How many opinions did you get from BS, PS, Onco, etc?

warriorwannabe

How many opinions did you get from BS, PS, Oncologists, etc? How did you pick? Is there time for this hunting knowing this nasty thing is brewing inside you?

I know, sooooo many questions, but this is just a few that are in my head swirling. Ive had one visit with one BS, and another one tomorrow.

(A little about me - Just Dxd a few days ago with large Grade 2 ILC; Est and Progest pos. I know I want a bilat mastectomy and recon after so many years of issues/close calls and family history).

THANK YOU in advance!!!

jojo9999

hi warrior, I didn't get any second opinions. I was at a NCI hospital so I felt comfortable with the panel of docs who analyzed my case. Plastics was not part of the team, and I regret not getting a second opinion on reconstruction. But at the time, I felt like a ticking time bomb - not accurate but it is how we all tend to feel. So, if I could do it over again, I would get a second opinion PS. Good luck.

warriorwannabe

Thank you jojo! You've replied to my various posts and I REALLY appreciate that ! So, it sounds like you didnt do reconstruction, at time of mastectomy, or later? I feel like a timebomb too. That the cancer is spreading every second. Can you not get reconstruction now?

jojo9999

warrior, I did get reconstruction. I should change my signature... I had tissue explanders placed at the time of BMX. I think that you can only get immediate reconstruction if you have a skinning sparing mastectomy. Since I had multifocal disease, it wasn't an option for me (but maybe if I had gone for second opinions, another BS would have been comfortable with going for the skin-sparing surgery!). After BMX, I had fills, then radiation, then exchanged for implants. My first PS didn't seem to put much thought into the sizes of the TE (he used very large ones). Size of TE matters very much if the implants will be the anatomical, tear drop shaped ones. Its a long story, but I switched PS after the first exchange surgery and had it redone. Good luck making all of your decisions and keep us posted.

warriorwannabe

Thanks jojo!!! IDK if I have multifocal disease (I even had to google that one!). I just met with 2nd BS today and loved him. A piece of me wants to go to an NCI hospital though. But I dont want this to drag on forever!!!! Maybe I'll do that for the oncology part. Next up is consults with 2 PSs. Im leaning towards implants and no DIEP flap. I want easy and will deal with implant 'maintenance" in the future. My 1st surgery will be nodes, then a week later BMX. THis is different than the 1st BS who does full battery of tests 1st (body scans, etc). Im still confused. And the more docs I see, the more confused I get. But I feel good about this BS for some reason. Did they run a bunch of tests on you first (to see if cancer has spread)?

Sunnyone22

Hi Warriorwoman - I had 2 BS opinions and 2 pathology opinions. I chose the BS who did ONLY breast cancer surgery - nothing else. Don't worry about asking questions, we all had them, especially early - the more you learn,, the less nervous you'll feel. Lots of smart women on these boards.

jojo9999

I did not have a lot of tests, just MRI before SLNB. My MRI showed clear nodes, but biopsy showed one positive node. As for reconstruction, the PS may want to wait and see if your nodes are clear. If they are, then immediate reconstruction may be possible. If they are not clear, you will need to find out if you need radiation. Most PS don't want to put in implants if radiation is in the cards, although many PS will put in tissue expanders at the time of MX and then exchange to implants after radiation is over (some insist that you wait 6 months...) Good luck with the appts.

LRGinger

I didn't get a second opinion on my BS because it was someone I knew. I sought a second opinion on the medical oncologist's recommended treatment plan and they second opinion agreed. I didn't get a second opinion for the radiation oncologist, but I did run her recommendation by my BS and MO and they both agreed it was overkill. Good luck - it's such a confusing and overwhelming time. I was torn between wanting things done quickly and making sure I was getting enough info.

Anonymous

I interviewed 2 oncologists and two breast surgeons, in more local centers and then MD Anderson in the Phoenix area, which would have required me to travel 3 hours one way for tx (but was willing to do so if it provided the best care).

Since I had previous experience with our local PS, and had friends who used him for their own reconstruction, I knew he was the one right away. Since I had radiation too, I also interviewed 2.

Claire