2nd time breast cancer. Need new BS. Dallas, Texas

hi there.....I'm curious who you went to originally. My BS is Amy Eastman and I love her. She was the rock of my cancer team during active treatment. I had terrible experience with PS.

I've heard good things about Sally Knox at big Baylor though, she is supposed to be one of the best.

Oh wow had no idea Knox had retired.

Hello New-girl

So sorry to read you have a second go-around with breast cancer.

I can recommend Amy Gunter, she practices in Weatherford and Ft. Worth, after 5 years I am only seeing my MO who is closer to home, so not sure if Dr. Gunter still practices. She was about 200 miles north of where I live, but worth the travel.

Dsgirl

Hi - I had a BMX just over a month ago at UTSW and my surgeon was Dr. Roshni Rao.

I interviewed her, Dr. Laidley and 3rd BS who shall remain unnamed who was awful (the only male).

I also heard good things about Dr. Ganaraj at Presby but she was out of the country in December.

It was down to Rao and Laidley.

Personally I think I should have gone with Laidley as I like her personality better but DH and others pushed me to Rao & UTSW as it is NCI facility & teaching hospital.

I think (hope) Dr. Rao did a great job on my surgery.

I also was very lucky with all my biopsies getting done at UTSW by Dr. Evans who was great.

Going to UTSW you can kind of do 1-stop for everything including follow-up.

However I was not happy with MO I saw there & am looking for a new MO for 2nd opinion.

I tried to see Dr. O' Shaunessy at Baylor as she was recommended by a few people I know but she is only seeing new patients who are triple-N or have more advanced NC or so I was told by her scheduler.

Please send me a PM if you war any more info. Good luck.

Archana Ganaraj (Archie)is a friend of mine from quilting classes we took together. She is one smart cookie, has great and impeccable credentials from wonderful schools and hospitals (I think Harvard & MSK), is kind, funny and a lot of fun to be around. I wish she was on my insurance.

My surgeon was Dr. Lynn Canavan. She was fabulous. The fist thing she said to me after diagnosis was, " Dont worry. We've got this.". She was so positive the entire time. Even when we found out it was worse than we both expected. The only down sidw to her is the wait. Ugh. I would wait an hr to see her. She was always running behind. However, as soon as you were in a room with her, you knew why. Time would stand still and she treated you like you were her only pt. She was great.

@WARRIORWANNABE - Glad you found a BS you are feeling strong about! I only interviewed 2 PS - one at UTSW and one at Presby but then decided not do recon. Someone gave me Constantine's name & I think he is either same office or floor as the one I saw at Presby who was recommended for implants. Keep us posted.

FYI I wanted to do something as a thank-you for friends, family, co-workers, etc for their support before/during/after my surgery but was unable to write 50+ thank-you cards.

I remembered about 7or 8 years ago a friend who worked at a Dallas art gallery asked me to donate soothing for an auction for a local BC nonprofit and so I googled and found it.

It was/is the Bridge Breast Network. I was blown away when I went to their website Bridge Breast Network and read about what they do & their mission: The Bridge Breast Network saves lives by providing access to diagnostic and treatment services for breast cancer to low income, uninsured and underinsured individuals.

I made a donation and my husband and I attended their annual fundraiser this past Saturday night. It was my first real big night since my surgery 6 weeks ago and it was wonderful.

I urge everyone local to read about how they help woman in our area without resources for tests, biopsies, surgery, etc.

Thanks.

hey monica! I went with Grant and for PS Fadi Constantine. I called Rao and couldnt get an appt til 3/24. My SNB is 3/23 and BMX is 3/30 and the waiting is driving me nuts since I got my dx 2/15. Im doing everything at big Baylor. Im a newbie like you and kind of terrified trying to take in all this overwhelming info!!!!

Thanks Balthus!! I looked for your post with useful things and cant find it!! Is this the wedge? http://www.relaxtheback.com/sleep/bed-wedges/conto...

ANd yes, I would love to meet up. I live in Rowlett, What part of Dallas do you live in?

I live in North Dallas and work near The Galleria.

I know construction on 635 is awful these days but maybe we could meet for lunch near NorthPark one weekend.

I have a lot going on including my trip since surgery in 2 weeks to see my mom through beginning of April on weekend but I could meet next weekend on Sat mid-afternoon (tied up 11-1) or next Sun for brunch.

Let me know.

Thanks.

I saw Laidley,and liked her, until I met Grant. There is something about him that gave me hope and confidence in his abillity and judegements. I wish I would have visited Gunaraj, but I want to get this show on the road. Lynn Canavan is another I heard is good.

Newgirl, help me understand your situation. You've had a BMX (negative nodes so no rad, no chemo?) with DIEP, and now you have BC again? Regarding your insurance, what is your out of pocket max? Once you hit that (and it sounds like it may be soon) the policy should pay 100% (as long as you stay in network, things are covered etc) for the rest of its annual term. Hope this helps.

Let us know how the visit with Rao goes. UTSW is NIC and that would have been my #1 choice. I just didnt want to wait anymore. My BMX is 3/30.

newgirl, I have no words. f I could hug your right now I would. Was your BMX skin and nipple sparing?

Newgirl-you are in my thoughts and prayers. I would love to hear your impressions of Rao and how they plan to monitor you in the future (I'm not a doctor, but another lump 11 months later is troubling). Not to mention another missed lump this time around. Thank goodness you demanded treatment.

Thanks so much for sharing the info on the office visits. My husband and I are starting a business, so as of March 1, 2016, I was uninsured (been trying to figure out why my karma is off lately We've decided to go with COBRA, as insurance plans for small businesses don't have my daughter's pediatrician (a very big practice in Dallas, so I was shocked that I couldn't find a single plan that they would accept), let alone the team that I'm learning I'll need for this fight. Needless to say, the cost of COBRA is more than it would normally cost to insure the entire family ... que sera sera.

I have an appointment with Grant on 3/10; still haven't been able to schedule with Gunaraj, and in fact, after I told them that I have COBRA, they refused to make the appointment until I have a conference call with the business office. Visit with Rao is tentatively scheduled for the end of the month, but they looked at the records and are considering an expedited appointment.

I live and work near Big Baylor, so any other the locations mentioned work for me. With the exception of 3/12, would love to meet you ladies

I am so thankful for all of the knowledge that is being shared on this site--thanks again!