Topic: Boston Recon Gals

LittleRed--are you scheduled yet? 

Not yet.  I am currently in Rads until early November.

I have an appointment with my PS next week as he wants to check my skin - says he's not above requesting Rads be suspended for a rest if he thinks the skin is taking too much of a hit.  He had hoped to do my recon at the time of my mx, but due to nodes and Rads, it was delayed.  I will ask him about timing when I see him this week.  I expect he will want me to rest for a period after Rads, but I'm not sure how long.

I was very pleased with the care at the Faulkner and my breast surgeon Dr. Duggan, as well as the work Dr. Morris has done to date.  My onc and rad drs have both commented about the minimal scar on my R breast where he put in an implant. I'm hoping they can remove my port at the same time they do reconstruction - I know my scar would be minimal if he closes it up.

"Care" is the word.  I interviewed other physicians, but I am pleased with those I selected.  I've said that about the Faulkner a well as my onc & rads centers - I've been treated and I've been really "cared" for.  Thank God for the wonerful nurses I've had all through this too.

NativeMainer....My hospital stay was 5 days Monday - Friday. I felt the process at BIDMC was very efficient from beginning to end. You spend 24 hours post-op in the Recovery Room area and then go to a private room. For me that was late on Tuesday. I felt the nurses were caring, competent and enjoyed taking care of DIEP patients. I spent from Tuesday to Friday in a recliner chair as I was to uncomfortable getting in and out of bed. All the staff seemed to know exactly what to look for and they checked the flap sites frequently for any changes. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing. I don't know if you have met Tobias's office nurse Maria yet. She came to visit me every day and was so reassuring and helpful. I called her quite a few times once I got home about my drains and she was very helpful. It was nice knowing I could call her first with any problem. It is important to have an experienced surgical team (and you do) but the post operative period is so important too. The nurses, aides, and even all the surgical residents conveyed care and concern. I felt very well taken care of although I couldn't wait to leave and get home! When is your surgery scheduled? I had to wait over 6 months once I made my decision to have the surgery. 

Yes...the waiting is difficult once the decision is made. I used the 6 months of waiting to get myself into the best physical shape possible. I started going to the gym doing cardio and some weight training as well as improving my diet and taking vitamins more regularly. I am certain you will be so pleased. It is wonderful to have warm, soft breasts again. I too went two years without reconstruction and I am glad I did. At the time of my mastectomies I did not know about DIEP and the referrals to PS from my BS did not include anyone who did DIEPs. It is really from this site that I learned about the option. Anyway, the BIDMC team is very talented. By the way, my oncologist at Dana Farber said that my results were the best she has ever seen. My breasts are naturally shaped and perfectly matched. Even the nipple reconstruction and tatooing are perfectly done. It really is an amazing procedure and I am thankful every day that I followed this path. 

Dear scarlet25:

Congrats and thank you for sharing! 

I am really glad to hear about your experience and so very happy you are pleased with your results.  Good luck with the next step - you're almost there!

Be good to you -

Thanks for chiming in, all!  It's really good to hear good things and about good results from Boston. 

I didn't know about DEIP surgery when I had my mastectomy either.  No PS in Maine do them.  I'm really glad I wasn't in a position to do immediate recon, I didn't have any where near enough info at that time.  I have been working on a better diet and more exercise since last summer, and am going to work even harder now that the whole thing is a plan and not just something I'm researching.  Good piont about the vitamins--going to have to look into that. 

I'm glad to hear from you, too, ChrissieD--I like knowing that Dr. Tobias is skilled with other techniiques as well--if something happens, God forbid, I'll have a surgeon I can trust to work with.  I'm glad to hear the surgical staff has compassion, I've had too much experience with the assembly line approach.  Thanks for the heads up about the teaching hospital bit--it's good to be prepared even though I've pretty much gotten used to baring the chest whenever someone in a white coat says "lets take a look"! 

Dear scarlet25:

May I ask how long you were in the hospital and how long for recovery?

Thank you!

Who did you ladies have for a breast surgeon in Boston?  I've got to find a surgeon and get an consult set up, get that surgeon on board before Dr. Tobias's office can start working on a surgical date and pre-op stuff.  I'm looking for someone who will do a standard mastectomy, I don't want a skin/nipple sparing mastectomy.  Thanks for any suggestions!

Dear NativeMainer:

scarlet25 and I both had Dr. Margaret Duggan.  She is affiliated with Dana Farber, Brigham & Women's, and The Faulkner Hospital, where scarlet25 and I both had our surgeries.  She may be affilliated with BIDMC also.  (Our PS, Don Morris, works with Dr. Tobias at BIDMC).  I know you can see a profile of her on the Dana Farber or B&W websites - search for oncology surgeon.

Let me know if you have any Qs.  I really liked her.  Best of luck and keep us posted.

Be good to you -

Thanks a lot for the info!  You don't know how much it helps!

Ok, I just called Dr. Tobias's offiice and got 3 names of breast surgeons--Valerie Staradub, Mary Jane Houlihan, and Susan Troyan.  The last 2 have been mentioned already here on the boards.  Anyone heard of/met with Dr. Staradub?  Thanks in advance.

Sorry - I don't know of her - Best of luck -

Hey Native Mainer, I had the chief of breast surgery at Dana Farber, who operates at Brigham and Women's: DR Iglehart. I liked him and his NP a lot. I have ONC at the same facility. I am not having reconstruction as I am confortable with prosthetics. And I am 62 so what the heck. 

My advice, however, is to coordinate all your care at the same hospital. Makes it much easier for you as the patient and all records should be electronic so there is no gap in care.

You know, any facility in Boston thinks they are top notch and I do have to agree to some extent. Boston is one of the medical meccas of the world. 

I do live in MA but spend the summers in Maine.........love it there. Sue 

Hi NativeMainer,

I had Dr. Troyan as my breast surgeon in 2007 and really loved her.  She is very direct and tells you what it is, but she is very personable and caring as well. Five months before my diagnosis, a local channel 5 news reporter was diagnosed with breast cancer (Kelly Tuthill) and she had Dr. Troyan as her surgeon.  They did a few news stories about it to raise awareness.  I felt very fortuanate when I was paired up with Dr. Troyan for my surgery. I have Dr. Come as my oncologist and just love him. Anytime I have a question and email him, he responds right away.  He also is extremely caring.  I don't know if you need radiation, but I had Dr. Recht who is one of the best.  My ps told me that reconstruction can be difficult with rads but Dr. Recht had a great track record of less complications.

Good Luck,

Patty