Anyone seen Dr Beber Toronto-recommendations ?

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

Hi

I was just diagnosed this week with ILC & PLCIS and require a mastectomy.  I would like to do reconstruction as well, but at this point it sounds like I should be delaying it until they know the results of the sentinel node biopsy. My surgical oncoligist has referred me to Dr Beber for a consult and to see what his recommendations are.  I understand that if radiation is required, they prefer to delay reconstruction.

I would appreciate any and all feedback.  Who have other canadians (in particular Toronto area) had do their reconstruction?  And what type?  It sounds like DIEP is very popular in the states, but it doesn't sound like there are many in Canada that do it.  What about Winnipeg area?  I am in betweent the two areas so could go either way.

Thanks

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited December 2009

    Sorry about your diagnosis. I have had to wait for recon as well because I needed radiation and they don't like to mix the procedures. Dr. Beber did a presentation a few weeks ago at a workshop I attended. He was very nice and seemed very knowledgeable. I had heard similar things from other doctors. Dr. Beber doesn't do DIEP but he will refer you if you want. There are 2 doctors in Toronto who do DIEP .. Dr. Zhong and Dr. Hofer. There is also a doctor in London but I don't know the name. I'm going for a DIEP with Dr. Zhong. There is a book called "The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook" by Kathy Steligo which has lots of excellent information as well as names of doctors. I believe she might even have a website with updated information. Good luck.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    Thanks for your quick response hrf.  When will you be having your DIEP with Dr Zhong?  Did you have a long wait to get in to see her. When I contacted Dr Zhong's office, they said she is booking Feb 2010 for consults and depending on whether "this is a case Dr Zhong wanted to take on". Not sure what is meant by that? but that is what the response was.

    Apparently Dr Beber is married to Dr Zhong, according to my doctor.  So I wonder if you could get both of them to do surgery?

    I guess I should pick up this book, thanks for the tip.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    do you need a referral to see one of these docs or can you book it yourself?  FYI, I saw Dr Sarah Wong at Scarborugh General and may go with her.  She does the DIEPs as well.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    Yes you need a referral for Dr Zhong, I'm not sure about Dr Beber, because my surgical oncologist was just automatically going to send it. When will you be having your surgery thisisme?  Is it a long wait for her?

    Thanks Cathy

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited December 2009

    I think you need a referral for any of these docs......I thought I could just take off my top and that would be enough of a referral but no.....Dr. Hofer is booking consults one year away but Dr. Zhong is faster although I suspect she will soon be booked up far in advance too. It's my understanding that Dr. Zhong and Dr. Hofer are creating a Toronto Breast Restoration Centre that will be a world class centre. I didn't know Drs. Beber and Zhong were married ... but they would certainly make a cute couple. Dr. Beber doesn't do the microsurgery....he does trams and lats I think. He's at Women's College and she is at UHN. I didn't know about Dr. Wong so that makes 3 docs in Toronto. Things are getting better.

    I see Dr. Zhong again in December for another check on how I'm healing from the rads. She had already sent me to a hematologist to get my blood checked for any clotting problems but everything came back ok. She said she could probably do my surgery in March but my son is getting married in June and I think I'll wait until after his wedding for my DIEP.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    I did find the one in London, if its the same one you were talking about.  Her name is Dr Amanda Fortin.  I wonder if there is anyone here who has had their surgery with her.  She does DIEP.

    When I looked up Dr Beber on Ratemd.com, he had alot of very good comments, interestingly enough almost all of them commented how gorgeous he is.

    hrf how long ago did you finish your radiation?  Are you healing well from it?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    It was very easy to get in to see Dr Wong.  I got an appointment within about 6 weeks of the referral.  I have seen her twice now, once in Oct and once about 10 days ago.  She could do me in January, but would rather wait 12-18 months following rads before doing the surgery.  I am thinking of booking it for April which would be 14 months if I go with her.  I was referred to her through the gyne that will take my ovaries.  She suggested that she and Dr Wong could do bothe surgeries together in order to reduce the number of surgeries and make it more convenient for me. 

     If Dr Zhong is booking in feb, that does not seem like too long of a wait.  I also have a referral in for dr Semple and that is going to be a 12 or 13 month wait.  Ridiculous.   I wouldnt mind meeting another doc before deciding to which one to go with so will see if I can somehow wrangle a referral to Dr Zhong.  Do you have a phone number for her?   

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    It says she is at Toronto General, and the phone number I just got off internet is 416-340-3858. I was told she is booking into February for consult, but I am not sure how long it could be after that for surgery.

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited December 2009

    That is the correct office number. Her assistant is Michelle Holmes. She doesn't have a long wait list for surgery - just a few months.

    I'm healing ok from the rads. I see Dr. Zhong again next week.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2009

    Hi helen.... been following your "growing" pains on several different threads.  I just called michelle, too and got the referral information so I will go to my family doc to get a referral.  Wierd but I have been very anxious about going to my family doc.  I haven't seen her since she told me the biopsy results but I will try and overcome my anxiety in order to get this referral.  i would like something to compare Dr Wong to.  Let us know how next weeks go!

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  • smirks44
    smirks44 Member Posts: 77
    edited December 2009

    Dr Brian Evans in London also does DIEP - I have heard good things about both him and Dr Amanda Fortin.

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited December 2009

    Hi Jackie......I think they need the referral because of OHIP although in our situations it makes no sense to me. I know the referring doc has to send a fax to the specialist and once they have that, they will make an appointment. I think it's good to get a couple of opinions. I'll see Dr. Zhong again next Friday and will see Dr. Hofer in March. Hope your visit with Dr. Zhong goes well too - it's nice to have choices. The other "growing" situation is bleak and I'm upset. However, I will try to get a referral to a dermatologist .. maybe there is something that can be done but I'm not optimistic. I had heard there was a good doc in London as well who does DIEP.....good that we are finally getting better access.

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