BS PS (and MO) Referrals - Bay Area CA

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Lifo45
Lifo45 Member Posts: 16
edited June 2020 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Hi,

I'm cross posting this from the Recommend Your Resources forum.

I've been recently diagnosed with IDC and so glad that this forum is available as I have a steep learning curve! I don't know anyone who has had breast cancer. I have received a BS recommendation from a fantastic member on this forum and looking for a couple more just in case the recommended BS doesn't work out because she is out of my network or has a scheduling conflict, etc..

Here is what I know so far:

I have IDC in right breast. It's in 2 quadrants (2.4 CM and .9 CM) and has impacted at least 1 lymph node. I'm ER+ve/PR -ve/HER2-ve. We're still waiting on genetic testing results and MRI.

The MO I've seen has indicated I'll likely have surgery first (based on info I have so far I'll go for mastectomy + reconstruction with my own tissue) then chemo. He also said I'd need to take AI for 5 years - I'll want at least a second opinion on whether there are alternatives to AI and am open to switching to another MO - although the medical practice I'm working with offers a broad range of medical services it's not a comprehensive cancer care center.

Please recommend BS or PS or MO with whom you worked that came highly recommended. If you could indicate why you selected that Dr., that would be much appreciated. (FYI My insurance is -ex-Kaiser so can't use Kaiser Drs.)

Thank you!
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  • caligirlm
    caligirlm Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2020

    Hello, my mom saw Dr. Jiali Li (oncologist) twice at El Camino Hospital. She was very caring and kind. We've also heard great things about Dr. Peter Naruns for surgery (didn't end up seeing with him though as my parents have decided to take the alternative medicine route). Hope that helps. Best of luck with your healing process! <3

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2020

    Below is the link for NCI hospitals/docs. I'd make sure I at least talked to docs at one of those.

    https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/can...

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited June 2020

    My surgeon was Nima Grissom. She is very highly regarded and has a wonderful manner about her. As soon as I met her I could relax and that was before she even began to tell me about surgery options.

    Same with my oncologist Wei Wang. Very highly regarded. Wonderful manner and has great patience in answering questions.

    Should you need radiation Mark Rounsaville. Same as above. He is chair of the Radiology Dept at CPMC

    All are is San Francisco.

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  • Lifo45
    Lifo45 Member Posts: 16
    edited June 2020

    Caligirlm, MinusTwo and Cowgirl13 - Thank you all for responding! my apologies for the delayed response. Around 6/2 I had to go in for an MRI biopsy of my left breast (my diagnosis is for the right breast) because the radiologist thought there was a suspicious area. I was bracing myself for bad news and was out of it for a while. Fortunately, biopsy came back negative so I only have to worry about my right breast.

    Caligirlm - I ended up finding a good team at Stanford based on referrals from other members of this forum. Thanks for the good wishes! I'll send a PM shortly.

    MinusTwo - I love your username! Thanks for the link to the NCI - my preference was to get treatment at a Comprehensive Cancer Center (we're very lucky to have two within a reasonable distance here in CA that are covered by my insurance). But I think that one's treatment experience is only as good as the relationship you build with your medical team - if I didn't have good referrals for Stanford I'd have sought a different medical facility with a highly recommended Dr. rather than being assigned a random Dr at a CCC.

    Cowgirl13 - Thanks for the recommending Nima Grisson! Another member of this site also recommended her - she was my backup if Dr. Dirbas at Stanford was unavailable. I do need radiation and will definitely look up Dr. Rounsaville.

    Many thanks to you all for responding and best wishes!

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