PICC Line Removed!

Yesterday, I had my PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line removed. My nurses cheered me on during the simple and painless procedure (thank you!). For those of you who don’t know what it is — no worries. A PICC line is common for long chemotherapy regimens in which an intravenous line is inserted through a peripheral vein in your body. I had it installed at UCLA Medical Center without surgical sutures and it has done its job! I am so excited! It marks yet another step in moving forward from menacing Mr. Leuk/Luke!

TIP FOR BLOOD CANCER PATIENTS: If you have a PICC line, do your best to take good care of it.  I highly recommend purchasing large plastic gloves that can fit your entire arm and tying two rubber bands tightly around to prevent water from entering your line when you shower. You can find these at medical supply stores or ask your hospital if they have any readily available for you to take home. I can’t stress enough that it is absolutely vital you do as much as you can to minimize potential infections.

A typical PICC line