Any Northern Virginia ladies on this discussion board?

Opt4Life

Hi javamama, I'm still here as I'm sure are other NoVa ladies. Back to school and PTA activity has me going crazy.

Best of luck to you with surgery. You'll be fine, I'm sure. If you don't mind me asking what hospital/center are you using? I used Inova (because a good friend used them) and as of now I'm happy with their services. Inova is having a BC Symposium in October. I plan to be there....my MO will be speaking about the latest in treatment, etc.

Are you all set for what you'll need at home--assistance, a driver, loose/button downs, etc.?

Feel free to PM me.

Have a blessed everyday

javamama

Opt4Life- thank you so much for your response. So I am a bit crazy right now. I had everything all set. Loved my surgeons, etc. And then had a meeting with my PS on Monday this week and talked to her about more stuff about reconstruction- decided against implants and P-TRAM- and asked her about doing a DIEP instead. She said she doesn't do them and suggested I get the UMX with a TE above the muscle and then find a DIEP doc after. Well, that sent me into a total tailspin and I've been out of my mind all this week.

I'm using Reston Hospital as my center. I LOVE my BS, and I thought my PS was great as well. I can't believe that I might not have the team I wanted originally. Arghhh. But I'm trying to get the surgery pushed back to the original date and not feel all rushed to go into surgery this coming Monday after having found out that my PS won't be my PS for the longterm. It's so much to take in all with CANCER bearing down on me. I can't think, I can't make decisions, I can't breath.

Can I ask who your MO is? I think I'm going to go with the doc that helped with my genetic testing when I met with the gene nurse.

Opt4Life

Javamama, you sound like me after I was diagnosed but before treatment. But you know that sign 'Stay Calm....'? I practiced saying that and prayed constantly and that helped my nerves tremendously.

I also had a tough time settling on a team too-well mainly my first and second opinion breast surgeons who gave me the same plan almost which made it difficult to choose. Just do your homework. I even looked on Yelp besides Healthgrades and other sites to cueck out reviews.

Reston Hospital is excellent so I'm sure you'll get great care. I'm using Dr. Wilkison of Inova Hema and Onc. She came highly recommended by two former BC patients.

So your surgery is on the 19th and you still feel unsure? Totally normal. I was going to do DIEP but wanted to get back to work sooner. I was told if I changed my mind that I could still go for it later especially if they didn't get clean margins with LX and would have to go back for MX. So don't put pressure on yourself and ask about all options. In the end, do what feels right and makes the most sense for you mentally and physically.

javamama

Thanks Opt4Life!

So the pressure told me that the decision wasn't right. I didn't feel this pressure before this Monday's meeting. I felt sure. Afterwards, not so much. So, I called my nurse navigator and told her to push back my surgery to the original Oct. 3 date. She tried but that date had been given away already. So, they set it for the week of the 17th. In the meantime, I am meeting with a different PS for a second opinion on whether I should do expanders or if we can go straight to immediate reconstruction if my nodes are clear. I'm not worried about the date being so far in advance. This last time, they moved up my surgery by two weeks. It's not a guaranteed thing they do, but it happens... A LOT.

I also set up a paper/phone consult with NOLA and got an estimate with insurance from them- it's very doable.

I feel infinitely better. This whole cancer thing has been totally spun out of control. And I feel like the only thing I can control is who goes on this journey with me. Not having my team for the long haul felt way too out of control. Now I feel like I'm back on track.

I work from home now so I have lots of time and space to recover.

Taking deep breathes. Lots of them. And taking my new puppy for walks. And hugs.

mary625

javamama...I live in NOVA and unfortunately have a lot of experience. Would be happy to chat with you by phone if you private message me. My breast surgeon is now at Reston, and perhaps the same as yours. Super happy with her. I had delayed recon in NOLA so I can talk to you about that too. I had DIEP.

javamama

Sent you a PM, mary625

dessert1st

Javamama, Sorry you are going through this. It is good you were able to push back your surgery! When this is throw at you, you want to get this out of your fast, but reviewing all your options and having the time to talk with others is great.

There are some on this thread who have had DIEP in VA. I can't recall the surgeon,but he is pretty good.

I am not sure of your age, but if you are past child bearing years, you may want to consider a double mx. I had a single and a year later had the other one removed. Wish I had the DMX in the frist place. Especially if you are going to do DIEP!

This thread generally has monthly luncheons and it's nice to meet others going through this journey! Not sure of the next lunch date.

Opt4Life, when is the NOVA Symposium you referred to

By the way - Mary Wilkison is the best !!

Judy

Opt4Life

Hi ladies, hope you are having a great weekend.

Javamama, happy to hear that your surgery is scheduled so you have a bit more time to plan. It looks like you also connected wuth Mary for advice and assistance. BCO rocks and has always been here for me providing great info. Let us know how you're doing.

Dessert, the BC Symposium is on October 1st at 8am at the new Inova Cancer Center on Gallows Rd (old Exxon bldg). I'll post the registration link when I find it.

Yes, Dr.Wilkinson is great. I tell her stuff I've read here all the time and she never dismisses me. She is a 'studies' nerd though so she will 'read up and get back to you'.

Opt4Life

BC Symposium at Inova

October 1st 8am-1:30pm

3225 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA 22037

RSVP at: inova.org/breastsymposium

javamama

dessert1st- I am well past child-bearing whether my body is still capable of it or not. I just got rid of my youngest kid and sent him off to college this fall. It was supposed to be the next chapter of my life. Well, the chapter has taken on a different subject matter. Funny/not funny, right? However, if I don't have to lose easy orgasm provided by nipple stimulation, I don't want to live that way for the rest of my life. If I have to remove my right breast, I will. But it will be because cancer is in there and not because cancer made me afraid and I traded orgasms for safety. I am truly low risk. I shouldn't have gotten IDC. I breastfed both my kids for over 6 months, I have no history of breast cancer in my family- I now know I have no genetic markers predisposing me to breast/ovarian/uterine cancer, I stopped taking BC in my early 30s, etc. Seriously, without nipple stimulation, my orgasms take a while. With left nipple tim? 2-3 minutes under the right circumstances. With right nipple? About 5-10 minutes under the right conditions. Thinking of living the rest of my life fighting to orgasm give me the sads, a whole bunch. So if I don't have to lose the boob, I won't. Plus, my doc told me the difference between removing the right boob and leaving it was about 3% increase in the chance of getting cancer in the right boob with tamoxifen use. So I have about 2% chance of the right being a Benedict Arnold if I remove it and about 5% if I leave it. Easy orgasm means that 3% weighs in favor of keeping the boob.

I've pretty much decided to go to NOLA for my surgeries. Not that the docs here aren't great. I just feel WAY more at peace with that decision.

Opt4Life- I think I might just attend that symposium. Is Dr. Wilkinson a Breast Surgeon or an Onc? Because once I tell my breast surgeon what I plan to do, I might need a new one for follow up...

Cuetang

Javamama-- a delayed welcome to this group of wonderful ladies. Also a fellow DIEP-er here. Hope you're doing well!

Anyone up for lunch November?

dessert1st

sure, lunch would be good. it's been a while !

javamama

Cuetang- thank you so much. Sorry for not responding earlier. I had my UMX and DIEP on the 18th in NOLA and just got back a couple of days ago. And although, I'm feeling pretty good, I'm am drugged up to the max. lol

placid44

I would be up for lunch

mary625

I could use a lunch with you guys!

odie16

Hey everyone! Looks like November has gotten away from us. Anyone interested in meeting for lunch on Saturday December 3rd or 10th? I am open to suggestions on where to meet.

Cuetang

Hellllooooo! Looks like this thread is due for a nice "bump"! Happy 2017!! Anyone up for a lunch on either Saturday, March 11 at in Fairfax Corner?

placid44

I would be up for March 11!

Cuetang

Hi Placid!!

Any other takers? We will be meeting at World of Beer in Fairfax Corner at noon this Saturday, March 11. Let me know!

Cuetang

It's thread "bump" time!

Odie and I are planning to meet up for lunch at Ozzie's Good Eats in Fairfax Corner in Virginia on Saturday, July 15 at noon. Let us know if you're interested....would love to have you join us! Have a great weekend everyone and happy mother's day to all the moms here.

placid44

I'll be in town that day and would like to attend... Looking forward to seeing you.

Knitpig

Hi everyone, I'm not in Nova but close. I live in Gaithersburg and work in Bethesda.

Cuetang- our stats are so similar. crazy!

VAMOM02

Hello everyone

I am new to this site and stay in Alexandria. I recently underwent a mastectomy on my left breast. I am still waiting on my results for staging. Just looking to meet other women for support.

placid44

Hi Knitpig and VAMO. Welcome. It's a good group. We get together sporadically for a long lunch. I'm looking forward to meeting you at the July event!!

Cuetang

Hey everyone! Sorry for dropping off the BCO discussion. We're still on for noon this Saturday, 7/15 at Ozzie's Good Eats in Fairfax Corner at noon. PM me if you want to join us!

Knitpig-- hellowee and welcome! Yes, wowzer, you're right our stats are crazy similar. How are you doing now?

VAMO-- welcome to this group. Like placid said, we meet periodically for a good meal, shamelessly share boob and doctor stories over lunch. These ladies have been a great support for all those crazy moments and the "scares" I've had over the past years. They've been my rock to lean on and never say they are too busy to listen to me when I've had my down moments. Love them! Hopefully you can join us and we'd be happy to "overshare!".

placid44

I'll be there

Lumpie

I'm in No Va. Would love to join the group if future lunches are planned. Is there a schedule? Or is it ad hoc/catch-as-catch-can? thx.

Cuetang

Hi Lumpie! We try to catch up every few months and are looking at the next to be in September/October.

Lumpie

Super. Sure hope I can make it. I will try to watch for updates here. Let me know if there is another place where get-together's are announced. Thx!

Lumpie

While I am on here.... can anyone share good sources for wigs in No Va/metro DC? I have been to the Cancer Society (thank you Cancer Society!) and to a couple of stores but just was not happy with options. (I always feel like I have on a BAD Halloween costume.) Also, if you have a professional stylist who helps with maintenance/styling of wigs and would not mind sharing contact info, that would be super. (I haven't used the PM function on BCO but am sure I could figure it out if that would be more comfortable for info sharing.) Thank you!