 |
05-06-2007, 11:20 AM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
|
Dr. Answer
Hello,
I deleted my original message so the posts that follow don't make a lot of sense. I did a bit of research on the doctors available to me at Froedtert and Medical College and am a bit confused. Well, not really confused but it all seems maybe too obvious to me and maybe I'm not understanding it all as well as I should.
The doctor that will be replacing my oncologist is an internal medicine doctor and assistant professor of medicine. According to his bio on the Froedtert website his care emphasis is "in-patient med" and he is not board certified. The other 2 doctors that were not offered to me but may be who I switch too are both board certified, both have their top care emphasis as breast cancer, one trained at Baylor and MD Anderson and the other is a 2006/2007 Best Doctors by his peers. Seems like a no brainer to me that it should be the latter 2 as my choice.
I do have an e-mail out to my uncle who is a hospital administrator and has ways of getting this type of information and tomorrow I will be calling my nurse practitioner to question her about this. I kind of feel as if I was given the "short straw" as I am an early stager with NED and all my current oncologists stage 3 and 4 patients will be referred to the latter two docs.
Does board certification mean a better doctor? I "asked jeeves" about this and the answer wasn't very definitive. It pretty much said that board certification can be a bit deceiving. ?????
Thanks,
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
|
|
|
|
05-06-2007, 01:13 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
|
Mary JO
I would think word of mouth from other patients...you could also do a search at the hospital he is affiliated with. By the way, I have alot of family in Wauwatosa...my Dad's brother is big in the historical society there...all 8 of their kids went to Wauwatosa Schools, they have lived there most of their lives...last name Brown.
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
|
|
|
|
|
05-06-2007, 05:21 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
|
Sheila,
Thank you. I don't live in Wauwatosa. I live in Sheboygan, Wisconsin but chose my surgery and oncology care at Froedtert and Medical College in Milwaukee Wisconsin but located in the suburb of Wauwatosa.
From what I hear from others Dr. Charlson sounds good. I have an e-mail sent to my uncle though who is a hospital administrator nearer to my home. His hospital and mine are affiliated in some ways so he will probably be able to help me with my request.
Thanks again,
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
|
|
|
|
|
05-06-2007, 08:55 PM
|
#4
|
|
Founder - HER2 Support Group
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 361
|
Mary Jo,
Do a Google search putting the doctors name in quotation marks.
example: "Albert Einstein". You will then get all of the references to that particular doctor on the internet. He may have published papers or received awards. They will all be listed.
Be careful as other doctors may have the same name.
Also do alternative searches. Dr. Paul H Harris may also be DR. P H Harris or Paul Harris MD
It may be time consuming but your life depends on it.
Hugs
Christine
__________________
1990, July DX 1.1cm er-, pr-
Lumpectomy, 5U4, radiation
1999, June mets to chest and brain
HER2 3+++, er- pr-
AC, Taxol, Herceptin, Gamma Knife (3 treatments) WBR
NED July 2001
December 2001 - Founded HER2 Support Group
|
|
|
|
|
05-06-2007, 10:23 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Greendale, WI
just outside Milwaukee
Posts: 211
|
Marejo
I live in Milwaukee (Greendale). I would love to meet you for lunch sometime when you are in town for a doc visit. I work 2nd shift so breakfast or lunch would work for me. I don't always check my email or this site. I seem to go in spurts depending on my mood like tonight I can't fall asleep - so here I am. Pls give me a call at 414-421-6783 if you have time to meet. Peace
Karen Schneck
__________________
04/05 Onset 49, DCIS, solid, Hist 2/3, Nucl 2/3, 7cm R Brst
04/05 E & P + HER2+++
05/05 Mediport
05/05 Cytoxan & Adriamycin every 3wk x4
08/05 Taxol every 2wk x 4, Herceptin every wk x1yr
10/05 Bilat Mast - my Choice
10/05 3/19 lymph nodes Pos, Stage IIIa
11/05 Rad x 37 Rx, R Brst & Axcilla
02/06 Herceptin stopped (L vent HF 40)
03/06 Started & Stoped Arimidex after 2 mos.-QOL side effects
05/06 Started Tamoxafin
06/06 Bilat Free Flap Reconstruction
12/06 Cardiomyopathy reversed-HF normal
01/07 Bilat Saline Implants
07/07 CA 27-29 steadily rising from 28 in 12/06 to 46 in 7/07
07/07 PET Scan NED, but inflamation at prev surg site.
09/07 Started Femara
10/07 CA 27-29 down to 39
06/08 CA 27-29 down to 32
09/08 Lg joint pain & QOL side effects from Femara, will live w/ to keep CA markers within normal range.
|
|
|
|
|
05-07-2007, 04:35 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
|
MaryJo
Bought my husbands bike at Route 41 Harley Davidson...in Sheboygan...love their little restaurant there, I used to stop there ofter when I worked at Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant and lived in Manitowac.
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
|
|
|
|
|
05-07-2007, 04:57 AM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
|
Oh Sheila - how cool is that. That's where my husband bought his bike too. He has a 100th anniversary edition Dyna Lowrider. See, we have wayyyyyyyyyy more in common than a cancer diagnosis. 
Thanks for your help also Sheila, Christine and Karen. It is appreciated.
Love & hugs. Make it a great day.
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
|
|
|
|
|
05-07-2007, 09:02 AM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
|
what a good question
you raised and I wish I had a good answer. I'll be curious to find out this stuff as well. And you are so smart to be so proactive in finding the right person rather than just taking whomever is assigned to you. You ROCK.
My family used to vaction in Michigan quite a bit (I'm from Northern Illinois). It is a really beautiful state and how I miss the Great Lakes and the green. I still chuckle at what people call lakes in Colorado. The same with the leaf changes in the fall. Everyone races to the mountains to see the leaves turn, well, yellow. But, the Rockies have their own beauty and our wildflowers are great.
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:52 PM.
|
Linear Mode
