Recommendations for breast surgeon and DIEP surgeon? in Boston

Bella_YT

Hi all,

 I am considering of changing my cancer care center to one of the research hospitals in Boston. I will be meeting with a DIEP surgeon at Beth Israel tomorrow. Have you been treated in either Dana Farber Cancer Institute or Beth Israel Medical Center? If yes, could you give me your recommendations of a great breast surgeon and a great DIEP surgeon?

Thanks so much!

Bella 

snowflower

I had a unilateral MX with immediate DIEP done by Dr. Adam Tobias and Dr. Bernard Lee at Beth Israel 12/15/10 and I'm very glad I went there for my surgery. Everything went fine with no complications thank god. Next month I go back to the office for the nipple. I would recommend these doctors and the BI to anyone needing a DIEP. All the nurses and staff were so nice. I had my own room for the 5 days I was there and they were always there when I needed something.

Kim

snowflower

Hi Bella,

Dr. Hasselgren was my breast surgeon. Dr. Adam Tobias and Bernard Lee work as a team for the DIEP.

Kim

Bella_YT

Dear Kim,

 Thanks so much for the names. I saw Dr. Samuel Lin this afternoon, and looks like he would be my DIEP surgeon. He has been BIDMC for four years, and he said in the surgery, either Dr. Tobias or Dr. Lee will work with him as a team for DIEP. He recommended Dr. Ranjna Sharma as the breast surgeon. I heard very good things about Mary Jane Houlihan, But Dr. Lin said he doesn't know whether Dr. Houlihan has a long waiting lists of patients.

 How long was your surgery and are you now able to drive and lift light things with your surgery side?

Thanks so much,

Bella 

snowflower

Hi Bella,

The surgery was 5 hours. After 3 weeks I felt ready to drive but before that I took walks everyday. I can lift 10-20 lbs. now where for the first month after the surgery it was 5 lbs. Sorry I did not get back to you sooner. I did not see your post until today because Il am not good at navigating this site for some reason. I post things and can never find them later and I don't find the replys easily. I wonder if anyone else has this trouble? The PS team and all the people working at BI are great. I am happy with the way everything has gone. Are you having it soon? It's been 2 mos. for me now and my stomach feels more flexible but I'm not doing sit ups yet! I go to the gym everyday to walk and do a light workout with 3 lbs. weights. I wish you the best.

Kim 

Bella_YT

Kim,

 Thanks so much for the information. About having trouble with the site, if you select this topic to your favoriate topic, it should be easier to locate the next time -- just go to "my favoriate topics" to find it.

 It's good to know that after two month you can lift 10-20 lbs. My little dog is about 12 lbs, I want to know when can I lift her up after the surgery  

I am seeing my breast surgeon (Dr. Sharma) next Wednesday, and I am hoping to do the surgery sometime in the second week of March.

Thanks again,

Bella 

snowflower

Hi Bella,

I just realized I said 10-20 lbs., I meant 10 lbs. or a little more (not 20!) Although with laundry maybe I have lifted 20. After 6 weeks Dr. Tobias said to do what I want  but if it hurts don't do it. He said it won't prevent me from healing properly if I over due it, just be uncomfortable. I had a stomach support thing I wore for a month (that was after the drains were gone). I got rid of 2 drains after about 10 days and the last one a week later. It's hard for me to remember exact times because I took oxycodein for the first 2 weeks, (2 every 4 hours). It helped me to rest and get through the hardest part. I was also in deep grief over having to have my dear 10 year old cat Archie euthanized 2 days before surgery. I'm still crying often, I love him with all my heart and soul. That was much worse than the surgery. I can take physical pain but emotional is worse. Thanks for explaining how to navigate here!

Kim

stcc

Does anybody know any great DIEP surgeon at Dana Farber Cancer Institute?

 If yes, could you give me your recommendations of a a great DIEP surgeon that work with Dana Farber?

Thank you!