Attention Cheryl S

01-27-2006, 05:32 AM

Hi Cheryl. I just read your reply to reconstruction. I also live in Minneapolis, Eden Prairie to be exact. Who is your plastic surgeon. I am going to start that process this fall. Today is my last radiation. YEAH!!!! Done with chemo and radiation. Finally. Also, who is your oncologist. Have not been thrilled with mine at all. I hope to hear back from you - Kim L

CherylS · 01-27-2006, 05:46 AM

Dear Unregistered Guest,

Very small world. I live in Chaska. My Plastic Surgeon is David Ruebeck, Midwest Plastic Surgery in Edina. The phone number there is (952) 920-2600. My excellent, excellent oncologist is Dr. Barbara Bowers. She is with Fairview Medical Oncology. Her number is (952) 836-3645. Best wishes to you.

CherylS · 01-27-2006, 05:47 AM

Sorry Kim, I didn't see your name until after I posted. That's nice. You are no longer "unregistered guest" to me.

Lauriemn · 01-27-2006, 05:49 AM

Hi Kim, I wanted to reply to you , as I am also from Minneapolis. I live in Lakeville. I will be having recon late summer or early fall. I think I am going to go to Dr. David Ruebeck in Edina. He was listed in the lastest msp/st.Paul Magazine as one of the top plastic surgeons, and he does the diep flap,which I am planning on having. My onc is Dr. Phillip Dien, from Minnesota Oncology and Hemotology. He doesn't have the greatest bedside manner, but I do trust him. You may want to check out that latest Msp/St. Paul magazine,as they did list Oncs in there also. I finished chemo in Aug. and Rads in Nov. I am just doing Herceptin now. Good Luck! Laurie

01-27-2006, 06:00 AM

Hi cheryl, I wanted to ask you if you have finished your year of Herceptin or are doing longer than a year. My year is up soon and I want to continue, so I have a feeling I will be looking for a new onc. Do you know what your oncs opinion is on it? Thanks, Laurie

CherylS · 01-27-2006, 06:49 AM

Hi Laurie,

It's been a long time. How are you doing? David Ruebeck is great. The only problem I had is that he looks soooo young! It made me feel sooooo old! Also, advice for both you and Kim, he is very busy so get on the schedule asap. He does surgery at Fairview, Abott and North Memorial and has two offices. Dr. Bowers, my onc. has been on that top doctors list in Mpls. St Paul Magazine for almost 20 years now. That one that is out right now is a very abbreviated version compared to previous ones. I don't know what is up with that. It is a good resource though, because those are doctor's opionions of other doctors. My brother in law is one, and he gives a lot of merit to that report.

Now, about Herceptin. I have not asked her about it. I am planning to. I am due to finish June 1 with my year. I am hoping something conclusive comes out before that about it. My problem is that I don't have a port, and my veins are retreating into exile. Every time it is getting harder and harder to find them. If I continued, I would need a port. Also, I was node negative, so she may conclude that one year is enough. I will post and let you know when I talk to her about it, but I am puposely waiting until spring when the HERA trial is to end to see if anything new comes from it.

Nice to hear from you again. It is interesting to see posts from around the world and then find two "sisters" right here at home.

God Bless,
Cheryl

HavahJ · 01-28-2006, 07:12 AM

Hi! I live in Minneapolis and have a wonderfulonc and a terrific plastic surgeon! My onc is Burton Schwartz at the Piper cancer center and my plastic surgeon is J.Bart Muldowney in Edina. They are both terrific! HavahJ (Jan)

CherylS · 01-28-2006, 07:29 AM

HavahJ,

Another hometown girl? Wow. Thanks for weighing in. We have some great medical care here, don't we? So your first name is actually Jan? Do you live right in Mpls.?

HavahJ · 01-28-2006, 08:06 AM

Yes for sure, great medical care. I'm going down to Mayo in a month or so to check aout something. We're lucky it's so close. I live in uptown near lake Calhoun. I do most of my medical at Abbott. It's really plain old Jan!

CherylS · 01-28-2006, 08:42 AM

Jan,

I grew up in Rochester. I went to Mayo for a sore throat! I thought about going down there for this, but have been happy with who I found so decided not to do the traveling. Uptown by Calhoun. One of my favorite places. I just had surgery at Abott on Monday. My others had been at Fairview but I went to Abott this time due to his schedule. Great hospital. My husband has received care there too. Are you doing good with your diagnosis?

HavahJ · 01-28-2006, 11:40 AM

I'm doing o.k. I guess. This is my second breast cancer. My fist was in 1991 - this was a new contralateral breast cancer. It was small, less than a centimeter and one node. I just finished a year of herceptin when I found out a maybe had a bone met at the top of my spine. They're not totally sure it's cancer and they can't biopsy so I had radiation and might need brain surgery, hence Mayo. I was absolutely stunned that I had a metastisis. I was IIA. I also have M.S. so I got pretty depressed, one diagnosis too many! What has your road from diagnosis been like? I have three children who are grown and gone and am divorced.