Overwhelmed newbie. Too many choices

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Chloesmom
Chloesmom Member Posts: 1,053
edited December 2014 in Breast Reconstruction

newly diagnosed with ILC hopefully early stage. -the nodes will tell

Having pain fr a month as tumor pressing on a duct so it feels like I need to nurse a bay but am 62 LOL

The radiologist and many others recommended a surgeon in York PA and I am waiting for a 2ns surgeon in Baltimore next week. The York doc is booked up 3 months but squeezed me into schedule due to pain. He said he can do surgery in next couple of weeks. Needs to coordinate with plastic surgeon he works with who does great nipple sparing etc.

Thought I wanted a TRAM but looks like I'm a candidate for DIEP Is it hard to find someone qualified? I don't want to jump the gun. See the list of questions for doctor on this website. Wondered if I need to switch to a major medical center to get someone qualified or if she might do it. Is it better to go to a plastic surgeon who only does breasts?

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited November 2014

    Hi, Chloe's mom! I too had pain with ILC, not major but still pain. ILC tends to present as large tumors...have you had an MRI yet? To your question on plastic surgeon, there are many who do breasts and other body parts, but you want to try to find someone who has done 100's of DIEPs, if possible. Even better would be a surgeon like I went to in NOLA who only does these types of surgery, every day. The DIEP requires skill in microsurgery.

    If you are going to Baltimore (Hopkins?) for a 2nd opinion, that's a great next step in many ways. You can surely find an excellent PS there. If travel's not an issue, then you might consider NOLA. I cannot say enough about the excellent care there. Also if at Hopkins, you'll get a good 2nd opinion on your treatment as well.

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  • Chloesmom
    Chloesmom Member Posts: 1,053
    edited November 2014

    Have spent the day researching and realize TRAM not for me. Also not going to local hospital as I was initially thinking. Want to do recon at same time as mastectomy I love to swim and need to do that for my mental well being

    Right now DIEP at Hopkins is the plan if I'm a candidate. If it doesn't feel like a good fit will try Mercy as a friend as well as a member of this forum have both spoken highly of Mercy.

    The tumor isn't that big but it must be in the wrong place. It's like when I was engorged hoping the baby would wake up and nurse. My pain started by feeling like a blocked duct. The PCP said "breast cancer doesn't usually hurt" so I ignored it for a month till it persisted and then the whole breast started to feel heavy. It doesn't feel different palpating except the lump but it feels lousy to me.

    This forum is such a gift!!!!

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  • Beckers
    Beckers Member Posts: 1,883
    edited November 2014

    What if you go into the 2914 DIEP group and get their input? I ended up having a free TRAM. I have abdominal weakness and a lot of numbness in my abdomen. It is a difficult time and hard to make such life changing decisions while in shock and in a short time frame. I wish you the best with whatever decision you make.

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  • GointoCarolina
    GointoCarolina Member Posts: 753
    edited December 2014

    Here's a list of doctors....http://www.breastrecon.com/id10.html

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