Bichlien Nguyen, MD

I’ve never met a doctor more thorough, honest, and patient than Dr. Nguyen. She really cares about each of her patients and my mom has one-​hundred percent confidence in her abilities and recommendations. Dr. Nguyen only deals with breast cancer patients – that is her specialty. Plus, I liked her name from the start – I felt, maybe we can «win» this battle with Dr. Nguyen.
Eighteen months ago, my mom was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer (it metastasized to her liver and spine) and she chose Dr. Nguyen (pronounced «win») as her oncologist. When you are diagnosed with cancer, choosing your oncologist is probably the most important decision you will make. Your oncologist will be with you every step of your battle and recovery. After meeting with Dr. Nguyen, my mom was certain she made the right choice.
When you choose Dr. Nguyen, you get her, plus an entire team of specialists that regularly meet to discuss your progress. You couldn’t dream up more compassionate and caring ladies at the front desk – Kristi, Cecile and Hannah. They always have time for you, and put their patients first. My mom raves about nurse Cindy. Many people have trouble accessing my mom’s port – but Cindy does it right every time. When you are getting stuck with needles on a regular basis – making it a pain-​free experience becomes more important than you think.
There are so many intense emotions that are connected the word «cancer», that patients (and family members) often end up asking the same question ten times. You are often so overcome with emotions that you don’t hear the answer – even the 7^th time. Or, maybe you just want a different answer.
Dr. Nguyen has spent hours (literally) answering questions from my family. We have her cell number, and we feel comfortable calling her directly. When my mom had to be hospitalized at one point, Dr. Nguyen came to visit her – not because she had to, but because she cared.
Sadly, I know many people that have had to undergo chemotherapy – but no one has created the incredible support network that Dr. Nguyen has created in her office.
Dr. Nguyen’s gives chemo treatments to all her patients on Fridays. Many women get chemo every three weeks, but my mom got her chemo every week. Often there are ten (or more) women of all ages (30s to 70s) receiving their chemo together. When you walk into the room, there are soft pink reclining chairs formed in a circle. Each woman shares their own story (while getting their IV «cocktail»), and each story broke my heart. It is chemo and «group therapy» combined. Trust me – you do not want to battle cancer alone.
The courage in the room is so strong, it is palpable. Some women share and some women just listen. There are so many stories with terrible beginnings and happy endings. One woman was diagnosed with cancer when she was pregnant with twins. She decided to have her babies and then start her chemotherapy treatment. Currently under Dr. Nguyen’s care, she is now the mother of two healthy babies and she’s fighting cancer one day at a time. Just when you think your own story is unbearable – you hear the heart-​breaking plights of others. It makes you want to hug everyone in the room.
Each Friday, the women bring in snacks to share while they are getting their cancer treatment. It is almost like a potluck. The relatives (daughters, sons, husbands & friends) serve the women getting chemo. It is an amazing support network – with women opening up their hearts and sharing their personal stories.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with breast cancer – don’t read the statistics on the internet. Eat healthy, breathe deep, go for walks, and go to Dr. Nguyen. Thank you, Dr. Nguyen for saving my mom’s life and caring for my mom in such a loving, professional and personal way. Our family owes you in ways we can never repay.