Best breast surgeons in Los Angeles?

LoveandLightinLA

Hello all,

I just got diagnosed on Friday, December 9th with invasive ductal carcinoma grade 1. My tumor is .8cm. I was told about my biopsy results from my primary care physician. She recommended that I go see Dr. Helena Chang at the UCLA Revlon Breast Center. I tried to call several times on Friday to make an appointment, but no one answers the phone, you can only leave a message.

I've been researching breast surgeons in Los Angeles, I also found Dr. Maggie Lee Dimone in Santa Monica, and Dr. Kristi Funk. Dr Dimone only has a few reviews on yelp, but they are all glowing 5 star reviews. Dr. Funk has over 100 reviews, many are very positive, but quite a few are horrifically bad. And Dr. Helena Chang has no reviews at all, but the reviews for the UCLA Revlon center are horrible. (No surprise as they don't even pick up the phone!)

I would like to try and meet with at least 2 or 3 of the very best breast surgeons in LA asap, as I would like to create the best treatment plan possible and schedule surgery. However, the timing is unfortunate with the holidays fast approaching.

To all the women out there in LA, can you please help me with your recommendations? I would be most gratefull!

I have so many more questions as well. This is my first post, is it better for me to list all my questions in one post? Or ask each question in separate posts? Please let me know, I am very new to this community!

Thank you in advance for all of your help!

Anonymous

Loveandlight- I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the surgeons in LA, I'm in Orange County. BUT- One thing I would highly recommend in your search is to seek out a team that works together. My oncologist, breast surgeon, radiologist, and radiology oncologist all meet weekly (along with other Dr's on the team) to discuss each patient and treatment plan. It is so difficult to work with them in a silo (my mom would see the surgeon, have surgery, and then see the oncologist who would recommend a different course!). If you have a team, you have multiple eyes on you and they're all on the same page regarding your treatment. Good luck, so sorry you've had to join us.

LoveandLightinLA

ajbclan - Thank you! I have an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Maggie Dinome. She does offer a weekly multi clinic where you meet the entire team, but they are fully booked up for this week. If I end up liking Dr. Dinome, I will hopefully be able to meet the team next week. I appreciate your advice!

plumster1

Hi love and light-

I am in orange county as well. So I can not help you with doctors but I would reccommend you look into an NCI treatment facility ( national cancer institute ). There is a very stringent process to earn that classification. They will have all the most current research and technologies. In orange county, UCI is the only facility. But I think there are 2 or 3 in LA. If you go on national cancer institute website it will list your locals.

Good luck

ABeautifulSunset

dr Kristi Funk is an amazing doctor, surgeon and a warm and caring person. Besides the time I was told I had cancer, Ive never had a negative experience there. Also, if it matters in the least bit, she was Anjelina Jolie's breast surgeon.

Pessa

Do you have an oncologist (MO) that you are seeing? I went with the surgeon that my MO recommended as they work well together and I trust her recommendations. I did not have specific breast surgeon as I did not have reconstruction. My general surgeon was Dr. Kenneth. Adashek, who works at Cedars-Sinai. A wonderful surgeon.

Marimucho

LoveandLightinLA, I know that there is a great team in Santa Monica at The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute. They have a great oncologist there. You might want to look into that facility.

I, like you found out November 3, and it is so hard. We have so many questions. I have hunted down everything I possibly could and today, I am much calmer because I have a much better understanding of what kind of cancer I have and why and how it will most likely be treated. My surgery is not until January 6, and that hit me really hard. It seems like, in my case, my breast cancer is not a medical emergency and so it can wait. This is not to discourage you, but only to let you know that once you get into a team of doctors, they will take care of you more than it seems like. This was the case for me.

Regardless, I still try to learn more and ask questions if I have them. I also just got my nurse navigator assigned, somehow I was not told I had that support, and thank goodness...she has answered just about every question I have.

If I can help you in any way, please reach out. You can private message too. It took my a while to understand how breastcancer.org In fact, I am still learning. It is a great place to find help.

marimucho

LoveandLightinLA

Thank you all so much for your help and support, it means a lot to me!

Positive2strong

I went to Dr Funk for a lumpectomy and happy only one scar as she took my nodes out from the breast incision.

Positive

dlb823

Hi, LoveandLight ~ I'm just seeing this thread tonight. Not sure why you had a hard time getting through to UCLA. I've been going there since 2008, and have never had that problem. I'm wondering if maybe something was going on with their phone system the day you couldn't get through?

At any rate, while Helena Chang is head of the department and has rave reviews from patients and medical colleagues, I personally used and absolutely love Dr. Raquel Prati. And Jaco Festekjian was my PS. He's also top notch, and the coordination between the two of them was very easy and professional.

I'm so sorry about your diagnosis. Feel free to PM me if I can give you any additional information about UCLA. I live out in the Palm Desert area, so never interviewed other L.A. docs when I went to UCLA for a second opinion initially, so can't compare it to your other options. But I've always been very impressed with and grateful for the care I get there, including my onc, Sara Hurvitz, in the Santa Monica office. Deanna

LoveandLightinLA

Thank you dlb823 - Yes, unfortunately I never heard back from the Revlon UCLA center. But I have definitely had wonderful experiences at the Barbara Kort imaging center and overall have been very impressed and pleased with everyone I've interacted with in the UCLA system.

Thank you Stefajoy & Positive2strong - I just met with Dr. Funk today. I was blown away by her! She really took her time to explain everything to me in detail, and clearly outlined what treatment plan would be most ideal for me. She was so warm and genuine and caring, there is no doubt in my mind I want her taking care of me on this journey. I'm so happy to have found an amazing doctor!

BCAE

Hello everyone! Does anyone have any recommendations for Medical Oncologists...preferable in Orange County, but open to LA? I would like someone who is willing to discuss benefits/risks of using Tamoxifen in light of my Oncotype score and history of cysts.

LoveandLightinLA

I recommend my oncologist, Dr. Carol Nishikubo located in Santa Monica. She is warm and caring, an excellent doctor with many years of experience, and I also discussed the benefits / risks of using Tamoxifen with her. Best of luck to you!

AnnieP23

I highly recommend Dr. Dennis Holmes in Los Angeles. He works at Good Samaritan and St. Johns. When I was first diagnoses a few months ago, I met with many surgeons, including City of Hope. The best thing I did was meet with as many surgeons as possible, and speak to as many breast cancer survivors as I could. I learned that every case is so drastically different and that you have to chose the surgeon that's right for you. I was 40 years old when I was diagnosed with cancer in my left breast. Every surgeon I spoke to recommended mastectomy with reconstruction. Even double mastectomy as a preventative measure, and for better reconstruction results. Implants are just not for me, and it didn't seem right to remove the healthy part of my breast, and certainly not my perfectly health breast! This choice is very personal and I completely understand why women choose to go all the way with mastectomy and reconstruction. It just wasn't right for ME. Dr. Holmes was the only surgeon willing to do a partial mastectomy on me. (He agreed only under the caveat that I also get radiation.) No one else could accept that I would be happy with a less-than-perfect breast, nor would they honor my choice to take the chance of preserving my healthy breast tissue. I am beyond appreciative that Dr. Holmes chose to respect my decisions. He also did a wonderful job making my breast look as "good" as possible! He does oncoplastic surgery, which is a very specialized method of moving existing breast tissue around to compensate for the cancerous tissue he removes.

His staff is also awesome. Alba (she books all of his appointments) is beyond lovely, accommodating, and on the ball. Always a nice combo when you are dealing with the shock and urgency of a cancer diagnosis.

bethanywin

Hi there!

I second this!

I cannot recommend Dr. Dennis Holmes highly enough! I was diagnosed with stage IIB IDC, in April of last year, after finding a 4 cm lump in my left breast. Both my OB and primary care physician recommended Dr. Holmes, who works out of several locations in Los Angeles. I saw him at Good Samaritan Hospital, in downtown L.A.

I was incredibly scared after my diagnosis, and Dr. Holmes put me immediately at ease with his kind and calm bedside manner, not to mention his extensive knowledge, compassionate listening skills and unparalleled ability to answer whatever questions I had, and there were many!

He worked alongside me every step of the way, to come up with the best treatment plan for my particular diagnosis. He performed three surgeries on me (staged bilateral mastectomy - I was BRCA 2 - and reconstruction) the results of which I could not be happier.

He understood from the very beginning that my health was paramount, yet also took into account how it feels to undergo such emotional surgeries, and that cosmetic outcome is also a factor.

Dr. Holmes was accessible and supportive throughout my treatment (he also worked closely with my oncologist)approximately a year and a half, thanks in part to his incredible office manager, Alba. Please do yourself a favor and meet with Dr. Holmes - I honestly cannot imagine what my breast cancer path would have looked like without him.

I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Wishing you all the best...xx

Jana54

Does anyone here have Kaiser (Inland Empire) in California? If so, what was your experience?

Thank you,

Ja

RJintheOC

That’s a really reasonable suggestion. Can I ask for the name of your doctors or hospital? I live in the OC and am trying to help my wife find a good surgeon (and team).

SimplyMM

Hi RJintheOC, I live in the OC. I highly recommend Dr. Lincoln Snyder at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach. He did my lumpectomy in 2014. He has a wonderful team. Also the following breast surgeons are highly respected and recommended to me:

Dr. Michelle Carpenter

Dr. Jane Kakis

jackel

Hello,

I know this thread is old but hopefully some of you will see it. I have ILC but I am looking for a good oncoplastic surgeon in Los Angeles. The names I have are Dr. Jane Grumley, Dr. Dennis Holmes, (Providence St. Johns). These 2 trained under Dr. Silverstein at Haog) Dr Carlie Thomson(UCLA) and Dr Heather Richardson & Dr Lisa Cassileth (Bedford in BH -out of network). I also see a Dr. Arena does it too. I see Dr. Holmes has a good referral here. Anyone else?

applejuice

I had onco surgeon Dr. Maggie DiNome and plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Crisera both at UCLA Breast Center. So far, good experience and pretty easy scheduling with them. I had MBX with TE surgery on Feb 1st 2019 and recovery was pretty easy. Waiting for expansions on TE and replacement to implants in a few months.

blah333

by best do you mean celebrity?


I assume you have money, I am on medicaid, but went to LAC/USC general hospital. For people with "real insurance"/money - their is USC KECK and Maria Nelson is the head of breast surgery. Because I'm low income I did have a breast fellow work on me. That side of my chest is not as good but is still better than 90% of the pictures I have seen. The other side, is fucking PERFECT. The care there is great and cutting edge but not glamorous, if that's something you need.

https://providers.keckmedicine.org/provider/Maria+E.+Nelson/205636

santabarbarian

I contacted Dennis Holmes because he knows about doing radiation during the lumpectomy surgery. I had asked my BS about this possibility, and she gave me his name as one of the best to do this. IORT did not wind up to be the right course of action for me, so I stuck with the BS I already had in my home area. But I have to say Dr Holmes was incredibly nice, very responsive and quick, answered all my questions, and I thought he seemed like an excellent doctor in terms of his responsiveness and kindness.

jackel

thank you-Im seeing him tomorrow . I dont think IORT will be right for me either but I'll see what he says.

jackel

thank you-what type of reconstruction did you do?

santabarbarian

If you are talking to me - I did not do anything for reconstruction, I had a lumpectomy and am perfectly ok w how my breast looks. There is a slight asymmetry-- but I mean SLIGHT-- and I doubt I could do appreciably better w another surgery. My BS did a phenomenal job. If anything I might get a scar revision on my port scar!! But I am sooooo sick of medical care.... i will revisit that idea later in time.

CaliKelly

my breast surgeon was Christine Dauphine, and my plastic surgeon, a breast reconstruction specialist is Mytien Goldberg. They are both awesome, esp. Dr Goldberg, just excellent! Both in L.A. area

jackel

Hi Annie,

I sent you a PM-

Thanks,

Julia