As your treatment continues, you will often need medications, blood products, and possibly nutrients given intravenously. You will also have endless blood tests.

Central Lines

If you are going through chemotherapy, you will probably have a central line (either external or under the skin) to more easily get IV medications and blood transfusions, as well as have blood drawn. Everything you need is connected to your central line.

Having a central line eliminates the need for repeated needle sticks to start an IV line or draw blood. Even though surgery is required, it will be worth it.

How Do They Work?

All central lines work on the same general principle. A small tube or catheter is surgically implanted and then fed into the superior vena cava - a major vein in the right ventricle of your heart. Your medications and other supplements can be infused directly into your system. A central line not only avoids needle sticks, it also prevents possible tissue damage caused by leakage of corrosive chemotherapy drugs (it's rare, but it can happen).

Your central line can also be used to draw blood for testing, again eliminating the need for painful needle pokes.

What Are They Like?

There are two main types of central lines: external and subcutaneous (under the skin). You may have a PICC line inserted temporarily. You and your medical team will discuss which type is best for you.

IV’s

IV or intravenous simply means in a vein. Many medications and fluids need to go directly into your vein in order to be most effective.

Most of your drugs and fluids go in (are infused) over a period of time through an IV line (tubing) that connects to an infusion pump.

The pump keeps things flowing at a specific rate to ensure effective dosing. Your meds, fluids, and blood for transfusions are usually hung on an IV pole to which the pump or pumps are connected.