Hampton Roads area

Cheri2

Hi I live in Chesapeake and just wondering if there are any other folks from this area to share doctor info with!?

Angie59701

Hi Cheri,

   I live in Hampton. I go to PCI which is directly behind Riverside Hospital in Newport News. I LOVE them. They made my treatment bearable. Where are you going?

Cheri2

I went to Jennifer Reed for BS and for PS - I am going to Dr. Schnarrs in Norfolk.  I have another surgery in April.  My bi lateral M was done at Sentara and I was NOT impressed at all.  My TE to implant surgery was done at Chesapeake General and I had a great experience!!!  It was truly wonderful!!  I am looking forward to getting all this behind me.  

I am volunteering for a black tie event for the American Cancer Society and I think we are going to use a graphic artist from hampton.  I lived with my grandmother for a while in Newport News.  I even took a couple of college classes at CNU!!!

cornellalum

I'm in Smithfield.  I started out with Riverside, and got a bunch of wrong diagnoses, and ended up in Richmond at MCV for my lumpectomy.  Dr. Schlesinger at PCI referred me. I liked her, but the surgeon was useless.

Did you get radiation?

Cheri2

No rads or chemo.  It seems in all I speak with the only good surgeon is Dr. Reed.  I had a friend going to duke, so at least Richmond is closer!  Do you need PS at all?  I highly recommend Dr. Schnarrs for any type of recon.  He is great!  He only operates in Norfolk and Chesapeake though.  Where are you going for rad?

cornellalum

My BS at MCV hasn't made a recommendation regarding rad therapy yet, since my final diagnosis changed from DCIS (after the biopsy) to PLCIS (after the lumpectomy).  So far, I don't need a PS since the lumpectomy didn't take enough tissue to make a dent in these puppies, but they are still deciding whether clear margins were achieved, or even if they are needed for PLCIS. So more surgery may be in my immediate future. 

Isn't it unusual to not get radiation for DCIS?

Cheri2

Normally you have radiation after a DCIS but I chose to take both breasts as a preventative (and I am soooo glad I did because a precursor to cancer was found in my other boob!)  If you take both boobs and your lymphnodes come back clear you don't need radiation or tomixifin!!! Or at least I didn't.   What does the PL stand for?  I sure hope you don't need surgery!!  

cornellalum

PLCIS is Pleomorphic Lobular Carcinoma in Situ, a more aggressive variant of LCIS.  There is a lot of controversy about exactly how to treat it.  My BS has now indicated that he doesn't feel that further surgery is necessary, even though they found PLCIS in the margins after the lumpectomy.  Many doctors treat PLCIS like DCIS (need clear margins, radiation) so I'm going to get a second opinion, especially since the BS told me that he had never seen a PLCIS diagnosis before.  Not sure where yet.  Maybe back to Riverside.

Cheri2

Try Dr. Reed in Va. Beach (she's pretty hard to get into though)  She was awesome and really knows her stuff.  I do NOT recommend others in her practice- just her.  Good Luck!!!

cornellalum

Cheri2 - Question - I noticed you said that you were not impressed with Sentara (Norfolk, I assume?).  What were the issues?

MCV was impressive.  Very organized, very personal.  Nice people. But lots of students (they looked like they were about 12 years old!).  So you have to not mind being on display.  At least they had a sense of humor about things, like most young people.  It made me feel a little old (even though I'm only 48), but that's OK.

Cheri2

Gosh- where to begin!  Many issues.  After care was horrible.  My pain machine was broken and the nurse didn't believe me.  It was not addressed until I got into my room.  That took about 4 hours.  Just goes on and on.  My exchange surgery was at Chesapeake General and it was a whole other ball came.  People actually cared and I was treated like a queen there.  I will go there for my next surgery as well.  I am so glad you had a good experience with your hospital, it takes a big fear away for your next surgery!!

Merry Christmas! 

cornellalum

I am surprised to hear that about Sentara Norfolk. I had always heard that it was pretty good. Well, it goes to show that you can't believe everything you hear.  Is Chesapeake General independent or part of one of the big conglomerates (like Sentara or Riverside?)

I went back to Peninsula Cancer Institute at Riverside in Newport News for my rad onc consult.  They seemed really nice. A little too "chirpy" for me, but nice. (by "chirpy" I mean that falsetto positive happy attitude that sometimes can be so irritating.  Not that I am grumpy or anything.  Well, maybe sometimes)

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Cheri2

No it wasn't sentara norfolk it was sentara leigh.  

No Chesapeake Gen is independent.  Not owned by anyone.  One of the last hold outs and I really hope it stays that way!!

 

cornellalum

Yeah, I know what you mean about being independent.  I remember when Riverside, Sentara and Bon Secours didn't own everything.

Although I have found that there are advantages to being in treatment in one of the behemoths.  Records are electronically available, and they can make appointments with other specialists extremely quickly.  I haven't had pervasive problems with the facilities (like you have) just a doctor or two that I really didn't trust or like.  But I think that you will probably find that anywhere.  Of course, I haven't been admitted to the hospital or had surgery in their facility.  I've just had some outpatient procedures and other doctor's visits. 

Overall, I would have to say that I'm satisfied with Riverside.  I just wish they had some breast surgeons, as opposed to just general surgeons.  I'm actually surprised that they don't, being as big as they are, and covering such a large region.  I don't think there are any Riverside facilities on the Southside though.  I'm from Smithfield, but I usually stay on the Peninsula since I work there.

Cheri2

Jennifer Reed only does breasts and she is awesome!!!  I can't say enough about her.  She is very young though- in her 30's.  I ran out of pain meds and she was shopping with her daughter at Macarthur and brought them to the barnes and noble in greenbrier for my husband to pick up.  She is just very caring and wonderful!!!

I am doing my spring tri in smithfield in March.  I blogged about it.

http://cheribass.blogspot.com/ 

I wish I had the funding to open a one stop shop in Hampton Roads for prostetics, compression garments, wigs, mammo's, physical therapy and surgery and plastic!!!  A nice BC hospital!!!

Are you getting snow there in Smithfield tonight.  I am really hoping to see some this weekend!!! 

cornellalum

Personal delivery from a breast surgeon?  Very cool.  My surgeon (from MCV) has been great about answering all my questions.  He gave me his e-mail address, and answers within a day.  Richmond is a little far to come for deliveries, though.

The Smithfield run has become a pretty big deal in our little town - it seems to get bigger every year.  Unfortunately, I don't run because of some arthritis in my knees, so I just read about it in the local paper.  I read your blog, and it sounds like you really love the "runner's high."  I am so glad that you have come through your BC battle, and that you will get a chance to participate this year.  The route goes through some of the more historic sections of town, so I'm sure you will really enjoy it.

We got a dusting of snow - enough to look pretty, but not enough to be a huge problem on the roads.  My favorite kind of snow!

Cheri2

We only got a very small sprinkle of snow (rats!) my Aunt lives in Hampton and said they got a bunch and it is beautiful!!!

I do the hog jog every year over there.  I always enjoy it and go craft shopping afterwards.  I love that bread/sandwich shop on main street.  I always buy bread after the race.  The tri will be late March.  Maybe you can come out and we can meet!!! How cool!

I did well on that blog for a while and then just kind of quit- I am so uninspired to write anymore!!!  I am starting a new project for 2010.  It will be called "a day in the life" and I am going to add one photo a day of whatever is going on that day.  One photo each day!! Yikes!  I hope I can do it. 

cornellalum

Cheri - it would indeed be a lot of fun to meet up!  I know exactly which shop on Main Street that you are talking about - the Smithfield Bakery has been doing bread and sandwiches for years.  I remember when it opened, and folks were wondering how on earth a sandwich shop would survive. But that was way before they re-did Main Street, and made it the wonderful, quaint area that it is now. I have lived in Smithfield for over 25 years, so I remember when it was not a "destination" type of place.  I am so pleased that folks are now looking forward to coming here.

A blog is a huge commitment - I wish you much luck.  Let me know where I can read it - it sounds like a lot of fun!  I wish I had enough interesting thoughts to keep a blog going, but I seriously doubt it.  I threatened my kids with it the other day, and they were horrified.  Nothing puts the fear of god into young adults like their mother threatening to post her thoughts out there for all to see.  They would probably gasp if they knew I was on a discussion board.  They probably don't believe that I even know what a discussion board is.  How is it that we seem so old to the younger generation when we know that we are still the coolest people around??  And I'm not even 50 yet, so I know that I'm not even close to being old!