Best doctors in MSKCC with excellent bedside manners

LT4481

Hi all,

I was recently diagnosed with ER+, PR+ and HER-2 positive. I really don't know what this means in terms of moderate to severe. The mass is 5cm and have a "focus" on my lympth nodes.

I am freaking out, I am 41, have a 6 year old and want the best doctors to treat me so that I can live long and see my son grow.

Who are the best breast surgeon doctors in MSKCC or in NYC? Please help. I don't want to wait around. :_(

stephaniebc

hi, i am sorry about your diagnosis. it's normal to freak out. your cancer (like mine) is triple positive, which means it is on the agressive side, but also that you have a wide range of available therapies, some of which can be incredibly effective.

my 3cm mass melted away after the first infusion of herceptin and there was no residual cancer at surgery.

my surgeon at MSKCC was dr virgilio sacchini and he did a beautiful job. the whole hospital is fantastic, you will be well treated there.

cookiegal

Hey so I love my Onc at MSKCC, but I have heard some of the surgeons there, especially plastics don't have the best personalities. I would say sloan (which I love) is less plastics oriented. NYPres is very plastics oriented. Just different.

rainnyc

I also had Dr. Sacchini for my surgery. Really nice guy, and he and his nurse answered a lot of questions prior to the surgery. He moves, talks, and thinks quickly, so be prepared--but he will stick around if you have questions. Very positive and upbeat.

I had a consultation with Dr. Pusic, a plastic surgeon. I thought she was really nice and would be very comfortable going back to her if I want reconstruction.

My MO is Dr. Moynahan. I like her a lot and think she really knows her stuff. She's a bit abrupt in manner, which took some getting used to, but after a while I saw her deep compassion. No one was happier than she was when the pathology report came back NED after my surgery.

I've really appreciated the fact that all the departments work together. In the early days, I know they brought my (somewhat atypical) case to the tumor board for discussion, so I think it's a huge positive that others--not just one's personal doctors--can have a chance to comment and made recommendations for a treatment program.

PM me if you want more information. And good luck. The hardest time is right after diagnosis. Once you have treatment underway, things settle down. Also, they have social workers at MSK (and I'm sure this is true at most other hospitals) who can help you with some of the nuts and bolts of treatment as well the psychological fallout, effects on your family, and so forth.

beach2beach

Hi,

I did not have surgery at MSK, I stayed out on the Island, but wanted to wish you the best of luck and if these ladies recommend the same dr., I'm sure he is good. Never feel that you have to stay with one if you don't feel comfortable at the first meeting. You def want to feel that you are in the best hands.

KathyL624

Dr. Heerdt was my surgeon and my mom’s surgeon at MSKCC. She is Amazing but hard to get an appointment with. I have had a very good experience with everyone at Sloane

Jcdd

my surgeon is Dr. VanZee. I cannot say enough good things about her. A most excellent surgeon and a wonderful human being. I did chemo first (my tumors were too large) then mastectomy. You will feel very well cared for in Dr VanZee's hands. I have always felt that I have received the best treatment possible at MSK. I love my Onc, too. They have pretty much any service and doctor you could need, as well as a dedicated urgent care. While there sometimes is a wait for appointments or chemo (i expected this so it never bothered me), you will be very well cared for and they will help you through this.

And i understand your panic. I was diagnosed with late stage Her2+ at age 39 in July 2016 with a 1 and 4 year old. The cancer had already spread to basically all of my level 1 and 2 nodes, as well as my internal mammary nodes. It basically filled my entire breast. I wanted to be as aggressive as possible and to go to the best and MSK is it. I have been lucky enough to participate in several clinical trials at sloan, including proton radiation (instead of photon) to really target those internal mammary nodes while sparing my heart and lung. You will get through this - have faith that you will. You are in good hands at Sloan

Sd2906

we went with dr Mary gemignani. She’s not the greatest in terms of bedside manner but she is very talented and did an excellent job. She was confident, clear, and very precise. Margins came back fine and it was a large tumor but she stated NED and was confident she got it all. After speaking to many doctors throughout this process, confidence and conviction are very importnant to us. She was five stars for both. And an excellent surgeon

LT4481

Thank you for your feedback ladies I called MSKCC and I couldn't meet with Dr Van Dee or Dr Gemignani.. I feel comfortable with women doctors. I was assigned to Dr. Melissa Pilewski (surgeon in NYC) and Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval (medical oncologist in Rockville LI). I live in LI near Queens border and they suggest I see someone in Rockville for medical oncologist.

Does anyone have experience Dr Troso-Sandvoal with MSKCC out in Rockville? I would really want the 2 doctors to communicate well and I'm worried the distance between them will affect my treatement. Am I just getting paranoid and nervous? I'm debating whether I should call MSKCC back and switch to any medical oncologist in NYC.

AgathaNYC

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It's a scary time.

I'm being treated at MSK in Manhattan at the Breast Center and can't say enough good things about the whole place. I am crazy about my medical oncologist, Jacqueline Bromberg. She has a fantastic bedside manner (as does her RN who helps manage side effects and day-to-quesitions on the phone), spends a lot of time answering my long list of questions at each appointment, she is a physician/scientist so I feel confident she is on the cutting edge of all treatment possibilities, and make me feel safe and cared for.

My surgery is still a couple of months out so I've only met with a surgeon a couple of times. I like her but may want to meet others for consults on my options. There is something to be said for having all your doctors in the same place. For instance when I had an appointment with my oncologist a question came up about surgery and I was able to get an impromptu sit down with my surgeon since she was in the next office.

Good luck in whatever you choose!

LeesaD

Don't think of yourself as being paranoid or nervous wanting everyone on care team in same network. I am on Long Island also and I was/am being treated at Monter Cancer Center in New Hyde Park across from Northwell LIJ. All of my doctors with the exception of plastic surgeon are in the same facility. Also chemo, radiation, imaging, testing all in same bldg as doctors. I would have an appt with my breast surgeon and he would say I just got a text or just saw your MO and they were always in communication. My BS, MO, RO would all be in same tumor board meetings every week and communicates frequently. Even when I met with RO for first time she said I read your file but I already knew who you were from the meetings. Even though my plastic surgeon is in Great Neck, he too was in constant contact with my BS. There is so much stress involved in the whole process, that the less logistical stress you have the better. If you choose to get a second opinion, I would highly recommend Northwell/Monter. They were my second opinion. Best of Luck to you!

LT4481

Thank you all for your response. Would you see a MO that is solely experienced with Breast Cancer or MO that has a wide range of cancers experience?

AgathaNYC

Hi, LT. If I found out through genetic testing that I was at higher risk for other cancers in addition to breast cancer, I might consult with a MO who has wider experience. Otherwise I would go with a MO who specialized in breast cancer.

AgathaNYC

I know this is an old thread but people in the future may search "MSKCC" and it will come up.

I want give a huge endorsement to my surgeon Kimberly Van Zee and her team. She did my lumpectomy and I couldn't be any happier. She took so much time with me, going over all my history and records and answering any questions. She's incredibly thorough. For example at one appointment she didn't like the way my scans were displaying on the smaller computers for her and me to discuss. She excused herself and went up to radiology for a few minutes to look at them on the "mega" display so she could really see what was going on. She has a very reassuring manner. I felt so well taken care of. And most importantly the procedure went well. Also, she likes to keep all your other doctors on the team up to date on your treatment. The RN and NP who work with Dr. Van Zee are just as professional, gentle, reassuring and thorough.

Also my RO was fantastic. She is Dr. Beryl McCormick. She's the chief of external beam radiation at Sloan Kettering and a great reassuring presence. She's thorough, explains clearly, has an upbeat manner. She's very cool. I recommend her and her team without reservation. She specializes in rads for breast cancer (and of the eye.)

I'll also throw in other doctors who are treating me that I am very happy with that have great bedside manners:

Dermatologist, Dr. Mario Lacouture - so helpful in skin, nail, hair conditions that come up due to chemo, surgery and rads. Kind man.

Cardiologist, Dr. Anthony Francis Yu - young doctor that really takes his time explaining how chemo can effect your heart and gives personal, sincere care.

Oncological Hematologist, Dr. Rekha Paramaswaran - she may have the best bedside manner of any of the doctors I had at MSK. Luckily the reason I had to see her didn't end up being its own cancer, but rather a reaction to my breast cancer. However, she spent so much time with me, both in our initial meeting to explain possible blood issues, and at our follow-up appointment because she could sense I was emotionally distraught the day I met with her. We talked about survivorship and life and cancer and what resources the hospital had to help.

And last but not least, I've already recommended my amazing, smart, compassionate, funny, caring oncologist, Dr. Jacqueline Bromberg.

Memorial Sloan Kettering is a great hospital. I have only been to their facilities in Manhattan and Brooklyn so I can't speak to their branch facilities, but if you are in the triple-state area I whole heartedly recommend you seek treatment for breast cancer there.

ETA: I ended up not having plastic surgery, but I did meet with Dr. Joseph Disa. His personality was very kind, reassuring and gentle.