under local anaesthetic. The surgeon reopens the original scar, disconnects and removes the catheter and reservoir, and closes the wound. You should expect a small scar at the site, similar to the one from placement. Most people go home within a few hours. Your team will discuss the timing of removal with you, which is usually once the full treatment course is complete.
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Before You Start: Tests & Preparation
HUB — Before You Start Chemotherapy
Pharmacogenomic & Pre-Treatment Safety Testing
- DPYD Testing Before 5-FU and Capecitabine
- Heart, Kidney and Hearing Tests Before Chemotherapy
- Safety Tests Before Your First Chemotherapy Dose
- Should You Ask for Pharmacogenomic Testing?
- TPMT and NUDT15 Testing Before Thiopurines
- UGT1A1 Testing Before Irinotecan
- What If a Safety Test Comes Back Abnormal?
- What Is DPD Deficiency?
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Frequently asked questions
Is having a port placed a major operation?
No. Port placement is a day procedure, usually done under local anaesthetic with light sedation rather than general anaesthesia. Most people go home the same day. There is soreness around the site for a few days afterwards, and your team will advise on what to avoid while the wound heals. It is a minor procedure compared with most surgical cancer treatments, and removal is simpler still.
Will the port hurt when it is accessed for treatment?
Many people feel a brief sting when the Huber needle goes through the skin. A topical numbing cream applied beforehand reduces this significantly — ask your nurse before your first port access whether this is available at your centre. Once the needle is in place, most people do not feel it during the treatment session. If you feel pain or unusual pressure when the port is being used, tell your nurse immediately.
Can the port move or come loose inside the chest?
The reservoir is sutured into a small surgical pocket, which holds it firmly. It may rotate slightly within the pocket over time and you might notice the lump shifting a little — this is usually not a problem. A catheter that has shifted significantly out of position is uncommon. If you notice a new ache, swelling, or unusual sensation at the port site, mention it to your team at your next visit, or sooner if you are concerned.
What is the difference between a port and a PICC line?
A port is fully under the skin with no external components between visits. A PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) runs from a vein in your upper arm to a large central vein and has a short external section that remains outside the body throughout treatment. Ports require a minor surgical procedure to place, while a PICC is inserted at the bedside without surgery. Your team will choose the type that suits your treatment plan, vein access and how long treatment is expected to last.
Does a port increase the risk of infection?
Any device that reaches the bloodstream carries a small risk of infection. Ports are designed and managed to keep this risk low, and your treatment team follows strict hygiene protocols every time the port is accessed. The single most important thing you can do is report early: redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge around the port site, or a fever, should be reported the same day — not at your next scheduled appointment. Early treatment of a port infection is straightforward; a delayed one is harder to manage.
Can I travel while the port is in place?
Most people with ports travel normally during treatment. Carry a document from your treatment centre describing the implanted device, as airport security may ask about it. Tell any medical team treating you away from home that you have a port, including the type if you know it. If you are planning travel far from your treatment centre, ask your oncologist in advance whether there are any considerations specific to your treatment schedule or destination.
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