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New Jersey/NYC/CT/Eastern Pennsylvania ladies

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Comments

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited October 2015

    I heard they are very expensive but not sure else, guess they need to pay for all the ads

  • sandcastle
    sandcastle Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2015

    She was excited they took her Insurance.....but it seems when she explains the place....it is like the Disneyland of Cancer.....all the help have smiles on their faces.....and they put her up in a Hotel......now she has to Drive 150 miles after Chemo?? Liz

  • sandcastle
    sandcastle Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2015

    Also...they are a For Profit Hospital.....Liz

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited October 2015

    I had herd they were fussy on insurance also so guess your pal has good insurance

    I am sure she will get good care, not sure I would want a 150 mile drive, mano I did 36 miles every day during rads and was exhausted!


  • NYCchutzpah
    NYCchutzpah Member Posts: 148
    edited October 2015

    I like your description of CTA as the Disneyland of cancer treatment The one person that I knew who used them was very happy with her care there. I am happy with Englewood.

  • sandcastle
    sandcastle Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2015

    Her Husband is a Blue Collar Worker and had employment with the Town of Linden before they moved South.....But she is expecting NO Bills....not sure if it works like that with Cancer......It didn't for me....Liz

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited October 2015

    wow, not what I would be planning, hope it all works out for her. Did you tell her your experience? I remember being terrified I would be bankrupt, I ended up ok but only with planning

  • sandcastle
    sandcastle Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2015

    Yes....but she is in that very early stage of diagnosis.....just in August......she went to a hospital near her home and for a while it seemed like she was going to be there....BUT!! for her family answers were not quick enough and what she was told was what she did not want to hear....but the Doctors there had good Educations.......now at CTA their Education is not what I would call Great.

    And also I was like YOU....we thought we would go Broke....but it did work out ok.......Her husband takes care of the Money and she never was interested in that subject.......they really do not have enough to see them through all of this.......Liz

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited October 2015

    guess you can only stand by and offer help if asked, good luck to her

  • regatta21
    regatta21 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2015
    St. Barnabas ruined my life. I really am not being dramatic. Read my posts if you have time. I should have went with my gut and not their reputation. Everything I needed to know but did not know to ask turned to be a domino effect. My breast surgeon was horrible, passive aggressive, and arrogant IMO. She told me I did not need chemo. That was not her place. And they didn't tell me to see the oncologists beforehand. I thought I just needed tamoxifen. Turned out I needed TAC. They did not tell me about oncotype and that they were taking a piece of tissue and storing it in wax. Found out after my two surgeries. The oncologist also said I didn't need check ups until I thought I feel something somewhere. I never went back there. The plastic surgeons were the real horror story. One only had his license for 3 months I found out afterwards. And I found he also had a DUI. He was the other surgeon's college buddy I later found. Now I'm disabled and unable to work. I am in pain 24/7 and no one I've found is suffering the way I am. I was conned into thinking flap surgery was right for me or my life style. And scared out of implants. They made it like I would be fine in two weeks. Well, my nightmare had been going on for almost two years now. And it will not improve. I think they just wanted the experience. I was only shown one picture. I should have ran when I asked for more, and he said that was all he could find any. I never was given any "informed consents" about any procedure. And all of the issues happened to me. I never heard about what that consent that I should have read is until afterwards, too. I've never had surgery before, so how would I know?!?
  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited October 2015

    regatta, sorry about your bad experience, I know that StBs has grow and expanded a lot of late but only had one experience (not BC related) and that worked out ok but it was way long ago

    I can highly recommend the team at Hackensack if you are looking for new.

  • sandcastle
    sandcastle Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2015

    Regatta....Also had a bad experience there.....I picked the wrong Doctor......I bet your Doctors name started with a S.....thank god for their Radiation Dept.....they were a big help.....in regards to moving on......Liz

  • regatta21
    regatta21 Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2015
    Thanks for the posts and recommendations, etc.

    Yes, sandcastle. With an S. So sorry!!!!
  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 771
    edited October 2015

    IMO those of us who are lucky enough to live close to NYC should take advantage of some of the best hospitals in the world which are there. A small community hospital just cannot compare to one of the university based teaching hospitals in the city. However if by some reason you can't get into the city my advice would be to go to Robert Wood Johnson as it is the only university based teaching hospital around that I know of. Good luck to all of you.

  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 359
    edited October 2015

    I'm another patient of St Barnabas system and had several questionable experiences. I had to get referrals from my GP for followup on lung nodule after they told me I was stage 4. Lung biopsy identified fibroma after long hx of bronchitis. More issues with Tamoxifen and then inquiries for oophorectomy. Did I mention how several times they misplaced my chart which was about 6 inches thick. Really!! Scribbling my vitals on scraps of paper. I had to fight to get genetic testing done.

    Last year major blow out with breast center when I scheduled my yearly Sonocine US along with my mammogram. They schedule the scan and then when I showed up for the appt they denied it. Switched and did a manual US and charged me OVER $1300. Many phones call later I was finally refunded. So I am not impressed with this medical facility.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited October 2015

    interesting, I live close to RWJ so very familiar with them. My gym actually has their name on the door as a fitness center. If I were to call 911, likely I would be taken to RWJ. I like some folks from there but my overall experience at Hackensack was great and still have docs there but RWJ is closer

  • sandcastle
    sandcastle Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2015

    It...Seems like there are a lot who have had a Bad Experience at St. B.....Liz

  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 801
    edited October 2015

    A couple of years ago, a family member was treated for a serious illness (not cancer) at RWJ. Every single staff member we encountered was terrific; their communication was some of the best I've ever encountered in the medical profession. I would go back there in a heartbeat if I lived nearby.

  • madhousemom
    madhousemom Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2015

    i am brand new to this site but i live in central nj and need a friend who i can talk to. i was diagdosed with bc in 2003. had a lumpectomy and 12 lymph nodes removed had chemo and radiation. a year later it was back and had mastectomy. came back 10 yrs later more chemo and rad then i broke my shoulder and got lymphadema. also now cancer spread throughout my body including bones and liver now i am going to cancer center of america in philly in two weeks so scared

  • JerseyRenee01
    JerseyRenee01 Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2015

    madhousemom:

    I just am seeing this thread. I am so sorry for all that you have been through! My heart breaks for you. 😞

    I am in Southern NJ.


    BosumBlues:

    Any particular Doctors at Penn you recommend? I am going to MD Anderson Cooper. I love my BS & confident however just wondering if I should even get a 2nd opinion. Although with DCIS i think treatment is the same regardless. I am like 20 min from Phila.


  • Janetanned
    Janetanned Member Posts: 118
    edited November 2015

    I second the recommendation of Penn for reconstruction. I am very pleased with all of my treatment at Penn. My PS did a terrific job and I felt well cared for. I even had my tattoos done through the PS office. They have a micropigmentation specialist, Mandy Sauler, who is as good as anyone out there.

    However, MD Anderson Cooper has a very good reputation as well.

  • JerseyRenee01
    JerseyRenee01 Member Posts: 144
    edited November 2015

    thank you, ladies!! BS is MD Anderson & PS is Jefferson.

    I have a friend that used same PS. I am choosing nipple sparing bilateral. Looking like January for surgery.

    Awaiting results on MRI from Thursday. Hoping no more bad news.



  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 819
    edited November 2015

    I started at Penn and Carla Fisher is my surgeon. I adore her. I did not fair well with Penn's plastic surgery. It turned into a nightmare. When it was determined that I needed salvage reconstruction I went to Steven Copit at Jefferson. I love him! Frankly, I look better than I did before cancer. Where ever we go we must be comfortable with our choices. We're rich with excellent treatment options here. I too am in Central NJ and can drive to Philly or NYC. Yes, it's a drive but this is cancer. I stay local when I stub my toe.

  • thinkingpositive
    thinkingpositive Member Posts: 564
    edited November 2015

    I know the insurance fears. My company just got out renewal at the premiums increased almost 100%. Had pretty good coverage but now with that increase they will be looking elsewhere. Guess it increases when someone uses it. That would be me. Guess they give other reasons for increases.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited November 2015

    that is my case or was, my ins was fairly good when I used it for BC stuff but the following year it rose and kept going up each year till I retired, lordie but medicare is much less expensive now

  • thinkingpositive
    thinkingpositive Member Posts: 564
    edited November 2015

    I agree with you. It's almost lke the entire company is discrimated against when someone uses the knsurance. Rates go up! And everyone knows who used the insurance In a small company. Although the reason is never because anyone used it.

  • JerseyRenee01
    JerseyRenee01 Member Posts: 144
    edited March 2016

    Well i made my 2nd opinion appt Dec 1 with

    Brian J. Czerniecki, MD, PhD at Penn.I am just nervous starting over with not having any names. That was why I went straight to MD Anderson as I had names. So I dont even know who as far as plastic surgery if I stay with Penn. I like Dr. Copit for PS but if switch to Penn cant use him.

    Guess I will just see how the appt goes & go from there.

  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 819
    edited November 2015

    Penn is in-network for me but I went out-of-network for Copit. He has worked effectively with my insurance.

  • JerseyRenee01
    JerseyRenee01 Member Posts: 144
    edited March 2016

    thanks BosomBlues:

    I saw Dr. Czerniecki's name on here few times so I booked with him & was glad got next week. I guess at this point I see his opinion & who knows I could go back to the 1st BS & PS I saw.


    Here are PS at Penn:


    http://www.pennmedicine.org/plastic-surgery/reconstructive/breast-reconstruction.html


    My friends kept encouraging me to go a 2nd opinion & at Penn.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited November 2015

    it is good to get a second opinion and well Penn is a really fine place

    good luck

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