just diagnosed

hi again longislandmom....I have signed on with Elisa Port. She is extremely articulate, clearly explains what you have and what your options are. did not rush through the appointment (although somewhat of a wait) pissed me off a bit but once she was with me it seems liked the outside world wasn't there; she was focused on me. Answered all my questions and then some. she sent me to her PS Carlin Vickery and her partner Keegan.  Here too, I went for consultation, she spent 2 full hours discussing the options of each procedure and then a half hour exam.  An incredible education.  Most important I felt very comfortable with both and sign on with them that very moment, as I think I said I switch doctors after numerous biopsys, genetic testing 4 other appts with first doc.....I checked them out with the president of the BCRF, someone at MD Anderson and two other sources through my connections all came back with "they are the best" "your in great hands" etc etc....Who are you seeing?  When?  Good luck. What helped me is that I actuall had a list of questions on my black berry and made sure that before I left all were answered.

Longislandmom:  I actually just scheduled my date about a week ago, Port has a few open dates within the first few weeks of April but the PS couldn't do it, so it's not months away. it's about getting all the doctors in the same room at the same time if your doing immediate recon. my date is 4/23; I feel like it's so far away just wnat to get it done with already!  Anyway,  Let me know if you like her, good luck!  

I had a left sided cancer also... one of many reasons why I didn't want the radiation and having the MX meant I didn't need it.

About recon .. it really depends what you are looking for. I chose to use my own tissue and not get implants, as I have friends who complain about their implants and steered me away from them.. In researching tissue transplants (DIEP and GAP flaps) I in the end left the NY area and travelled to New Orleans to the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery. I have a friend who did implants at Sloan and was not thrilled (felt there was a lot of waiting until her exchange surgery)... and have another friend who was about to have surgery at Sinai and chose to travel to NOLA. Its a lot of decisions but really comes down to what YOU want in the end... I found no matter what, it pays to take an extra week or two now to do your homework so you trust you have made the right decision. And know that you can always change your mind. I have another friend who was supposed to have a MX this past week, and at the last moment also chose to travel to NOLA, and is now having her MX and recon next week down there. This is your body and your choices, so do what feels right to YOU.

I, too, had left-side bc and was VERY happy that my rad.onc. let me have my rad.treatments in the prone position. Please ask about this!!! My onc. was trained at Sloan-Kettering. I am now 2+ years out and there has not been 1 day that I wish I had had a mx rather than lump+rads.