Anyone from Montreal, Qc?
Comments
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ashley- I didn't need the Neupogen with Taxol. My WBC were low during the treatment but never too low to need the shots. But that was with 12 weekly Taxol. If you are getting the 4X Taxol every 2 or 3 weeks, then I don't know if you will need the shots. But I would think that since Taxol is less hard on the WBC then AC, your counts would have the time to go up again before your next Taxol chemo. Hope that's the case for you!
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Babs, I'll do 12 taxol weekly.maybe if my white cells will be law , I cannot imagine how they'll go up in 7 days between treatments.
I have call my MO , I'll go to the hospital to check my CBS and see what's the problem.
hope Mercier bridge is not so bad ( yesterday it takes me 1hour..........
)
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They will go back up in time. They did for me. Never had to delay chemo. Keep in mind that Taxol does not affect the WBC as much as AC does. And the dosage of Taxol in the weekly treatment is lesser then in the dose dense or 3 weeks treatments, so easier to take. Let me know how you appointment goes. Hope the traffic cooperates.
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hi Babs, I'm back, my blood cells are ok, not so high, and I'll take all the neupogen - another 2 shuts-. they told me it was the peak for my pain, and will be less next days and advil should help., not tylenol..I hope. they told me also I have to rest more......I'm a very active person, I need to move unfortunately
by and thanks
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ashley- Cool! If you need any help with Taxol SE, just ask. Good luck.
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I am just curious as to what 'revision of the margins' is in conjunction with a lumpectomy. The lumpectomy is generally performed first then 'revision of the margins..
Thanks Charmaine
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Charmaine,
A revision for margins is when you have a lumpectomy and after patholgy analysis, they discover that there are cancer cells close to the edge of the tissue they removed. In my case I had cancer cells right at the edge so they had to go in and remove more tissue.
Terri
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Hi Gals,
I am from Montreal too. Treated in Hospital sacre coeur. Feel isolated, 'cause seems nobody here was treated in the same hospital.
xoxoxo
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hello bwah ,
i am from MTL as well..but treated at the Royal Vic
I am "in the waiting room" , had a core biopsy yesterday and am waiting for the results
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Hi Celine,
good luck! I know waiting sucks
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Hi Bwah and Celine, welcome to our group. Things are kind of quiet now> I guess everyone is enjoying the last days of summer.
bwah: Tell us a bit more about yourself and what treatment you are having. Even though it seems nobody has been to the Sacre Coeur, we sometimes have similar treatments and perhaps someone here will chime in and give you their experiences.
Celine: Hope your results come back negative!
Terri
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Hi my 560sel,
Thanks for your message.
Ive finished Fec-D chemo on July in sacre coeur (3 rounds fec and 3 rounds taxotere). I noticed we have the same type BC. But my tumor was bigger and one node afftected.
Found a lump by my own on 2010, but nothing was shown on mammo. The doctor who checked me just said : there was nothing
, after mammo no further check like Us or sth. Went back to check again on 2011 since it was painful quite often on my left side. This time a radiologist caught sth on mammo, thanks to her
. She wanted me to do Ultrasound. I never liked that 1st doctor, but I had no choice 'cause I have no family doctor and it is always less crowded in that clinic (clinic plein ciel in ville saint laurent), now I know why.
I was treated in sacre coeur. My surgeon is Dr. D. Synott. if there is someone else operated by her here?
xoxoxo
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Hi Terri:
I don't know if this thread is still valid as I believe no one has been on it since August, however, here goes. I'm from Notre-Dame de L'Ile Perrot and am also with the Jewish General Hospital. My surgeon is Dr. Sigman and my oncologist is Dr. Le, a resident working with Dr. Panaci (I hope the spelling of his name is correct). I went the whole nine yards, having a lumpectomy in October of 2011 and a mastectomy is December of 2011. Had Chemo (ACT) followed by 29 treatments of radiation. I am now taking Tamoxifen. Now that I am finished with treatments I feel as though I am at loose ends. Where do I go from here. I am just regaining some of my strength and former self, but again where do I go from here. For 14 months I was so well taken care of at the JGH, between the doctors, pivot nurse, oncology nurses, etc. all of a sudden it's over. I often sit in my living room watching the fire roaring in my fireplace and think what the heck do I do now. I don't know if others have felt like me, but if you have, I'd love some advice.
Carmen
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hello Carmen I am still here..........I have finished the chemo, radio and continuing with tamoxifen and herceptine. at MGH . but I feel tired, I try to find my energyand my balance now .. maybe yoga could help? did you try?
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Hi Ashley:
I hear that yoga is very good to let your body relax, stretch and find a sense of well being. There are yoga sessions as the Cancer Wellness Centre in Beaconsfield. Have you heard about this centre? Although I haven't tried the yoga, I'll be looking into it as soon as my physio is finished. I seem to have what they call (frozen shoulder) which limits my range of movement in my left arm. Try to give them a call. The people there are kind and knowledgeable. As for you being tired.... that too will diminish. I am almost two months out of radiation therapy and am just starting to get some of my energy back..............so will you! Hang in there! I'm glad this thread is continuing as I really needed to connect with someone who can relate what we are going through. Everybody talks about finding balance in their lives. It takes time and some self reflection and it doesn't come all at once. Take your time and take time for yourself.
Have a great evening, Ashley.
Carmen
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Carmen,
Sorry for getting back to you so late but I haven't been on the boards much lately. I totally understand how you are feeling. Funny to say, but when you are in the care of the Dr's you have a sense of security. To this day, when I have to go back for my checkups at the JGH, I have a sense of relief and almost like a "coming home" feeling when I walk through the doors. Where you go from here depends on you. Like all of us, you need to get past your diagnosis and continue as "normally" as possible. Being diagnosed is not an automatic death sentence and as one very kind woman told me as I was sitting in the waiting room with mammogram in hand on that very first visit, "there is life after a cancer diagnosis".....
I guess the way I get through all this is to tell myself that it was all a bad dream. I surround myself with family and friends as much as possible. I try to look on the bright side that it could have been worse and that almost 4 years later, I'm still here. You need to move forward and know that you are in good hands and that although you are not in constant care anymore you are still being monitored. I think you need to focus on all the things that went to the wayside after your diagnosis. All the things that were put on hold while you went through treatment - trying to get yourself well and healthy again.
The "demon" creeps up from time to time, I can't say it doesn't but I have to get past that few minutes of being scared and pull myself together not for my family's sake, but for my own sanity's sake. Looking in the mirror before my shower is a reminder each and every day of what I went through but I tell myself that it's just a bad boob job...lol
Take one day at a time. Surround yourself with loved ones, marvel at the beauty around you and move forward....
Hope this help,
Terri
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I was wondering if there is anybody that was treated at the Jewish General that knows what the policy is re visitors after a mastectomy? I am having a bit of anxiety about staying by myself but the sugeons' office said I would have to ask about the hours on admission. Also, if anybody has had a reconstruction with Dr. D and cares to share, I would love to know your impressions. I have had three previous surgeries with Dr. Sigman and not only is he a wonderful doctor but a real mensch, full of compassion. I'd be happy to answer any questions anybody has on that end.
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I was treated at JGH and had my mastectomy there. I was allowed visitors after surgery. They stayed until regular visiting hours ended (maybe a little longer...). I was supposed to go home after 1 night but the hospital wasn't busy and the nurse actually convinced me to stay a second night. I had visitors all the next day. Dr Sigman was also my breast surgeon and as you mentioned, a wonderful Dr. I just love him. Unfortunately, I've had to refer 2 other friends to him and they both think he's the best. Dr D did my recon and I have nothing but nice things to say about him. He did a great job and I had full confidence in him. My results are wonderful. If you ask for permission from the moderators, you can get access to the picture forum where you can see the results of my surgery. I couldn't have asked for better.
Terri
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Terri, that is so good to know! I am up in two days and nervous but ready. How do I contact the moderators?
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AAARGH...Just found out that my surgeon has gone private! He is such a wonderful surgeon and I don't mind paying the $75 for regular check-up visits, but am looking at a possible third tumour (in the other breast) and shudder to think about how much it would cost for a double mastectomy. I retired a year and a half ago and still have 2 years before my pension kicks in. I called my employee insurance (which I have maintained post-retirement at my own expense) and they would not pay anything for someone in private practice. I work as a free-lance translator but earn just enough to pay my expenses. I am in a real dilemna. I think my surgeon is absolutely amazing, and I do understand that because of the earning limits put on Quebec doctors, they have a ceiling and once they hit the ceiling, they are basically working for free. I can't think of anyone who would choose to do that! Each of my docs is in a different place, onc at St. Mary's, radiation onc at MGH (who sends me to RGH for MRI's) and my surgeon at Ville Marie and the Jean Talon Hospital. I have become an equal-oportunity hospital user... My radiation oncologist became concerned that things were falling through the cracks, with information not reaching all of the players, and suggested a year ago that I give some thought to amalgamating everything at one hospital. I have Mucinous cancer, (a "rare" type representing only 1 - 3% of breast cancers), which is supposed to fairly benign in that it rarely spreads to the lymph, is very slow growing", and it rarely reccurs (if this turns out to be another one, this will be the third tumour in 2 years...). My radiation onc feels that because it is not following the rules, she wants to keep a really close eye on it and she is the one who found the second tumour and this latest one. She scheduled MRI's 6 months apart to monitor what was going on. There was also something suspicious on the July MRI, but it turned out to be nothing. I just had an MRI-guided biopsy last week and should get results in a couple of weeks.
Sorry for the long rant, what I would really like is to get feedback from others on surgeons they love and would recommend. I hope I won't need one again but if I do, I will probably have to find someone new because I am not sure I can afford thousands of dollars. Thanks!
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Linda-Renee, I understand your frustration and the confidence you get with going private but for me, Dr Sigman at the JGH is the best. He's a wonderful, compassionate and caring Dr and I have already reccommended him to 2 friends and they feel the same. I have nothing but good things to say about the JGH. They have a whole wing dedicated to cancer research and treatments and for me they have literally been a life saver. From Dr Sigman who was my breast surgeon, to Dr Dionisopoulos who was my plastic surgeon to Dr Panasci who's my ONC. I wouldn't trade any of them. I've had nothing but the best of care there. Everyone from the nurses to support staff have all been pleasant and helpful and I don't think I could have gotten through this without their help. They have a wonderful Hope and Cope center if you need someone to talk to as well. Even though I chose to go the public route, I have absolutely no complaints and all the surgeries didn't cost a penny. The only time I was out of pocket was for my hospital room because I was in a private room and I think that cost me something like $135.
Hope this helps.....
Terri
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Totally agreed- the Jewish is wonderful. As I have mentioned, Dr. Sigman is terrific as is Dr. D.
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Thank you My560sel! I will investigate. The only reason I ended up at Ville Marie was that my gynecologist is on the same floor and when I went to see him with my first lump, he literally took me by the hand and walked me to their door. Once there, I just sort of went with it, but this year I am not working (at least not in a regular job where you can count on a certain amount coming in every month - I work as a free-lance translator) and am not quite old enough to get my pension yet. I started doing any tests that were charged by Ville Marie either at St Mary's or at the Vic and if I stay with my surgeon there and have to go the mastectomy/ reconstruction route, the cost will be prohibitive. It's a bit scary to change teams but I think that's what I have to do. Thanks for the suggestions.
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Hello,
I'm new to this forum but, unfortunately, not new to cancer. I will be finishing chemo on Monday at the JGH where I've been going since September. I really like it there. Everyone has been great. I am having neo-adjuvant so still have surgery ahead of me. It's scheduled for March 21...keeps getting pushed back because I want tissue expanders right away so my surgeon, Dr Boileau, and plastic surgeon, Dr D, need to coordinate their schedules. My question: should I really be going for te's? Or should I wait till after radiation? Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!!
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I would definitely wait and have the surgery with the TEs put in. I had radiation with them and all was good and I was still able to have a great result with my reconstruction. I have heard too many stories where the result is not positive if you try and put the TE in radiated, thin, tight skin. Good luck! Stay strong! And continue to be your own advocate and go for what you want. In our health care system it is not always easy.
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Thank you, kerkle! it seemed like an easy choice when presented with the options but then they threw this wrench into it by changing the dates on me and saying well, you made this decision and that means waiting. I felt frustrated because they never told me that initially. They never said "if you choose option x, then it means waiting until y date".
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Hi Foreverchanged,
If there is one annoying thing about the Jewish (or probably just the public system in general), it's the waiting period. I got really lucky and I was also really pushy towards the end. If you are concerned about waiting until March 21, consider my timeline. I had a lumpectomy last February and only got the results in March. The margin was positive but I decided it best to start the chemotherapy first, since I had already been delayed quite a bit, and clean the margin after. My chemo ended August 31 and I had two re-excisions. Both times there were small spots of residual disease, both times near the margin. Finally, they recommended a mastectomy with tissue expander which I had December 21. My fills are done and I will be starting radiation in the next week. Funny thing was, there wasn't any residual disease after the mastectomy. Oh, if only they had taken a few more mm the last re-excision!
Dr. D was pretty clear that the best result comes from getting the expander, filling it as much as possible, and then doing the radiation. However, he said that they do fill after radiation and have success. It's just a lot trickier! If the doctors think it okay for you to wait for the radiation, you probably should consider it. They will tell you if it is not. I asked the RO if I could wait until after my exchange for radiation and that was a firm, "it is not recommended!"
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Rc1: are you doing radiation at the Jewish General? I'm meeting my RO next visit (end if Feb). His name is Dr. Muanza.
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Yes, I have Dr. Muanza also! He is very kind and arranged appointments for me to meet him when I wanted to discuss things. He does throw a lot of stats and studies at you though. I guess that can be disturbing for some people - it was for my fiance.
I just noticed your stats say you live in Chelsea?? Isn't that far from the Montreal? Or did you move? We have a close family friend that lives there.
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No, I still live in Chelsea. When I found a lump in my breast I didn't have a doctor. I phoned info-Sante and was told by a nurse that I was 38, had breast fed my three kids, was't overweight so not to worry, it was probably a cyst. Useless. So I went to Ottawa and found a dr willing to take Quebec patients. She sent me to an imaging clinic for a mammogram. Well, the lump was so large they immediately did an ultrasound and put me at BC RADS 5...95% chance of cancer!!! The imaging Centre was covered by Ontario health cards but not Quebec. I had to pay $491!!! I submitted a claim to the Quebec ministry but it was rejected because they said I could have had it done in Quebec...even though I asked just how was that possible without a dr referral. Flat out rejected. Then I got a biopsy done in Ottawa which I thankfully didn't have to pay for but was told by the Ottawa Civic hospital that I would now have to go to Quebec to see a surgeon because "surgeons in Ontario don't see Quebec patients". I 've since met lots of women here who had treatment in Ontario...it all boils down to what your family doctor is willing to do for you to get you in the system. And this dr I had just found didn't know me at all. She gave me a list of doctors in Gatineau and said, "good luck". At that point I distinctly remember deciding to become a fighter. I met with a surgeon who told me he would see me in September because he was about to go on vacation (it was the beginning of August!!) so I begged and pleaded to see him. He saw me before vacation and gave me the good news: I had cancer - big time. 6+ cm of tumour. Yeah, plural. All over left breast. He suggested neo-adjuvant chemo. Then he referred me to an oncologist. Two days later I went over to the Gatineau hospital and found my file languishing on a shelf. The administration assistant said there were only two oncologists that could triage cases and one was away. So when would I be triaged? Oh, 2-7 weeks. wtf?? That's when I decided to expand my horizons outside of the Gatineau area. I was taken in at the JGH in the young adults clinic right away and have been forever grateful. Dr. Palumbo took me on as his patient and said that he knew the Outaouais region is underserviced. So Montreal is a 2hr drive and Ottawa is a 15 min drive. But I don't mind. Everyone has been so nice at the JGH. I had weekly treatments in Montreal for 12 weeks but my friend set up an amazing Web Site for people to sign up to take me to chemo. Then four tri-weekly treatments - well, I still have one more of those. People have been outstanding here, too, taking me to treatment and taking my kids for play dates.
Yikes!! That was a really round about way of saying yes, I'm here in Chelsea.
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