Ottawa?

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  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited August 2010

    Hi- Im fairly new to all this, I live in Kanata. I just want someone to chat to about this horrible cancer!

    I have just had a masectomy and i feel so down. I am waiting to see the oncologist for treatment plans.

    My surgeon is Dr Lorimer at the General. Anyone else have him? Whats Chemo like?

  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited August 2010

    Hey there!

    Im from ottawa too-

    how long did you wait for your breast reconstruction, how was chemo

  • Shari51
    Shari51 Member Posts: 11
    edited August 2010

    Hi there redninrah

    I live in the west end of Ottawa near the Carlingwood Mall.   I had breast cancer last year and have been through it all - masectomy, chemo, the works.  I am back at work full time and never felt better.  Do you have an oncologist yet?  I found that once I got to see an oncologist (I suggest Dr. Verma - he is wonderful), you will start to feel more secure about things.  You will also have the chance to get into a support group.  I found a couple of women who I could really relate to,   who I still keep in touch with.  I completely understand how you feel.  I was terrified about the chemo.  In the end, it was not that bad at all.  ok not great, but you get through it.  I would be more than glad to talk with you any time .  Shari p.s.  I never, never thought I would get through it and I did.  Hang in there...

  • Dee2010
    Dee2010 Member Posts: 80
    edited August 2010

    Here's another Ottawa girl (well, actually, Orleans)!  I was diagnosed with IBC Dec 2009, did chemo at the General Cancer Center from Jan-June.  IBC has very visible symptoms, and there was obvious improvement by the third chemo session.  I had a bilat mast in July (at the Carleton Place Hospital), and the path report came back NED (thanks chemo!)  I'll be doing rads in Sept-Oct. at the General Cancer Center.

    I agree with Shari - once you meet with your onco and surgeon, you'll have a better sense of what's ahead and that will help. I would write down any and all questions that came up between medical appointments in a small notebook so I wouldn't forget anything. Despite all the side effects they talk about with chemo, most of the time they can be controlled with meds (or ginger tea for nausea, in my case!)  Chemo a decade ago was much, much more difficult than it is now. Plus they follow you quite closely; I met with my onco the week before every treatment. 

    I haven't been to any of the support groups, but am thinking of going now that my energy is coming back - I was pretty tired after chemo.  This group online has been really helpful to me -- I haven't been posting, but I've been reading avidly and benefiting from all the wonderful people here who so willingly share their experience.  Don't hesitate if you have any questions, and keep us posted!

  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited October 2010

    Have you guys had reconstruction yet- if so what type, Do you know if the ottawa surgeons doe diep

  • micheleboots
    micheleboots Member Posts: 1,993
    edited October 2010

    Hi ther Ottawa ladies.  A few of us will be meeting downtown in the market on the 16 th of Oct for lunch...If any one want to come let me know...all are welcome.

  • Kyta
    Kyta Member Posts: 713
    edited October 2010

    Hello Ottawa ladies....Just noticed this thread tonight.

    Red - The plastic surgeon I spoke with said that no one in Ottawa does DIEP.

    Michele - sorry the 16th didn't work out but I'm in for another date, and hoping others from Ottawa might want to join us for lunch sometime.

  • NannaBaby
    NannaBaby Member Posts: 510
    edited November 2010

    I have heard of 3 PS in Ottawa who do recon.  Dr. Rockwell, Dr. Gallant (who I heard does one step immediate recon with Alloderm), and Dr. Guay who does implants and DIEP (he has pioneer a new method of DIEP and is very knowlegeable in this procedure). There may be a couple of other PS in Ottawa who do recon.  I got a list from the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons.  There list isn't quite up to date, but it sure does help :)  I thought there were only 2 in the area.  Apparently there are more and also in Kingston.

  • redninrah
    redninrah Member Posts: 773
    edited November 2010

    nov 30th- conference with Dr Guay at Civic who does DIEP. feel free to come.

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