Topic: Allen/Levine/NOLA for Immed Recon?
- Posted on: Nov 7, 2009 03:54 pm
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 95
I met with Dr. Levine last week & was definitely happier with him than the other PSs I've seen.
Aside from worrying about whether I'll be able to get the financials/insurance issues to work out, I'm really concerned about going with him (or Allen or NOLA) with a still active cancer. I mean, who do I go to as a breast surgeon for follow up afterwards? I'm afraid to blow off the BS's I've consulted with along the way that I've been comfortable with, not sure where going elsewhere will lead me....
Even assuming Dr. Stolier flies up to NYC and does my surgery ('cos I'm assuming I'd like & trust him), do I trust the pathologists at NYEE to correctly do a SNB/mastectomy pathology report? At present, all I know is that biopsy showed DCIS. I hope I remain pure DCIS, but at the same time, I want to be able to trust the pathology dep't. And NYEE doesn't do much breast cancer....
If I went to NOLA, would I feel the same way? Frankly, I'd rather stay at home. I'd love to go to NO, I've never been; but sightseeing and mastectomy don't seem to go hand in hand.
It seems like these medical practices are perfect for people who are switching out from implants, or doing prophylactic MXs, but I'm nervous about going this route was for what is, at the bottom line, a cancer operation. BUT, I think I'd end up with the body that would make me the happiest, and that's pretty important too.
Thoughts from the sisterhood?
I soooo wish finding a BS/PS team I was comfortable with wasn't so damned difficult.
Diagnosis: 8/2009, DCIS, Stage 0, Grade 3, ER+/PR+
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happy29 Joined: May 2009 Posts: 201 |
Nov 7, 2009 04:24 pm
happy29 wrote:
I used Dr Stolier and Dr Allen. I had DCIS . I traveled to New Orleans for surgery. I am closer to NYC but did not want to wait until Dr Allen was in NYC. I had bilateral MX(skin sparing) and did plenty of sightseeing afterward.DH and I had a great time! I was also anxious about leaving my local BS but I personally spoke with him about my decision- he reassured me that I was in good hands(he had heard of Allen and Stolier) and let me know he would care for me after my surgery and he did. He removed my drains and drained my seroma and I will use him for all my follow ups. Ask about the pathology report. I imagine your tissue gets shipped out of NYEE to who Dr STolier uses. Dr STolier is compassionate and competent. He did an AMAZING job on me and saved a two excised areola so Dr Allen could make me a nipple with thigh tissue- all in one stage in a six hour surgery!!!Both Physicians are Awesome and Top Notch. I can assure you that all PS you mention above are very experienced. I live outside Philadelphia and I felt I had to travel to get the best care for what I wanted. (flaps) I have NO regrets. It was inconvenient to travel but I was reimbursed for hotel and flights. I had to have my kind inlaws babysit our children for over a week and my Dear Hubby took off work but in the end- I was glad I did it because all we had to do was focus on me getting through the surgery and NOTHING else. It was right for me but may not be right for you.... Good Luck with your decision.... Hope this helps... Diagnosis: 6/9/2009, DCIS, 1cm, Stage 0, Grade 2, 0/0 nodes |
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Soccermom4f… Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 74 |
Nov 8, 2009 11:29 am
Soccermom4force wrote:
Dear 'Sweaty", I am almost 5 years out from a Stage2B diagnosis. I too was concerned about taking care of the cancer first and foremost. I elected to have bilateral mastectomies with no recon at MDAnderson in Jan 2005. I then completed 15 months (AC+T+H) and rested. In August 2007 I has Stage 1 stacked DIEP flaps at the CRBS in NOLA. Ther are other variations on my surgery such as having skin & nipple sparing masts and tissue expanders ,temporarily as place holders.. There are so many ways to do this these days, but IMHO its more about who you choose for your recon/mast Surgery/Surgeries that makes a huge difference . Sometimes I wish I had immediate recon (fewer scars as I did not have place holders nor skin sparing) but my situation (personal) was extremely complicated at the time. I hope this was somewhat helpful! Hugs Marcia " I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore,there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now, as I shall not pass this way again."
Diagnosis: 12/2/2004, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 1/21 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ |
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sweatyspice… Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 95 |
Nov 8, 2009 02:05 pm
sweatyspice wrote:
Thanks Happy and Soccermom! But Soccermom, I'm not sure what you're really trying to say- is it that picking the surgeons is the most important thing? Or am I missing something? Diagnosis: 8/2009, DCIS, Stage 0, Grade 3, ER+/PR+ |
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Soccermom4f… Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 74 |
Nov 8, 2009 06:30 pm
Soccermom4force wrote:
Sorry 'bout that ,I was vague.. I would have gone straight to NOLA had I realized that what was done at time of mastectomy might influence my reconstructive options down the road. Hindsight is a great thing as it allows me to share my experience and think about what I might have done differently had I known what I know now. What I did not know at the time was that the best reconstructive Docs seem to make it a point to be associated with an outstanding Breast Surgeon and that they work together to give one the more thorough mastectomy possible as well as a reconstruction that is pleasing. I do believe the #1 priority should be the staging and discussion of treatment options.. Hope this explains my thoughts a bit more clearly, Warmly,Marcia " I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore,there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now, as I shall not pass this way again."
Diagnosis: 12/2/2004, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 1/21 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ |
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Nordy Joined: May 2009 Posts: 406 |
Nov 8, 2009 10:34 pm
Nordy wrote:
sweatyspice - I don't know that NYEE does not do a lot of breast cancers - since that is where Allen and Levine operate out of, I would not be so sure about that. I am certain that you would not be the only one going there to have immediate reconstruction. Ask Dr. Levine how many immediates he does. Also, if you were to go to NOLA (Dr. D or S) - they do immediate reconstruction all of the time and breast reconstruction is ALL they do. And really - I wouldn't be so concerned about blowing off the breast surgeons in town to get a result that you want for reconstruction. I wish I had done exactly that because it would have saved me several surgeries and steps along the way to get to where I am now - and I would have been there a LONG time ago. If you are worried about after care - and like your local breast surgeon, explain to him/her that you want to do your reconstructive surgery immediately and that this is the particular surgeon you have chosen. Ask if they will assist you with follow ups. Some will, some won't, but it doesn't hurt to try. Good luck. Diagnosis: 4/21/2005, IDC, 3cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 0/12 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |
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Sandy-MomsD… Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,270 |
Nov 9, 2009 03:25 am
Sandy-MomsDaughter wrote:
Also, something Dr. DellaCroce has said repeatedly is that 90% of your outcome is determined by how stage I goes. You only get one chance at that, and getting yourself to the very best surgeon(s) is imperative to avoid extra scars and a less than top-notch result. Back when I was diagnosed, I'd heard a bit about Dr. D and NOLA, but dismissed going there as not possible due to owning my own business, three kids, etc. etc. Now that I've had six revision surgeries in NOLA to fix up what my first surgeon messed up, I look back and see that it would have been much easier to go there in the first place and I would have been done by the end of 2007, with less scarring. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
Diagnosis: 5/22/2007, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
