Got some great answers today though…
Below are questions I sent her, with her replies which were timely and helpful.
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I am sorry to trouble you, but I have a couple of questions I hope you might be able to answer for me.
Will all the members of the surgical team working on my case be in-network as far as you are aware at this point (anesthesiologist, etc.), and
As far as I am aware of yes within INOVA Hospital all are treated as in-network
Would I be allowed to receive my radiotherapy after surgery at the Woodbridge location, which would be a much easier drive for me? And how soon after surgery would the radiotherapy begin…is there a week or so allowed for healing after the surgery before radiation is administered?
Potomac Radiation Oncology is the company that manages the radiation treatments at Fair Oaks Hospital and Fairfax Hospital/Cancer Center. They also have stand alone locations one of which is in Woodbridge next to Sentara Hospital where Radiation Treatments and office visits are done. I definitely can get you at that location. Typically following surgery Radiation Treatment would take place 4 – 6 weeks later at the earliest to allow for tissue healing PRIOR to being radiated.
If additional testing is done on the cancer (Oncotype DX – for Medical Oncology) there may be a longer gap before any treatment begins. I do anticipate that the Surgeon will ask me to send for the additional testing. Oncotype Dx is testing done on Invasive Breast Cancers that are Hormone positive and HER2 negative (which your cancer is). Oncotype Dx helps the Medical Oncologist determine IF chemotherapy treatment might be helpful in lowering the persons cancer risk. Oncotype Dx testing can take 3-4 weeks for results to that is when Radiation Tx would wait to determine if the PT would be advised for Chemo (goes right after surgery) or Endocrine (Radiation comes right after surgery).
Surgery followed by Chemo followed by Radiation Tx’s
Or
Surgery followed by Radiation Tx followed by Endocrine Tx’s
Hope this is clear.
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