Feeling off and then finding out you have cancer

[Anonymous]

GW has a rep for having one of the best breast imaging programs in the country. Basically they are very aggressive. They follow up on everything that raises a question. if an area is too dense to get a clear view of, they will do magnified views. if there is a lump, even if it doesn't show up on a mammogram, or a suspicious finding, they will do a biopsy. My breast cancer diagnosis was delayed because I was going somewhere else where I had a lump that didn't show up because of dense breasts and they told me I was fine, no follow up. That never would have happened at GW. Plus they use cutting edge technologies like 3D ultrasound, which is effective for dense breasts. They are the only ones in the area who have it. So I disagree with PP about GW, but it sounds like she wasn't going there for routine screening anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GW has a rep for having one of the best breast imaging programs in the country. Basically they are very aggressive. They follow up on everything that raises a question. if an area is too dense to get a clear view of, they will do magnified views. if there is a lump, even if it doesn't show up on a mammogram, or a suspicious finding, they will do a biopsy. My breast cancer diagnosis was delayed because I was going somewhere else where I had a lump that didn't show up because of dense breasts and they told me I was fine, no follow up. That never would have happened at GW. Plus they use cutting edge technologies like 3D ultrasound, which is effective for dense breasts. They are the only ones in the area who have it. So I disagree with PP about GW, but it sounds like she wasn't going there for routine screening anyway.

Same previous poster you are referring to here:

when I went to GW, I had my biopsy results and mammogram X-rays, Dr. Teal recommended the brand new ultrasound (forgot the name) the one you are referring too. At that time, I had an MRI schedulled at FR ( Fairfax Radiology) the following week. Dr. Teal told me that the only advantage to the ultrasound they had was that I could get the results on the spot vs. having to wait a few days for the MRI report, she said that both the MRI and ultrasound were equal as far as catching cancer. I decided to wait for my MRI because the surgery was 2 weeks away, and because of the cost of the ultrasound. In the end, I had the report right after I completed the MRI.

I don't know which place missed your cancer, that is scary!! my point is that compared to Fairfax Radiology, GW was not better. The only advantage I see, is that you could have everything done at the same place, you could see your doctor, have the MRI, mammogram....some insurance companies like to see these test done at a different facility that your doctor's office though.

I also had another opinion with Dr. Tousimis at GT, very nice lady, liked my appointment at GT much better than at GW (felt rushed). In the end, I remembered my friend's advice, it was to pick a center I was comfortable with and close to my house. We are so lucky to have several options and to be able to chose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GW has a rep for having one of the best breast imaging programs in the country. Basically they are very aggressive. They follow up on everything that raises a question. if an area is too dense to get a clear view of, they will do magnified views. if there is a lump, even if it doesn't show up on a mammogram, or a suspicious finding, they will do a biopsy. My breast cancer diagnosis was delayed because I was going somewhere else where I had a lump that didn't show up because of dense breasts and they told me I was fine, no follow up. That never would have happened at GW. Plus they use cutting edge technologies like 3D ultrasound, which is effective for dense breasts. They are the only ones in the area who have it. So I disagree with PP about GW, but it sounds like she wasn't going there for routine screening anyway.

Same previous poster you are referring to here:

when I went to GW, I had my biopsy results and mammogram X-rays, Dr. Teal recommended the brand new ultrasound (forgot the name) the one you are referring too. At that time, I had an MRI schedulled at FR ( Fairfax Radiology) the following week. Dr. Teal told me that the only advantage to the ultrasound they had was that I could get the results on the spot vs. having to wait a few days for the MRI report, she said that both the MRI and ultrasound were equal as far as catching cancer. I decided to wait for my MRI because the surgery was 2 weeks away, and because of the cost of the ultrasound. In the end, I had the report right after I completed the MRI.

I don't know which place missed your cancer, that is scary!! my point is that compared to Fairfax Radiology, GW was not better. The only advantage I see, is that you could have everything done at the same place, you could see your doctor, have the MRI, mammogram....some insurance companies like to see these test done at a different facility that your doctor's office though.

I also had another opinion with Dr. Tousimis at GT, very nice lady, liked my appointment at GT much better than at GW (felt rushed). In the end, I remembered my friend's advice, it was to pick a center I was comfortable with and close to my house. We are so lucky to have several options and to be able to chose.

Dr. Teal is a surgeon, not a radiologist. I say this not to judge her but just to point out that you really didn't have an experience with breast imaging at GW,you never interacted with the radiologists who are there.. I was referring to their aggressiveness with screening (which was not what you were going for anyway). For that, they are unparalleled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GW has a rep for having one of the best breast imaging programs in the country. Basically they are very aggressive. They follow up on everything that raises a question. if an area is too dense to get a clear view of, they will do magnified views. if there is a lump, even if it doesn't show up on a mammogram, or a suspicious finding, they will do a biopsy. My breast cancer diagnosis was delayed because I was going somewhere else where I had a lump that didn't show up because of dense breasts and they told me I was fine, no follow up. That never would have happened at GW. Plus they use cutting edge technologies like 3D ultrasound, which is effective for dense breasts. They are the only ones in the area who have it. So I disagree with PP about GW, but it sounds like she wasn't going there for routine screening anyway.

Same previous poster you are referring to here:

when I went to GW, I had my biopsy results and mammogram X-rays, Dr. Teal recommended the brand new ultrasound (forgot the name) the one you are referring too. At that time, I had an MRI schedulled at FR ( Fairfax Radiology) the following week. Dr. Teal told me that the only advantage to the ultrasound they had was that I could get the results on the spot vs. having to wait a few days for the MRI report, she said that both the MRI and ultrasound were equal as far as catching cancer. I decided to wait for my MRI because the surgery was 2 weeks away, and because of the cost of the ultrasound. In the end, I had the report right after I completed the MRI.

I don't know which place missed your cancer, that is scary!! my point is that compared to Fairfax Radiology, GW was not better. The only advantage I see, is that you could have everything done at the same place, you could see your doctor, have the MRI, mammogram....some insurance companies like to see these test done at a different facility that your doctor's office though.

I also had another opinion with Dr. Tousimis at GT, very nice lady, liked my appointment at GT much better than at GW (felt rushed). In the end, I remembered my friend's advice, it was to pick a center I was comfortable with and close to my house. We are so lucky to have several options and to be able to chose.

Dr. Teal is a surgeon, not a radiologist. I say this not to judge her but just to point out that you really didn't have an experience with breast imaging at GW,you never interacted with the radiologists who are there.. I was referring to their aggressiveness with screening (which was not what you were going for anyway). For that, they are unparalleled.

Fine, you have a point. Fairfax Radiology was aggressive with my diagnostic too, and that's my point.

[Anonymous]

Did people who are pointing about cancer miss that op complained that she is tired bc she can no longer subsist on five hours of sleep? Of course she is tired if she has that expectation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GW has a rep for having one of the best breast imaging programs in the country. Basically they are very aggressive. They follow up on everything that raises a question. if an area is too dense to get a clear view of, they will do magnified views. if there is a lump, even if it doesn't show up on a mammogram, or a suspicious finding, they will do a biopsy. My breast cancer diagnosis was delayed because I was going somewhere else where I had a lump that didn't show up because of dense breasts and they told me I was fine, no follow up. That never would have happened at GW. Plus they use cutting edge technologies like 3D ultrasound, which is effective for dense breasts. They are the only ones in the area who have it. So I disagree with PP about GW, but it sounds like she wasn't going there for routine screening anyway.

They aren't the only ones in the area who have a 3D ultrasound. I had that at Sibley.