Crazy Sexy Cancer in Seattle

So Ladies, long time since I have posted here.  Unfortunately I have a newly diagnosed friend who is looking for a great breast cancer surgeon.  I went back through the pages and couldn't find a discussion about surgeons.  Could I get some suggestions from you ladies?  She lives down near Puyallup but is perfectly willing to travel to Seattle to get care.  Thanks!

Thanks so much raincitygirl!

Dr J David Beatty is my BS and i really love him, although i only had a lumpectomy. He did a great job, you can barely see one of my scars and he has a great bedside manner and sense of humor. He's at Swedish Hosp., both madison and cherry hill.

My surgeon is also Dr. Beatty, but I have not had surgery yet as I am doing neoadjuvent, so I am glad to hear all the positive info about him!

Hi Ladies - it has been a really long time. Hope everyone is doing well. I missed the Komen race 6/5 as well...it's a busy time of year, no? Looking forward to some good summer weather!

Thanks everyone for your input!

I too had Dr. Clarfeld and was very impressed and would recommend him without question.  And Gina, good to see your post!  Hope all is well.

jwaldher

I'm so sorry about your diagnosis.  I was supposed to have a consult at SCCA but then found my surgeon at Swedish and went with them for treatment.  The staff there was AWESOME. I think that is true for all the places you might go in Seattle---we are lucky to have excellent staff.

I did not have to do chemo so i can't really help you there.  I think response is very personal---no two women respond exactly the same.  I do think that with all the treatments we receive, keeping ourselves fit and exercising helps our bodies recover faster.  I know that when I did zaps, I didn't have half the SEs I expected.

How old are your children?  Swedish had some options for children dealing with parents with cancer.  I didn't use them because I didn't have chemo so my kids did not have my BC in their face but if I ever had to do chemo, I would sign them up.  Also you might want to check about a support group for yourself--sometimes its good to have a coffee with someone who just knows what you are talking about.

hang in there and sorry you have joined the club.....

jwalder-So sorry that you are here, but this website has so wonderful for me.  I did not go to SCCA, but have heard good things about them.  I actually started my treatment out at Overlake and then switched to Swedish for my follow-up care.

This whole journey is so scary.  What I found along the way was the most scarey part of the journey was the unknown of each stage-ie,  the biopsy, the mastecomy, the chemo, the rads, dealing with my two young kids throughout all this.  But, once part of each stage was taken, the fearfulness eased up tons.  I chose to have a dbl masectomy (left side prophylactically) and really, it wasn't nearly as rough as I thought it would be.  Chemo also wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be either.  As for the rads, it was just a huge time inconvenience more than anything else.  Each body is different, but they have wonderful meds to help you through.    

This is a great web-site, and there is also another great support group for younger women with breast Cancer.  Young Survival Coalition.  These women were amazing too.

Hang in there, 

V

Hello, this is my first post here. I got my diagnosis in June on the last day of school (hello sh*tty summer!) and have been on the treadmill of tests, doc visits and research ever since. 

I was glad to see the good posts about Hanson, as he's my surgeon. I tried to get an appt with Buchanan but she wasn't available for several weeks. I also saw Christine Lee at Swedish, who I really liked, but I felt that Hanson had a better grasp of my tests and my individual situation.

At this point I'm deciding between lumpectomy+radiation and bilateral mastectomy. I only have a small tumor in one breast but my breasts are very dense, don't image well (cancer didn't show up in mammo or MRI) and I am not sure I can tolerate not knowing if it will recur and if it will be caught. However, the things I have been reading about the mastectomy/reconstruction recovery are terrifying -- so many problems people have had. 

I'm really struggling with the decision, so if you were in a similar place, I'd love to talk to you. I have another appt with Hanson on Monday 8/1 to set my surgery plan so I've only got a few days left to decide.  

dawmson - I also had Dr. Hanson as I mentioned above.  I chose lumpectomy with Dr Hanson's encouragement based on the success rate being virtually identical.  I figured I could always have a mastectomy later.  I also have very dense breasts.  PM me if you have any questions I can help with....best wishes!

Jwaldher -- A neighbor of mine went to SCCA and thought the staff was top notch.  It has an excellent reputation.  I ended up at Swedish, like many on this thread, I see, and have had wonderful care.  I was very worried about chemo too but got through it fine.  I was kind of careful and didn't over-do it.  I have kids and that summer I had chemo we just had kids go through the garage to the back yard, and did not have other kids in the house.  Another mom told me she had a big bottle of hand sanitizer and any kid who came in the house had to do that first.  A nurse told me, "Now is not the time to go to the theatre."  So I avoided big crowds.   Be sure and drink lots of water (which they will tell you to do) especially the day of chemo.  You will find it's easier than you thought.  Hang in there!  You can do it!   

Hi all! Any chance a former Seattlite ('95-''98) and former Alaskan who now lives in Spokane can join you? I had a consult with breast surgeon here this past week and was so upset by the appointment that I am considering coming to Seattle for surgery...



I just felt pressured regarding reconstruction. I am having BMX done. I don't want TEs and am considering BRAVA instead. I just don't want to face possible complications from TEs when I know I will need radiation.



Neoadjuvant chemo is going fine...just 1/2 way through and feeling like the rest of the road is long.

Jessica, I am so sorry about the mets.  I have followed your story as you live close to me (I am in Issaquh) and I felt a connection.  I hope they found it soon and you are able to stay ahead of the train.

 I am scheduled to have my "exchange" surgery on Sept 13th (2 weeks from today).  I am excited to be at the end of the deconstruction then reconstruction. 

 Any thought of getting together in October.  It has been quite some time since we have all met up!

Happy Labor Day.

Lorrie

Hi, just popping in to say I had my lumpectomy and SNB at Swedish on Tuesday. I think it went well - we'll know more next week when the path results come back.

I've had very little pain but a lot of swelling, and today the back of my upper arm is numb. I'm hoping that will go away! The nurse says it's prob related to the SNB.

I'm new to the group but frosty1 I love the idea of getting together. I'll be in radiation in October (I assume) so I won't be traveling much.