Any Northern Virginia ladies on this discussion board?

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited January 2013

    I haven't had surgery yet, but have met the BS Dr. Hernan Vargas and I am loving the care he has been giving me so far (and the steps that he's taken to go over my case).  I'll definitely go with him.  He's recommended Dr. Venturi as the plastic surgeon for the DIEP.  However, he's not in my HMO's network.  For those that have had Dr. Venturi do their reconstruction, how difficult was it to get your insurance approved for him to perform your surgery? 

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited January 2013

    Have you considered prma in san antonio? Thats where I went. I was treated like a queen at there hosp. Free flights areavailable withthree weeks notice throughmercy flights. And there arehotel discounts

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited January 2013

    Unfortunately traveling outside of Northern Virginia isn't an option for me at this time. :(

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  • IsaacWardJr
    IsaacWardJr Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2013

    Hello,

     My name is Isaac Ward. I am a 41 year old quadriplegic counselor at Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center in Woodbridge, Va. This past October I created a Cancer Awareness program at my center, which the teens in our program participated in. Although our efforts were very successful, we had a difficult time finding a Breast Cancer survivor that was able to come out to our center and talk with our teens about their struggle. I am hoping this online community would help me with our cause. We are at thee centeer from 3-7 weekdays. The teens at within our program are very interested in this fight, yet we as counselors cannot truly give them the emotions like a survivor or current cancer fighter can. I pray that someone here can find it in their heart to help us. Our group is not massive, but we consist of 25-30 teens.

    Edited by Mods to remove member's personal email address from our public and searchable boards. For your own privacy and security, we strongly recommend using the Private Message feature if you ever want to exchange personal information, and only with those you know and trust.

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  • lastminuteD
    lastminuteD Member Posts: 333
    edited March 2013

    Great to see this thread still going!!

    Cuetang - did you have your surgery?  what doctors did you go with?

    hope you are well!

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    Hi lastminuteD-- thanks for your check-in on me!  I'm going with Dr. Vargas (BS) and Dr. Venturi (PS).  It was a horrible struggle to get approval from my insurance company for Dr. Venturi, but I certainly hope he's worth it!  My surgery's on March 8 and nerves are starting to get to me.  I'm glad this thread was started originally so folks in the area can chime in on thoughts/insights, which I find very helpful to me.  Hope you are doing well too!

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited March 2013

    Hi



    Thats exciting. March 8 coming up. I am getting my nipples april 3.

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    Fredntan your date is coming up! :). Sending happy thoughts for your upcoming event.

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  • PeggySull
    PeggySull Member Posts: 686
    edited March 2013

    Hi, I recognize some names here. I have been on this board since November 2012 after I was diagnosed. I can't believe I'm just finding this NoVa group now. I live in Gainesville, VA.



    Dr. Nicholas Robert is my onc. Slow to warm up but very happy I stayed with him. Just finished 4 months of chemo, prior to surgery, since I'm triple neg and chemo often goes before surgery for this sub type of BC.



    Now I'm 8 days away from my bilateral mastectomy with implant reconstruction. Dr. Vargas is my BS (love him even though staff there has been slow to follow up on some things) and Dr. Gloria Duda is my PS. Like her very much so far. I'm still a bit anemic from chemo and will find out Wednesday whether April 2 will actually be my surgery date. Sure hope so since I've arranged things for support after this date (hubby work leave etc.)



    In this last 2 weeks before surgery I've been having sleep problems. Did anyone else? I am going to see my psychiatrist on Tuesday and see what might help. Early morning awakening mostly and very anxiety provoking dreams.



    As I looked through this thread from the beginning there was so so much socializing at first. Is any socializing still going on? If not, is there an organizer active here that could start something up, maybe a lunch on Saturday(s). I've learned so much and made such good friends on these boards it would be great to see people in person.



    Peggy

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    Bump! Any other NoVA ladies hanging out in BCO? I agree with Peggy, I would love to have the socializing that was going on earlier in the thread. :)

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited March 2013

    Hi youll. I am way down in fredericksburg.

    I have this sinus thing going on. Been on antibiotics since friday. Hurts really bad to bend over. Pushing my fluids. Want my headlights.



    How do youll like your MO? I am looking for new one I guess. Mine doesnt believe in supplement use or tumor markers or scans. I really dont see much point in continuing with my MO. I pay him 30, he does physical and I am out the door.



    My doc here in town is pretty conservative.

    Peggy i had horrible time sleeping. Its hard to turn off the cancer radio inmyhead



    Cuetang how are you feeling from yourdiep? You are 2 weeks out right?

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    Oh no--- hopefully it will clear up before your nipple reconstruction!  That's a good name for it fredntan -- cancer radio.  I find that I can lower the volume, but it's never really off.  Hopefully after my treatments, I'll be able to relax and turn it off at times (I know that the cancer radio will never be off forever).  Thanks for asking about my DIEP.  I'm feeling great (some minor little things, but nothing really bad, didn't expect to get out of surgery 100% perfect if ya know what I mean).  I'm still "testing" my MO since I'm kind of early in the process so I don't have much input on that area yet.  I've lined another one up to see which one I'll end up with.  The MOs are in Fairfax (Dr. Wilkenson and Dr. Favret) if you feel like heading up.  If you're interested, I can let you know which one I like better when I see them in 2 weeks.

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  • imatthew
    imatthew Member Posts: 206
    edited March 2013

    Peggy, my wife saw Dr. Robert as well, he's very popular around here, and very well liked.  She had her treatments at the center in Manassas near Wegmans, absolutely wonderful staff.  Best of luck to you.

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  • imatthew
    imatthew Member Posts: 206
    edited March 2013

    Cuetang, Dr. Venturi was my wife's PS as well.  He didn't balance-bill, whatever insurance covered he took.  Wonderful surgeon.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited March 2013

    I was thinking of trying wilkinson. She was recommended by my research nurse for my vaccine. But I was looking on there website. And she had article posted about supplements not beingneeded. I take a lot of supplements for prevention. Such a bother to send all my records over.

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  • imatthew
    imatthew Member Posts: 206
    edited March 2013

    a couple of our friends used Dr. Wilkinson and liked her.  We used Dr. Edminston and Dr. Ventury, we recommend both of them.

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    Dr. Wilkenson doesn't do seem to do scans either, only if you're symptomatic.  I had a backache that was bothering me, and while she strongly thought it was nothing, she was willing to get a bone scan for me if I really wanted it.  I haven't asked her anything about supplements, but was planning to when I see her next month.  I've never had to bring any of my records to these doctors so far, they've just gotten it from each other.  But then again, it hasn't been from one MO to another for me yet so that may be different?

    immatthew -- thank you for your input on Dr. Venturi! 

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  • odie16
    odie16 Member Posts: 1,882
    edited March 2013

    Hi all. Peggy, I would love to get together for lunch on a Saturday if anyone is interested... I am from Centreville and also treat at the Lake Manassas Cancer Center near Wegman's in Gainesville.

    Fredtan, Hope you feel better soon so you can sail thru your surgery....

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    A saturday lunch one of these days would sound like a grand plan!  I'm guessing there are other NoVA ladies on BCO that haven't yet found this thread! 

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  • Ang7
    Ang7 Member Posts: 1,261
    edited March 2013

    Hi ladies~

    I had DIEP flap and chemo back in 2009.  Went with Dr. Cocilovo and Dr. Nahabedian at Georgetown.  Had chemo with Dr. Wilkinson.  Would love to meet with you all in Northern VA. for lunch...

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited March 2013

    Do you still see Wilkenson? what is her take on tumor markers? does she look at you like you have two head s if you take supplements

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  • VeganNicole
    VeganNicole Member Posts: 25
    edited March 2013

    Hi All - I'm also in Northern Virginia. Had my BMX surgery on March 12 and am doing great - just can't wait to get these last two drains out!! I just posted a thread last night about oncologist recommendations - I decided I'm not happy with Dr. Favret. Here's the link to that thread if you can offer any suggestions: http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/802385

    Thanks!

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited March 2013

    I have same issue Nicole. while my BC is common. seems all my onc does is feel me up when I go. just physical exam. there must be more?

    Hey are you Vegan? I just turned vegan in jan. was vegetarian some. I did it for prevention. I don't miss meat. miss cheese though. I just got the book forks over knives. been hard sometimes to figure out what to eat. Its going to take a hwile for me to figure it out I guess.

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  • odie16
    odie16 Member Posts: 1,882
    edited March 2013

    Hey everyone! Planning a get together for lunch May 4th at Sweetwater Tavern in Centreville for anyone interested...

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    Anyone else up for odie16's suggestion? :)

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  • placid44
    placid44 Member Posts: 497
    edited March 2013

    I just found this board - so glad. I am up for lunch on May 4, or another Saturday. Ang7, we have the same three doctors/surgeons...

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  • odie16
    odie16 Member Posts: 1,882
    edited March 2013

    Hope it is ok, I let Peggy pick the date and place. I volunteered to coordinate it and will make a reservation once I know who all would like to join us... Everyone who wants to come is welcome.

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  • Cuetang
    Cuetang Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    I'm up for May 4 or another Saturday afterwards for lunch in Centreville :)

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  • Ang7
    Ang7 Member Posts: 1,261
    edited March 2013

    fredntan - I have had to push with some of my supplement thoughts concerning Dr. Wilkinson but she is a caring, competent doctor.  She researched the Penguin Cold Caps with me and was satisfied with the information after corresponding with the scientist in England who invented them. 

    placid44 - I had a hard time picking my doctors/surgeons.  That was my third group to meet with!

    I would be up for lunch on May 4th in Centreville...

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited March 2013

    ang-does she do tumor markers?

    I'm not going to make it. its just too far for me. way down here in fredericksburg.

    my research nurse with the AE37 trial recommended wilkenson. I found there website and she does look good. wouldn't be too far for me to come unless I tie it in with something else-got 2000 more miles till oil change at fairfax hyundai. I had a little midlife crisis last month and went overboard with them-I got a elantra coup,got my younger dd a elantra GT, then my older dd bought herself a elantra sedan. we bought three. I got a really good deal from my salesman Don Barker-he's a cuttie from "the northern part of the carolina's" I get free oil changes and tires for life-if I get all my oil changes up there.

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