Searching for recommended specialists in Sarasota FL for DIEP

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Sunflowers1234
Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
edited October 2018 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Newly diagnosed DCIS with strong fam history. Looking for best recommendations for surgeons and oncologists in the area.

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2018

    I am in Tampa, and if I were in your shoes I would not have DIEP surgery locally - would instead travel to see Dr Klein and Dr Lee in Orlando at UF Health. They have the best rep in this area of FL, and this is a complex surgery that needs docs who are very experienced. There are some members who post here on BCO who have used them for this surgery and they have been happy with their results. I have implant recon but my local plastic surgeon would have sent me to Orlando if I had wanted DIEP.

  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited May 2018

    I went to NOLA from NC. Well worth the trip. TWills here on BCO just had her recon done by the docs in Orlando that were already mentioned. And there is also Dr Marga Massey in Charleston who does superior work.

    Here’s a link to a very informative video on the NOLA doc’s page about natural tissue recon. Very informative no matter where you decide to go for the surgery.

    www.breastcenter.com


  • bella2013
    bella2013 Member Posts: 489
    edited May 2018

    The Breast Cancer Center at M.D. Anderson in Jacksonville is excellent. I love my breast cancer team! I am 11 weeks post op for BMX with DIEP Flap Reconstruction. I am very happy with my results

  • Sunflowers1234
    Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2018

    thank you for the info! Glad you are so happy with your team and results.

  • Sunflowers1234
    Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2018

    thank you! Several family members have had diep done in ny and i think that may be where i will go. All used same surgeon and had fantastic results. How are you feeling? Did you need any radiation or chemo? Did you have mast and recon same day? How was your recovery post op? How long before you could travel back home? Where did you stay after hospital discharge? So many questions...stop me if you need to. Thank you!

  • Sunflowers1234
    Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2018

    thank you for sharing! After meeting and talking to local docs i would agree not here. Will probably go up to practice in ny where family all had diep done. Daunting but worth it if i need fewer surgeries. Hope you're feeling well

  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited May 2018

    How are you feeling? I’m 1 year and 3 months out from stage 1 and 6 months out from stage 2bandvi feel great. Like my old self.

    Did you need any radiation or chemo? No i didn’t. BMX with no positive nodes less than 2cm tumor meant no rads and no chemo. ER+ So i do take an anti-hormonal for 5-10 years.

    Did you have mast and recon same day? Yes. I highly recommend it (if it’s an option in your particular case) to lessen the number of surgeries and tax on your body, for keeping your employer happier since you’re not out for 3+ surgeries in a relatively short time span, and for your mental/emotional health.

    How was your recovery post op? Textbook. Slept a lot the first 2 weeks but when i was up i was able to be active-went out to eat, watched a Marci grad parade, etc. No major complications.

    How long before you could travel back home? NOLA says 10 days minimum in town. Pre-op is day before surgery, you’re in the hospital 4 days including surgery day. Post-op appointment is 6-7 days after surgery and you’re able to travel home that same day if you wish. I chose to pad the trip on the back end out by 4 days just in case there were complications or i didn’t feel up to it. Skycap wheelchair service made the airport a breeze.

    Where did you stay after hospital discharge? we rented a condo through Stayalfred for stage 1 and stayed in a hotel the second time that had a separate bedroom from the sitting area and a large bathroom (stayalfred condos were sold out).

    Which dr did your family members’ DIEP flap surgeries in NY?

  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited May 2018

    Sunflowers...I completely agree with your decision to have your surgery in NYC. Where you get treated is a huge portion of this journey. IMO it should be at a major university teaching hospital rather than a local community hospital. Good luck and keep us posted.

  • Sunflowers1234
    Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2018

    Sounds like you're doing great! Wonderful news! Any issues with anti hormonal? Five or so members of my family have used Peter Korn for diep and beautiful results. Will you end up removing ovaries or anything more? I definitely hope to do same day all at once. Can't imagine why these aren't the standard vs implants (unless really needed). They can do amazing things with natural tissue and less issues. Skycap definitely sounds helpful :)

  • Sunflowers1234
    Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2018

    Thanks! Hopefully referrals and insurance and everything will align and it will work out smoothly. The plastics and breast oncology surgeon have done about five members of my family so thankfully that is less stress

  • TWills
    TWills Member Posts: 679
    edited May 2018

    Hi sunflowers1234, I had my DIEP in Orlando like mentioned above by Dr Klein on March 2 so I’m almost 11 weeks out. I love Dr Klein and the hospital he operates out of. He has a fantastic track record and I love my results, I would recommend him all day long. I went for my Stage 2 consult yesterday and he nit picked his work as he was talking to the transcriber taking notes, his confidence is amazing. He knew exactly where we need to go from here and gave me options, i loved that. Good luck in your decision and you have to do what feels rightfor you:)

  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited May 2018

    sunflowers- I did have my ovaries removed during stage 2. They wouldn’t do it during stage1 because it would be ‘too much volume loss at once’. SEs on letrozole have been far fewer and less severe than with tamoxifen. They’re not the standard because: 1) most PSs are not qualified to do them - not many surgeons do the extra training to become a microsurgeon 2) the surgery takes a long time (6-12 hours) and they could’ve done at least 3 implant recons in the same amount of time 3) some feel that it’s not necessary to do a “bigger surgery” when a smaller one with implants will suffice. I’m sure there’s more but those are the first ones that get brought up.


  • Sunflowers1234
    Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2018

    TWills, that's great! So glad it all went well. Great to know about him. Thank you!

  • Sunflowers1234
    Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2018

    Lula, yeah hopefully one day it will be more standard to handle in one big surgery. So is letrozole an option instead of tamoxifen?

  • Elpida1
    Elpida1 Member Posts: 2
    edited October 2018

    Hi sunflowers1234,

    I am in NYC getting treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I am looking for a PS for a DIEP. Would you please recommend who you and your family members have used. Thank you!

  • Sunflowers1234
    Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2018

    Hi Elpida1. I hope treatment is going well. The plastics guy we used Dr Peter Korn in Great Neck on long island. https://www.aestheticplasticsurgerypc.com/

    The breast surgeon i had (did mastectomy but in case you need a breast surgeon at all in conjunction with the plastics) is Dr Susan Palleschi who is in the same building and she is wonderful

    Good luck!

  • Sunflowers1234
    Sunflowers1234 Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2018

    Elpida1. I forgot to add that they don't work out of Sloane Kettering. Only st francis in roslyn or north shore university hospital.

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