Recommendation for High Risk Breast Clinic in Boston Area

barb3246

I am considered high risk due to my family history and the fact that I have also had 2 breast biopsies done, both benign. I am now on a followup plan of alternating MRIs and Mammograms every 6 months.  I have been going to the Breast Health Center at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, but I am not happy with my breast surgeon or the nurse coordinator there, so I am now looking for another place to go to for my ongoing care.  I have been considering Mass General and Brigham & Women's, both mostly for their reputation, but I am not really familiar with either and it would be an hour commute for me to go to either.  I am also looking at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, as that is closer to my house and would be very convenient instead of having to commute into Boston, but I'm not sure if the Breast Center there is as good as the other two since its not as well known. I would love to hear recommendations for any of these centers, or the names of breast specialists that you could recommend there. 

braceletgirl1014

Hi barb,

I don't know anybody at Lahey but I could recommend Dr Kevin Hughes at MGH in Boston.He was my breast specialist surgeon and I was very happy with him and with the nurse in his team. For second opinion about additional treatment which I refused to do because of benefits and risks I went to Dana Farber in Boston.

I hope this helps and good luck. Let me know what you choose to do.

LorenaB

I've been very happy with my doctors at Dana Farber.  My surgeon is Dr. Faina Nakhlis and my medical oncologist is Dr. Nancy Lin.  My original diagnosis was at Emerson Hospital in Concord but I did NOT like the surgeon I met there, and decided to take advantage of my proximity to Boston and go to one of the top hospitals.  However, I did go back to Emerson for radiation treatments and everyone was wonderful.

Good luck!

cmb35

I've been very happy with Dana Farber. My med onc is Dr Jennifer Ligibel (I kept her even after getting high risk dx, the high risk one is Dr Judy Garber, she is also very nice, but we all decided it made more sense for me to stick with my original onc.) I absolutely loved my ooph surgeon, Dr Michael Muto, I would highly recommend him.

kikiann

My sister went to The Beverly Hospital Breast Center in Danvers, Mass - Surgeon Dr. Naranjo - loved her - very straight forward and knows her stuff.  Her Onc is Dr. Berring - again, very capable.  My sister lives in Manchester, MA and didn't want to have to travel in and out of Boston as it would of added a solid hour and 1/2 in traffic each way (especially during the Rad treatments).   She receive her second opinion from The Beth Israel Hospital in Boston (very good as well) and they agreed 100% with Beverly Hospital's recommended treatment plan (lumpectomy, chemo, rad, herceptin and tamoxifen).  She was very very happy with the team they assembled to care for her and they were all so kind and on the ball.  She loved the community feel and felt she got the best care even if she didn't travel into Boston (which is where we are from).  Hospital number is (978) 774-4400.  Good Luck!

deborye

Massachusetts has wonderful Breast Care Centers.  I go to the Breast Care Center in Woburn, Baldwin Park II, it is affiliated with Winchester Hospital.  I love all my doctors.  They communicate with each other and are all on the same page.

barb3246

Thanks for all the replies.  I don't think I can see any doctors at Dana Farber without having a breast cancer diagnosis (which I don't have, thank goodness!).  But I know both Mass General and Brigham and Women's hospitals are affiliated with Dana Farber, so perhaps those are where I should be looking into.  I was just hoping to stay close to home, but so far I haven't heard any recommendations for the Lahey Clinic.  I will look into the Breast Care Center for Winchester Hospital though.

Kylesh

barb3246,

While I am not from that area so I can not offer any insight on the clinics you mention, it might be worth a visit to Lahey to check it out for yourself.  You already know what you don't want in a surgeon and nurse coordinator.   I say this because if you ask most people about my surgeon the words that most would say are not repeatable, but I like him.  He is up to date on the latest research and a straight forward guy, if you are looking for a touchy feely kind of guy, his not going to fit the bill, but I trust him (seems I have seen him to much in the past year), but that is besides the point. 

I think that it is important to make a connection with the surgeon and his office staff.  You might find this connection at Lahey.

 Kyle

MariaG67370

Barb a friend of mine went to Lahey Clinic in Peabody and was very satisfied.  I stayed local, had my surgery and chemo at Lawrence General and radiation at Holy Family in Methuen.  I did go for a 2nd opinion at Faulkner Hospital (part of Brigham and Womens)  in Jamaica Plains and I did not want to even talk to the surgeon again never mind have her operate on me. She was very rude, cold, and showed no compassion what so ever.  Very happy with my doctors, breast care coordinator, technicians etc.  Very family, homey feeling.  I was a person not just a number!