Breast surgeon: Dr. Sarah Bruce ++++ at Inova
Oncologist: Dr. Favret +++, I didn’t need chemo or radiation but she has very good reputation

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone tried Pamela Wright as breast surgeon in Bethesda?

I tried to see her but could only get an appointment with her colleague, Bonnie Sun. She was awful, so if you can't be seen by Dr. Wright, take a hard pass.

I wish you better health.

+1. Dr. Wright’s office was awful when I tried to see Wright instead of Dr. Sun. Do NOT recommend that practice.

Anonymous wrote:I recommend the fairly new Inova Schar cancer center near Inova Fairfax hospital. They have pulled a lot of the top drs from Georgetown and I’ve received great care there. A second opinion from MSK was nearly identical in treatment options.
Breast surgeon rec at Schar: Dr. Cocilovo. Dr. Willey, well known from Georgetown, is there too now.
Breast surgeon rec at Virginia Cancer Specialists: Dr. Akbari or Dr. Vargas
Oncologist rec at Schar: Dr. Harnden or Dr. Rizzo
Good luck OP, the worst time (well ok Chemo has been the worst time) is before you get a team and have a plan in place.

I do not recommend Dr. Vargas. He wanted to automatically remove ALL lymph nodes even though I only had one positive node and poo-pooed my concerns about lymphedema. Then I ended up getting blood clots from my port insertion - which I later found out was actually done by an intern at VHC - and when I was at his office with a swollen arm they told me it was due to the chemo. Fortunately I went to an ER the next day. And when I developed a rash from the surgiprep, he denied I could have an allergy to it (it turns out that I do).

After my chemo I ended up going to Hopkins for my surgery.

I've heard good things about Dr. Willey too.

Anonymous wrote:Kirstin Edmiston - surgeon

Kathleen Harnden - medical oncologist

Also, check out google life with cancer and go to the lifewithcancer.org website - there are many helpful support groups and classes and services

I met with Dr. Edmiston for a consult and I was very impressed. She is very personable, warm, to the point person

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone tried Pamela Wright as breast surgeon in Bethesda?

I tried to see her but could only get an appointment with her colleague, Bonnie Sun. She was awful, so if you can't be seen by Dr. Wright, take a hard pass.

I wish you better health.

Kirstin Edmiston - surgeon

Kathleen Harnden - medical oncologist

Also, check out google life with cancer and go to the lifewithcancer.org website - there are many helpful support groups and classes and services

Has anyone tried Pamela Wright as breast surgeon in Bethesda?

For me, location was a big factor because I needed a weekly chemo regimen and will continue to need targeted therapy for a year. Reputation of surgeon was the biggest factor in choosing that person, and then personal connection with oncologist (Dr. Harnden) who I will spend most time with) was a big factor as well as her reputation (which is up and coming, she is younger but very well regarded . Having them in same center for coordination has been easier but you can certainly mix/match. I listed others that I met with and also really liked (Akbari) or have friends who have raved about their drs (Rizzo, Vargas).

Eleni Tousimis at Georgetown -- the best.

Thank you so much PP! What do you think ultimately drives decisions around who to pick - reputation, location, how quickly surgery can be done?

I recommend the fairly new Inova Schar cancer center near Inova Fairfax hospital. They have pulled a lot of the top drs from Georgetown and I’ve received great care there. A second opinion from MSK was nearly identical in treatment options.
Breast surgeon rec at Schar: Dr. Cocilovo. Dr. Willey, well known from Georgetown, is there too now.
Breast surgeon rec at Virginia Cancer Specialists: Dr. Akbari or Dr. Vargas
Oncologist rec at Schar: Dr. Harnden or Dr. Rizzo
Good luck OP, the worst time (well ok Chemo has been the worst time) is before you get a team and have a plan in place.

Marie Pennanen in Chevy Chase was wonderful.

Thank you so much! Happy to hear from others as well.

Go to an NCI-Designated Cancer Center. The ones closest to the DMV are Georgetown, UMD and Hopkins. I started with a local practice and then went to Hopkins for a second opinion. My care at Hopkins was top notch. My breast surgeon is now retired, my reconstruction surgeon was Dr. Sacks and my oncologist is Dr. Wolff.

New to all of this. Who are the best in the area or should I consider looking outside of the DC area?