I have to decide whether to replace implants, have TRAM or DIEP surgery. Found a couple of doctors in the Orlando area that perform DIEP surgery but looking for anyone who has used any of them.
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FLtricia Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 113 |
Sep 11, 2009 07:59 pm
FLtricia wrote:
Dr. Richard Klein who is at M. D. Anderson in Orlando performed by DIEP surgery a little over a year ago. He was at Moffitt in Tampa at the time, then after my Stage 2 surgery moved to Orlando. He did an excellent job, and the nurses all spoke very highly of his abilities. If you have any other questions, feel free to send me a private message. Best wishes in your decision. Pat |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Sep 14, 2009 08:43 pm
lbrewer wrote:
Dr. Lee and Klein work as a team at MD Anderson. They do more DIEPS than anyone in the SOuthEast US except for NOLA. Dr. Klein in the team lead, but all their DIEPs are done as a team. Dr. Lee was lead surgeon on mine. I love the way mine turned out. You can PM me if you want. I have also given Dr. Lee permission to have any of his patients call me. I feel extremely lucky to have had them move to Orlando the month before I was diagnosed! |
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Brit2001 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 |
Sep 15, 2009 08:08 am, edited Sep 15, 2009 08:09 AM
by Brit2001
Brit2001 wrote:
Thanks for the info. They were one of the options and the one I was leaning towards. It helps to hear from those who have actually had the surgery done by them. |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Sep 15, 2009 08:20 pm
lbrewer wrote:
let me know if i can help. I know a great wig place in orlando if you need it. I given both dr klein and dr lee permission to give out my phone number to their patients. |
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Brit2001 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 |
Oct 7, 2009 10:57 am
Brit2001 wrote:
Well I got to meet with Dr. Klein yesterday and he said I could do the DIEP. At first I was just going to do the affected side and do a lift and replace the implant on the right but now decided to just go ahead and do both and get it over and done with, just in case the bc showed up there later on. I really did feel comfortable with Dr. Klein, he was my third consult. Thanks everyone for your posts, hopefully this will be done by the end of the year. |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Oct 7, 2009 02:21 pm
lbrewer wrote:
brit, are you a candidate for nipple sparing? |
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Brit2001 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 |
Oct 9, 2009 12:11 pm
Brit2001 wrote:
Yes I am, so I will be keeping the nipples and skin and just removing the breast tissue:-) |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Oct 9, 2009 02:11 pm
lbrewer wrote:
Is Dr. Klein doing that too? I wish I had been able to have that but everyone I consulted sadi my DSCI was too close to the nipple. |
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Brit2001 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 |
Oct 12, 2009 10:38 am
Brit2001 wrote:
No, I am seeing a Dr. Chambers next week who will actually do the surgery to remove the breast tissue, and then Dr. Klein will do the DIEP. |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Oct 12, 2009 03:16 pm
lbrewer wrote:
when is your surgery scheduled for? I will be there on the 19th and 21st. |
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paras Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 62 |
Oct 12, 2009 06:13 pm, edited Oct 12, 2009 06:14 PM
by paras
paras wrote:
i will be having pre op with dr klein tomorrow for diep and surgery on the 21st oct. i am very nervous i hear this is a long surgery but i am so excited to have this procedure and i hope it looks good when it is done. i guess i will see you their on the 21st. paras
Diagnosis: 8/4/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/7 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- |
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Brit2001 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 |
Oct 13, 2009 01:54 pm
Brit2001 wrote:
I don't have a date set yet as my son is coming to visit the end of this month and I want to wait and get it done after he has gone home. It won't be until November. I have to see my GYN this afternoon as I had an ultrasound done of my uterus and I have thickening. Waiting to find out what will happen in this respect now. Boy, does it ever end???? |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Oct 13, 2009 05:55 pm
lbrewer wrote:
brit, i don't think it ever ends. I had to have a hysterectomy. Dr Vaught did it at MD Anderson with the DaVinci robot. I would never know I had one except for the hot flashes! I have 3 scars that look like bug bites. You can only see 2 thought becausw 1 is inside my belly button! |
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Brit2001 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 |
Oct 13, 2009 06:24 pm
Brit2001 wrote:
Saw my GYN this afternoon, he wants to do some bloodwork and probably biopsy on my uterus then go from there. He wasn't as worried about it as I had been :-) Bloodwork is set for tomorrow. I have a an ovarian cyst too but he thinks it may not be anything either. All depends on whether the FSH I get done comes back that I am post-menopausal or not. Also, getting a CA125 done. I feel a lot better now than I did - might even be able to sleep tonight!!!!! He did tell me that if it came to a hystercomy that he could do the same way that you mention. Amazing what can be done nowadays. |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Oct 14, 2009 12:26 pm
lbrewer wrote:
I'll keep a good thought! Let me konw if I can help. |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Oct 14, 2009 02:22 pm
lbrewer wrote:
Paras, We should meet! |
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Brit2001 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 |
Oct 15, 2009 09:00 am
Brit2001 wrote:
Thanks - good luck you guys for 21st. |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Oct 16, 2009 01:54 pm
lbrewer wrote:
I'm SO disappointed, They just called to reschedule mine. |
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paras Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 62 |
Oct 26, 2009 01:04 pm
paras wrote:
Dear Ibrewer, i had this procedure done on oct 19th my appoitment was pushed up by dr klien. i was six days in hosp. and am now home . i have been having mimimal pain and i am doing ok my husband is taking over all household duties. My breasts look good what i can see of them so far so good. i have to tell you they did check on a rigid schedue in hospital for the doppler sound which i guess is an indication that blood flow exists. i will be calling for my appointment to have my drains removed next week. so i am pleased so far i guess the next step is the nipple i do not know what PROCEDURE WILL BE FOR THE NIPPLE BUT I WILL TALK TO DR KLIEN ON NEXT APPOINTMENT My dr said it was sucessful but he did have to use some muscle because of my c sections but they look ok so far i hope i wil not have a problem in the next couple weeks. does anyone know why he said not caffine i miss my coffee but i am on a strict diet of no caffine and i am following his instruction after all of this i will not let anything go wrong. i hope i helped someone else feel confident about this. it is a serious operatoin but it is more natural and feels kind of natural so far so good . i will keep you all posted . thumbs up for dr lee and klien.orlando paras
Diagnosis: 8/4/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/7 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- |
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Brit2001 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 |
Nov 4, 2009 04:47 pm
Brit2001 wrote:
Glad to hear all went well Paras. My bloodwork came back good, no sign of cancer cells re my thickened uterus. Get to have another ultrasound in a couple of weeks then see if they need to do anything. I saw Dr. Klein and my surgery is scheduled for December 11!!! Met with Dr. Chambers who will remove the tissue. Paras- did you have Chambers? Don't like the sound of no coffee!!! I love my Starbucks :-) Sorry to hear they rescheduled your surgery lbrewer, do you have a new date? I was hoping for November, I just want to get it over with. |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Nov 5, 2009 08:44 am
lbrewer wrote:
they did the surgery 2 weeks ago tomorrow and my appt is this morning at 10:00 will loet you know what what dr. Lee says. In order to make the nipple he took some tissue ( and fat) from my hip and of course made the other match. Paras, they had to take some of my muscle, about the size of a postage stamp also, Unfortunately, I am one of the about 3% of people who had trouble with it. I asm in fact, the only patient Dr. Lee has ever had to go back in and fix, But man are my muscles tight now! My body apparently HATES stiches and keeps spitting them out. they are serious about the caffeine. they didn't warn me prior to surgery and I had the worst headaches! I told them they had to tell their patients BEFORE to quit. Dr. Klein doesn't have to remove the drains...his PA Vanessa can or Dr. Lee;s nurse Haley or PA Tammy. They can fit you in with about 24 hr notice. BTW..I have lost 15 lbs since the lift on my good side and they still match perfectly! |
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lenelle Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 18 |
Nov 5, 2009 09:29 am
lenelle wrote:
Brit 2001 - I am glad that you found a PS, I had my BLM with lat flap (not a candidate for tram)done at MD Anderson on 7/23/09. The facility is great. My PS is Dr. Kendall Peters who is usually at the Florida Hospital Cancer Center on Princeton. That is where I just had my exchange surgery done two weeks ago. He is awesome if you need another choice.Good Luck. LeNelle
Diagnosis: 5/28/2009, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/5 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Nov 5, 2009 12:05 pm
lbrewer wrote:
Dr. Lee said my nipple looks great. I think its kinda gross but how would I know what a nipple that used to be my hip is should look like! I was going to send your a picture, Paras, but he said to wait a few weeks 'till its more photogenic! I was so upset when I first saw it without the bandage I kinda panicked. Not exactly sure what I was expecting. I couldn't find any pictures on line to compare. So if you want a picture send me a PM and I'll take one. |
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paras Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 62 |
Nov 5, 2009 09:41 pm
paras wrote:
ibrewer, i am waiting for at least 3 months for the nipple surg. and he also has to remove extra skin that was tucked under my arm by breast surgeon when i had the initial mastectomy. i am happy that all turned out good for you. i expect everything to be alright as i heal in the next few weeks. it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be and i am off pain meds now, so i guess thats good. i have all the drains removed and the doctor said he would schedule the nipple operation and remove the exta skin under my right arm and right side when he does this operation. i am happy that i diecided to do this it feels natural but it still looks discusting where the skin is beginning to fuse together on my breasts. paras
Diagnosis: 8/4/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/7 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- |
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paras Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 62 |
Nov 5, 2009 09:52 pm
paras wrote:
brit2001 i did not have dr chambers .i only saw the plastic surgeon in orlando .my mastectomy dr which i want to tell everyone about was dr cox he is in usf tampa associated with moffit cancer and he was a great surgeon. the other surgeon who operated on my right breast i was not as happy with and i will not bad mouth him on the internet. my plastic surgeon team was dr lee and dr klein in orlando and i am very happy with the outcome so far it seems to be healing nicely but i am still bruised so i really can not tell what the outcome will be at this time. but i think you will be happy with dr klein and dr lee team. good luck don't worry its a big operation but you can do it and you'll be fine if you just relax and do not go back to work to soon.. i'll be thinking of you they were very nice to my husband in the hospital they allowed him to stay in my room all week and he showered in the midnight or late hours and they let him sleep on a murphy bed in my room. by the way, they also have a special house which your loved can stay at for 40.00 a day if you make reservations that will include meals also if your out of town. we live 3 hours away from orlando and my husband stayed with me in my room and went to checkers and out to eat dinner but was with me the whole time since he is self employed he could arrange this time off. paras
Diagnosis: 8/4/2008, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/7 nodes, ER+/PR-, HER2- |
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lbrewer Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 173 |
Nov 6, 2009 08:05 am
lbrewer wrote:
Yes they have Murphy beds for someone to stay with you. I forgot to reccommend that you ask for a handicapped parking sticker. One thing I hated was fighting the traffic at the holidays in the parking lots! |
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Brit2001 Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 27 |
Nov 13, 2009 09:21 pm
Brit2001 wrote:
Thanks for the info. We only live about 30 minutes from MD Anderson so not too far for my hubby to travel. Back to work Monday now that my son has has gone back home and start planning for my time off. I just want to get it done now and I am happy with my decision. Glad to hear you guys are doing well. Any tips on helpful stuff to take to the hospital? Not sure what one wears with the 4 drains:-) |
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