GeriC, how I identify with EVERYTHING that you have said but, more of that later.
First thing is to tell you about the port. It's like a little plastic box which they embed in your chest (usually) on the opposite side of your cancer. It sits below the clavicle (collar bone) and most people don't even know it's there after a while. The box (sorry to keep calling it a box but I live in France and the doctor called it a boitier!) has 2 tubes, one for the medication to go in and one to conduct the medication to one of your larger jugular veins for distribution throughout your body.....phew, hope you can understand what I'm saying...lol
It's only fair to tell you that the procedure I underwent was NOT normal or usual. But, in the usual run of things, it only takes a quarter hour or so to install and it is usually done under local anaesthetic.
The "box" enables the chemo stuff to be dripped into you and it avoids damaging the veins in your arms because those are not strong enough to take the chemo. It also avoids having to find a jugular vein to put in the chemo at each dose. The nurses use a special needle to enter the box and so all the drugs can be given to you intravenously. Also blood samples, etc can also be taken out of the port.
I didn't realise until my last dose that you could ask for special patches to put over the port before each chemo session. The patches numb the skin and you really should not feel any pain (as I did and that made me dread each session even more!)
OK then to your frustration at people who simply do not understand tnbc. I too got impatient and even angry when people made slick remarks like, oh my friend had breast cancer 3 months ago and she is all right now. Or indeed, like you have said, telling me not to be negative. I used to get so mad that I wouldn't even bother to say but I am NOT negative. I said, so I'm negative, so what, I've EARNED the right to be as negative as I want; is that OK with you? gggrrrrgghhhhh.....
All the best, take care of yourself and continue to think you are special....