Please Help Who is the Best oncologist in California/Los Angeles

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sashabello
sashabello Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Had bilateral matectomy with Tram flap reconstruction (DIEP) in 2009, the cancer came back in 2013 2.4 cm tumor IDC with surrounding calcification, tubule 3, nuclear 2, mitosis 3, and KI67 score of 60%, lymph negative (3/3) and clear margins by .7cm and 1 cm, HER2 negative, prog/estro positive. My oncotype score came back as 18. I'm having conflicting recommendations from diffrent oncologists. One has insisted that chemo will give me 5% added benefit, while three others have said it adds no benefit at all to maybe 1 or 2% added benefit but still recommend not to do it. I'm so confused I need to start treatment but don't know what to do. I'll do chemo if it will help save my life but don't want to put my body through all of that unless its necessary. Does anyone know a really great oncologist they can recommend to me here in LA. I would really appreciate it or any advise. thanks girls.

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  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited July 2013

    Since you have spoken to 4 oncologists I think you should just make the decision you feel most comfortable with me. If it was me I would go with what the majority of them say. The final decision should be yours and nobody elses.

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  • momoschki
    momoschki Member Posts: 682
    edited July 2013

    My sister-in-law, who has lived with stage 4 BC for 14 years, sees Dr Terpenning at UCLA.  I know she thinks she is quite remarkable.  http://www.smhoc.net/index.cfm/fuseaction/site.physicians/action/dtl/phys/99797305.cfm

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  • GlobalGirlyGirl
    GlobalGirlyGirl Member Posts: 269
    edited July 2013

    I thought about getting a second opinion here. They're on the cutting edge of research, too.

    http://www.theangelesclinic.org/Home/SecondOpinionConsultation/tabid/19292/Default.aspx

    ETA: I heard Dr. Wei Wang is one of the best up here in the Bay Area:

    http://www.sfoncology.com/physician-wang.html

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  • Obxflygirl1
    Obxflygirl1 Member Posts: 377
    edited July 2013

    There is a thread somewhere on these boards on Oncotype scores and what others did at 17 or 18......chemo or no chemo.



    My score was 17 and I was at a NCI cancer center here in the east. I was advised Chemo benefit would be 1 or 2% and not recommended. The risks outweighed the benefits, according to both my breast surgeon and oncologist . I had a bi-mast. And take Aromasin ....



    You'll find tons of support and information here.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited July 2013

    sasha, I can highly recommend Dr. Sara Hurvitz @ UCLA.  She's a brilliant and dedicated breast cancer oncologist.

    http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=479&action=detail&ref=18095

    Like you, I had conflicting recommendations re. chemo, and she totally cleared up my confusion by providing me with charts and stats to back up her recommendation vs. the others.

    I'm so sorry you're dealing with a recurrence, but I don't think you'll find a more knowledgeable onc in all of L.A. -- although there are many excellent ones.  I'd definitely put her on your short list.   (((Hugs)))  Deanna

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  • sashabello
    sashabello Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2013

    thank you girls so much, I'm calling dr. Terpenning to make an appointment. I'm just worried cuz my tumor size is a little on the larger side I just don't want it to come back again. I haven't had the best luck honestly, after a bil mastectomy with DCIS the chances of it coming back were less than .1% and it came back. Plus I found the lump myself ,while I was being monitered with annual MRI's and mammograms. I wish they had paid closer attention maybe they would have found it when it was smaller and I wouldn't be as concerned. 

    There is a big difference between 1-2% of chemo working and 5%...I hope I can figure out which one is more accurate because that will help me in my decision to get chemo or not. Thank you everyone for your posts and support, it really means a lot to me. sending you all my love. Sasha

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  • momoschki
    momoschki Member Posts: 682
    edited July 2013

    Sasha,

    Best of luck with Dr Terpenning. I know from my SIL's experience that she never gives up and always seems to have something new up her sleeve when the going has gotten really tough. I have never met her myself, but she has become such an integral part of my SIL's life that I feel confident in giving her a thumbs up.

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