Traveled to MDA for surgery??

I'm not IBC but I am a triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patient at MDA who is going to have a mastectomy there on the 29th. I live two hours away so the four hour round trip is inconvenient, especially with the very early appointments (this Tuesday I'll have to get up at 3:30 to get there in time for my first appointment).

But I would not have my surgery at any other place. I want a surgeon who specializes in breasts, not one who does a little of this and a little of that. TNBC is very agressive with no after treatment so I have to get this right the first time! I want someone who's checked sentinel nodes before, someone who's worked with TNBC before, and someone who's chopped off ten boobies a day. I want experience!

My sister has ovarian cancer and had her surgery elsewhere 13 years ago. Her surgeon wasn't a specialist and dribbled the tumor into the abdomen cavity causing all kinds of problems. They finally sent her home to die (that's what they said!) but she came down to MDA and although she still has two small ovarian tumors in her lungs, she's has had a good life these last five years and seen two more grandchildren born, thanks to MDA doctos.

I don't know how long I'll be in the hospital (probably one night) but I'm planning on staying in town for another night or two to be on the safe side.

Since you already have a relationship with MDA, I'd take advantage of it for the surgery. I've met people from all over the world who have.

Good luck with whatever decision you make. 

Hey Lori, glad u are responding to chemo.  I had no problems after my bilat.  I was in the hospital only overnite.  I did get a seroma after about 3 weeks, but if u get something like that u can prolly get it drained in Ohio.  You need to go with the dr u feel comfortable with.  I agree with mchan about talking to the drs at mda.  So many ppl go to Houston for surgery Im sure they have the answers to all your questions.    Hugs and hugs to u and kiddies.  Luv ya Hipp

I also am a patient at MDA but I live 1300 miles away in WV.  I had my unilateral mx locally.  I did meet with a surgeon in Houston, but did not care for him at all.  (I really like my oncologist there, however.)  I also went to NOLA to meet with the reconstructive team there and also a surgical oncologist there.  He (surgeon) is actually my favorite of all of them but even he told me that since I was being advised to have delayed reconstruction, to just have my mx locally. 

By the way, if you go to MDA, you can stay at the hospital-owned hotel The Rotary House.  It is connected to the hospital and is just for cancer patients and their families.  A very nice place that is run by Marriott.

Good luck, Lorie.

Yes

Hi Lori - I live in Vegas but was lucky enough to get into see the docs at MD Anderson.  Since you are already working with them I won't spend too much time praising their system but to say we were impressed is a major understatement.

I am now in one of their clinical trails but they are working with a local oncologist here in Vegas to adminster the chemo (which by the way I start tomorrow).

After the chemo I will need to have additional surgery since when my lumpectomy was originally done they left the lymph nodes and didn't get very clear margins.  I really like my surgeon in Vegas since she was the one who caught the cancer initially after the radiologist came back with a "no change" diagnosis from my mammogram the previous year but I still think I will have the surgery at MD Anderson. I really like the comment made in an earlier post about wanting to work with a surgeon that "chops off 10 boobies a day".  Made me laugh but is also very true.  I will also have to stay in Houston for 7 weeks for the radiation which hopefully will happen early next fall which will be extremely inconvenient but will be well worth it if everything goes as planned.

Good luck with your decision and all of your treatment programs.