Vanderbilt and UT Breast Center at Knoxville

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labelle
labelle Member Posts: 721
edited November 2014 in Just Diagnosed

I've recently been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. I'm scared to death, but have narrowed my treatment choices down to Vanderbilt in Nashville and UT Breast Center in Knoxville, primarily due to geography. I've met with a surgeon and an oncologist at Vanderbilt and have a consult scheduled at UT Breast Center in Knoxville.  Just wondered if anyone here has experience, good or bad, with either of these centers. I'm pretty sure getting a second opinion is a good idea, but it is hard to wait. Thank you for any feedback anyone can provide.  

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  • daisylover
    daisylover Member Posts: 310
    edited November 2014

    Hi,

    I am sorry that I can not provide any insight into the 2 cancer centers that you are considering since I am not from Tennessee. My brother and his wife, both doctors now, did go to Vanderbilt Undergraduate, an excellent school. Are the centers both equally convenient? Radiation would be daily, and some chemo is weekly. I do believe that a second opinion is crucial, especially for Lobular. I received two totally different treatment plans from Dana Farber and Massachusetts General in Boston. I chose to work with the oncologist at Dana Farber, who talked about tailoring the treatment plan for the characteristics of my tumor. The Mass General doctor actually said that she would choose a traditional plan with both chemo and radiation just because... I was very conflicted because I really personally liked the MGH oncologist A LOT and my DF oncologist does not show much empathy. However, I felt confident in that the oncologist I went with was considering the different natures of Lobular vs Ductal. It helped me to know that I had considered possible alternatives... However, I do sometimes wonder if I made the right decision? I hope that you have gotten two opinions and chosen a path by now. Whatever choice you make, it will be the best one for you. Getting started on the treatment relieved a lot of tension for me. 

    Take care, Martha

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  • angelia50
    angelia50 Member Posts: 381
    edited November 2014

    I go to the breast cancer center in Nashville and I am very pleased with them.  I actually drive from Bowling Green, KY which is about 60 miles, but it is well worth it. The surgeons at this or any dedicated center, do breast surgeries all the time, not just a few a year and the oncologist are dedicated to breast cancer so they focus on that treatment, they are not trying to keep up with all other types cancer.  The staff is all very nice, right down to the front desk staff and they make every effort to make you comfortable and to see you as close to appointment time as possible.  The Vandy tumor board reviews the pathology, so you are also not only getting one opinion, you are getting several. As I said, I'm sure other breast centers are equally as good but I am very happy I chose to go to a breast center instead of having a general surgeon and then have to go to other places for other doctors.  My plastic surgeon was in the OR with my surgeon and she finished and he came right along and did his thing at the same time, so I did not have a delay with scheduling and all those hassle's. I know there is another person on here that also goes to Vandy, so there are at least two of us. But, I do agree, I would consider distance to travel as well because in the beginning, you have to go a lot and if you do reconstruction, that is several visits as well.

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  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited November 2014

    Thank you Martha. I had my second surgical consult at UT Breast Center today and scheduled surgery (lumpectomy plus sentinel lode)there for the 13th of this month.   Going back to Vanderbilt for oncology followup though. I really like the oncologist at  Vanderbilt and her plans for continued treatment: no chemo (Oxyco score of 11, yeah) Tamoxifen for a couple of years followed by AI therapy and the oncological breast surgeon at UT was in total agreement with her recommendations as well. Vanderbilt is a little closer, but both one hour + away, but I really preferred the surgeon at UT, he was much more positive about my outcomes and explained things better, took time to answer ALL of my questions, etc., so the surgery will be there. Both surgeons and Vandy onocologist were fine with me doing radiation at our local facility, 12 miles from home, so that was a relief since it will be everyday of course. Finally feel I'm truly underway now that I have a date for surgery.  Getting a second opinion took longer, but I'm really glad I did. I feel very good about my choices now that I've been able to fully explore them. Would definitely encourage others to go for that second opinion.  

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  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited November 2014

    Angelia, 

    You are right everyone on staff at Vanderbilt is very nice (and prompt, that counts too) met surgeon, oncologist, had mri, genetic testing and counseling done there. Although I must saying going to the mall for treatment is a bit odd, LOL. 

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  • angelia50
    angelia50 Member Posts: 381
    edited November 2014

    labelle,it is odd at first. A coworker drove me once and she kept saying now how close to the mall is this and I said its in the mall, and she said no, I mean how far and I kept saying in the mall.  Good luck to you. Its so hard to imagine they didn't explain things, my surgeon and her nurse prac. literally drew a picture and showed step by step what would be done.  It is important to feel they know what they are doing, that much I am sure of. I had like 5 biopsies prior to my surgery and I finally told the lady at the front desk, when I seemed to be there every day, they are just going to take mine piece by piece.  I have exchange surgery in December, so I'm still a regular to them. I'll be so glad to get this all done and move ahead with life. At least now, I haven't had to go for a month, thats a great change from weekly.

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  • Krista-elizaveta
    Krista-elizaveta Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2014

    Hi Isabel,

    My sister is seeking a second opinion from Vanderbilt for her breast cancer recurrence. How did you like them? She lived in Knoxville. We are not sure which dr to choose. Who did you pick?

    Krista

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  • angelia50
    angelia50 Member Posts: 381
    edited November 2014

    Krista-eliz you didn't ask but I go to Vandy and I am very pleased with them. No complaints at all. Their mammograms don't even hurt like the ones in my local doctors office.

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  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited November 2014

    I went to Vanderbilt for my initial consult for surgery/ UT Breast Center Knoxville for second opinion. I like them both. My GP assured me I would get excellent care at both, but recommended Dr. Bell at UT (he's the head of the breast center there, if you can get him, he's great) as she'd studied under him. In the end I did have my lumpectomy surgery at UT breast center, I felt more comfortable w Dr. Bell as the surgeon, but am doing radiation closer to home (it's 1 hour each way to Vandy and 1 hours 45 min each way to UT) but kept the oncologist at Vanderbilt (closer and I really like her). So you can mix and match if you are willing to drive. Fortunately our radiology dept at the local hospital is fine, per both Vandy doctors and those at UT.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2014


    labelle, my Oncotype score was 11 also.  No chemo and now been over 7 years.  Go Girl!!

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