Anyone from Montreal, Qc?

Hi everyone, I am from Montreal too. I see Dr. Fleiszer at the RVH, he was my surgeon and he was incredible. I love the Cedars Breast Clinic, they do not let you leave without knowing what is going on right away. I spent 3 hrs there first with my mammogram (showed "something"), then an other mammogram, an ultrasound, a biopsy and seeing the Dr. all in the same afternoon. Overwhelming but I couldn't imagine it any other way. I had a BMX in May and my Plastic Surgeon is Dr. Schwarz at The Montreal General (RVH too) and he is amazing as well. He studied in the U.S, his techniques are the standard of care from there and he is teaching it to the Dr's at the RVH and at the General. I just finished radiation with tissue expanders in (I am one of the few they see at the General) and all went really well. I am scheduled for my exchange surgery in the Spring sometime. My Oncolgist is at the Jewish (Panaschi), he is a brilliant man, however; I did also see the onc at the RV (Mihalciou) and they were in exact agreement with one another. And actually, Panasci liked so much what my Radiotherapist said at the Montreal General (RV also) that he said, "whatever she said, do". Her name is Dr. Lambert and she is one of the best in the city (Panasci said so!) . If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me. I am strongly connected with the Jewish General Hospital and know Margolese and Sigman very well and I have been operated (14 yrs ago) with Dianisopoulis. I consulted with Margolese for my case now and I had a consult with Dr. D as a PS for breast reconstruction but I chose the route of the RVH/MGH instead. Good luck to everybody! We are lucky to have such great Drs here for BC and amazing hospitals with new facilities. Both (all 3) hospitals have renovated Oncology centers, you would never guess you were in Quebec!! 

 Kerkle: I've heard great things about Cedar's Breast Clinic. I'm glad that things are going well for you. Like you, I'm in the "under construction" phase. I was supposed to have my exchange to implants in Nov but it's been postponed to Jan because there's just not enough operating room time to go around. You and I have the same ONC, Dr Panasci. I'm glad that you are seeing some of the best Dr's in Montreal. It's always reassuring to know you're in good hands. And if Panasci says your Radiotherapist is one of the best, then I'm sure she is. He doesn't seem like the type to humor anyone just for the sake of it. He's very straightforward and to the point. I like that about him although it can be maddening sometimes....lol I just saw him today actually because I'm on Tamoxifen and the other day the left side of my neck swelled up. I got so scared because I know one of the side effects of Tamoxifen is blood clots. Apparently, my blood tests have come back abnormal and Dr. P. has taken me off Tamox for a couple of weeks. My next appointment is on Dec 3rd and we'll see then if I go back on or not. I have mixed feelings about going off the Tamox. On the one hand I'm glad because it has been giving me daily headaches. It also has some nasty side effects which I'm told are just a 1% risk, but they are serious ones. On the other hand, I'm scared to go off it because it's my only defence against the cancer. I didn't have chemo or radiation.

Sylvia: I think you need to get access to the picture forum so that you can see for yourself what the outcome from a B MX will look like. It's not that bad really.... As for meeting at the JGH, my next appointment is Dec 3rd (Panasci) and then again on Dec 10 (Sigman). I'm not sure of the times, I'd have to get back to you. It would be nice to meet up with you,Yo and Kerkle if she's around!

Ciao,

Terri

Hello all!

Kerkle ,  I just saw Dr. Lambert at the Montreal General yesterday and I agree she is a great oncologist.  She has followed me for my Hodgkins disease back in 1996  and I still see her for my annual check up.  I am still in the unknown phase with BC and I don't know who my oncologist will be at the Jewish yet. You ladies are way ahead of me and it is a blessing that we connected . I saw my breast surgeon Dr Fenster yesterday for a follow up on my lumpectomy and he removed the clips.  I am having a problem with fluid that is still leaking which is becoming a pain.  There is a small area that was not clipped properly and as a result I have a smal hole that did not close properly.  The  Dr assured me that once it closes it will be fine .. so I am not very impressed with the outcome of this surgery...... and I am not sure if I want Dr.F. to do the BMX surgery somehow I would be more comfortable with an oncologist surgeon . I have heard great things about Dr. Mark Basik at the JGH . Has anyone heard of him?  I don't have my final pathology report yet but if the margins are not clear  then I will not do another surgery to get clear margins to eventually have to do the BMX so hopefully once I have the results it will not take forever to get an appointment with the oncologist.   

Terri,  I have not looked at the pictures yet on the forum but I will eventually . I  am just getting used to the  hysterectomy scar on my abdomen .. now  the lumpectemy scar ...and more scars to come.  I seem to be loosing all my female parts .  It would be great to set up  a meeting for us Montreal ladies at the Jewish.  I don't have any appointments scheduled yet but once I know the times of your appointment I will make arrangements to meet you.  I have a very flexible work schedule and I work downtown.  My daughter is also doing her PHD in medical research at the Jewish and she drives there every day so the Jewish would be a good meeting place for me.  Dec. 10th  thus far works for me and hopefully  I will have my pathology report by then. 

Have a great day ladies !

Sylvia

Hi Terri,

My pathology report is in and I got some good news.... Margins are clear and no lymph node involvement... the size is 8mm so it is quite small and it's IDC ..  I was so nervous when I got the call that I didn't even ask about the stage or the grade.... Once I have my oncologist appointment I will be more prepared and ask all  the questtions.  I just hope that it will not take forever to get this appointment.  How long did it take you to get your  oncologist appointment after your lumptectomy?   

 I will keep you posted.

Take Care

Sylvia

Hi Terri,  yes I am very relieved about my pathology and am anxious to meet with the  oncologist and get a treatment plan in progress.  

Yes I am still leaning towards the BMX and of course my family also thinks that I may be overreacting but in the end I know that they will support whatever decision I make.  Is it confirmed that you will be having your exchange surgery on the 17 of Dec?   I am not sure if I will be getting Dr. Basik or not.  My daughter  does medical research for Dr. Shifron at the Jewish  and in his opinion he highly recommended Dr. Basik so I may go and see him as well maybe for a 2nd opinion.   I am hoping that if I do decide to have the surgery it can wait till  Feb..  Hopefully since my margins are clear this will not be a problem.  BC is all I think about and I having difficulty concentrating on anything else.  I am getting obsessed reading all these posts and getting all this information and right now I am so overwhelmed.   I hope this will get better.

I will keep you posted and hopefully we can meet up at the Jewish .

Ciao Sylvia !

Don't be nervous! Dr. Patenaude is amazing!! I have heard lots about him He is the best along with Panaschi and they all consult with one an other anyhow. Good luck! The JGH has an amzing Oncology center and they will make you feel safe and secure. Bring a book, the wait can be long, but be reassured that this is the case because the doctors spend lots of time in the room with you answering ALL your questions.

Dr Patenaude is associated with which hospital?  I see Dr Marcoglese at the Jewish.  I have no complaints.  It is a little long at the Jewish, but the doctors are great.

Sylvia, I have heard about Dr Patenaude and you will be in good hands...so don't worry. Besides, if the 2 of you don't "click" you can always get a second opinion as you mentioned. I just LOVE the JGH and especially the Oncology dept. The wait can be long at times, but not always. The Dr's and staff there are super friendly and always willing to help. Helen who makes the appointments and is generally in charge there is a sweetheart. She is my miracle worker and and always does her best to accommodate/speed things up for me...I just love her!  My surgery as far as I know is still scheduled for the 17th. I was there today for another matter (blood clotting issues) and my pre op tests. I'm seeing a hematology specialist Dr Blostein on Dec 2 before my surgery. Seems they found that my blood is clotting abnormally and they need to check this out before the surgery. You know, if it's not one thing , it's another! Anyway, I am very reassured by the support I get there and I know that everything will work out well for you also. Feb is not too long to wait for a BMX if that's what you decide to do. You have clear margins so that's way good.

Take care and if you have to think about BC, then visualize your body getting rid of it. This site can be addictive but it's an addiction I think we all need in the beginning to help us get through this....

Terri

Sylvia,

I have an appointment with the Hematology Specialist on Dec 2nd at 11am. I also have another appointment on Dec 3rd with my Oncologist at 9am. Well actually I have a blood test at 8am and then I see the Dr at 9am or thereabouts. Maybe we can meet one of those days. If not, I have another appointment on Dec 10th - I'm not sure of the time, I'd have to check and get back to you. Either of those days would be great to meet you. If they're not convenient for you then I'm sure there will be other days we could meet. Seems I'm there almost every other week for something or other. 

I hope the picture forum wasn't too hard for you to look at. I know when faced with such a tough decision to make sometimes the visual can either help or make things worse. I know it helped me immensely to see what could be done. 

Hope you and all the girls are having a great weekend - at least the weather is holding out!

Terri

Sylvia,

My blood test is on Pavillion E 7th floor on Dec 3 at 8pm and then I see the Dr at 9. The waiting area for all the Dr's is the same on the 7th floor. Normally you register on the same side as  the elevators, go for your blood test down the hall and then go to a general waiting area directly BEHIND the elevators. I should be in that area either with or without my husband. What happens there is that they call your name and weigh you first then you sit down again and wait to be called for your appointment with whichever Dr you are seeing. I'll either be there with or without my husband and I look pretty much like in my photo except maybe a bit more tired from all the stress of this blood thing I have. If we miss each other, I'm sure there will be other chances for us to meet. Just worry about yourself, that's the main thing.

As for the picture forum, I'm in the section "under construction". I can send you  a link. Don't stress out about it yet, wait and see what your ONC has to say. There's lots of time for you to make your decision.

Terri

Terri,

I forgot to say congrats on the date for the exchange.  Hope all the clotting issues get resolved quickly without too much fuss.  There always does seem to be "something else".  I said at the begining of all this BC thing that I was going to find out way more about my health and body than I really wanted to!!!

All the best to you!!!

Yo

Hello ladies,

Terri,  If you can please send me the under construction link on the picture forum.

I hope you appointment with hematology goes well tomorrow . I look forward to meeting you on Thursday assuming I am fininshed in time. If is t does not work out I am sure there will be plenty of other opportunities since we are all being treated at the JGH.

 Yo , I am glad to hear that you are progressing well. All this BXM and drain issues seems so complicated.  I guess once I am there it will be explained in detail by the PS . I am so petrified with all this stuff and as I can see this is a very long journey.  I am also at the Jewish on the 8th and am curious to know about this look good feel good session and what you need to do to attend.     

Take care!

Sylvia

I went to Dr D's office with my husband today at about 11:40am. I'm not sure if you were there at that time but I looked around the waiting room and wasn't quite sure who I was looking for...lol.  I was hoping that if you were there you would have recognized me from my picture. I even asked the girl at the reception if someone named "Yo" or Yolande or something like that had checked in yet. Of course Yo may not be your real name which occured to me as she listed off a bunch of women and none of them was called Yo. Oh well, I'm sorry I missed you. Maybe we can meet up some other time. Hope your appointment went OK and that your drains came out and you're healing well. He's such a nice man isn't he...our Dr D !

Terri

Marie, I see that you have LCIS and ILC. You have the same DX as I do although my cancer was smaller than 1 cm. The decision to have a BMX was totally my decision. My Dr had said that I would be OK with just the lumpectomy and radiation but something inside told me that I would never be satisfied and that I would be worrying about a recurrence daily.... I'm a bit of a worrier and so I don't think for me, a lumpectomy would have been enough. Actually, I did have a lumpectomy but knew all along inside that I was going to go for the BMX. My BS left the decision up to me and he said he would go along with whatever I decided. Being able to see photos of other women who had been through a BMX helped alot. If you have access to the picture forum, I suggest you have a look. As for what it "feels like"... I have to say that for me, it wasn't very painful. The operation lasted 3 hours and I was supposed to spend one night in the hospital. I ended up staying 2 days but not because there were any complications or anything. The scars or where they removed the breasts was not painful but I did have some discomfort moving my arms. I guess the overall feeling is one of discomfort more than anything else. I had tissue expanders put in at the same time so I did have a feeling of something heavy on my chest area. If you're having recon, then I guess the worst part is the drains they put in. They get in the way and they are more of a nuisance than anything else.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. I wish you luck in your decision. It's not an easy one to make and you really have to go by your gut feeling on this one. Trust your instincts.....

Terri

Yo, I'm glad you're getting back to normal and that your drains are finally out. Boy, they're alot of fun aren't they!...lol I guess he removed yours the same way he removed mine...isn't that scary? but he does it very quickly and it hurts for just a minute.... I love going there too. He's a great Dr and always has a nice smile and funnily enough, I find him very calming. Your fills should go well. As you get a bit bigger maybe around 300cc's, you're going to find it harder to get comfortable in bed unless you're used to sleeping on your back all night. I found that if I put a pillow under my knees it wasn't too bad. But all in all, the experience isn't a bad one and the best part is that we avoid having to go through this again, God forbid. As I mentioned before, my pathology came back clear - nothing more found in either breast and it didn't make me regret my decision. I was just happy that there wasn't anything more to worry about.

Take care and keep in touch,

Terri