Anyone has experience with North York General Hospital?

Hi Ashera

Just wondering if you got any information regarding NYGH and Dr. McRitchie specifically.  I am going to be seeing a surgeon and plastic surgeon there for breast reconstruction in the next couple of months and am just curious as to how you made out.  It's quite an overwhelming process trying to decide who to go with!

I actually have an appointment with Dr. Mahoney in early July.  Mel1222 would you mind telling me why you chose to go with the DIEP.  This is all new to me and I would just like to get different opinions and perspectives on the various procedures.  Thanks.

Hi everyone.  Congrats on 5 years, Lilyn!! I was also diagnosed at the Breast Clinic at NYGH.  Dr. Pinchuk was filling in that day for the regular doctor and I'm so glad he was because he then did my lumpectomy and is involved in my follow-up care.  As you were saying, mel1222, he is very caring and you really feel that he is addressing your individual needs.  He calmed me right down in the beginning when I was feeling panicked.  Dr. Roitman at NYGH is my medical oncologist.  He is "sharing my care" with Dr. Pinchuk, so I have been seeing them alternately every 4 months.   Dr. Roitman is pleasant and knowledgeable, but is more clinical in his manner than Dr. Pinchuk.  My breast cancer journey at NYGH has been excellent.  Radiation at Sunnybrook with Dr. Eileen Rakovitch was also a very good exprience.

Are your medical oncologists at NYGH or elsewhere?

Hi there. I'm from Peterborough and after extensive research I chose Dr Semple at WCH in TO for my reconstruction. I am tall and lean so not a candidate for tram or diep. Thought using lattisimus back muscle would be only option as I wanted an implant for a more natural look. Timing is everything as DR Semple performing new fat graft ( essentially a syringe of fat from your flanks) to re stimulate stem cell growth and repair radiated tissue. He did this procedure twice 3 months apart and the tissue on the radiated site was then good enough to have expander and implant. I was the 5 th person to have this done by him. Amazing as non invasive compared to other texniques. He also performed a prophylactic mastectomy with immediate implant and alloderm recon on the other side for me. Then he gave me two new nipples using labia tissue. Amazing results. Dr Zhong was my second choice. Check out who is doing the new stuff. Something better all the time to help us.

Sorry for the late reply. Maybe will help another patient. As you can see through this thread, not much mention of Dr. Donna McRitchie. When I was first diagnosed in 2008; I was referred to Dr. McRitchie and heard she was very good.

My experience with her at the beginning was not bad. She seemed professional and efficient. But not especially caring or gentle. She performed my lumpectomy. Next step she prescribed was radiation. I had hesitations about radiation. Due to the fact that I was 41 (chances of a secondary cancer caused by radiation would be higher than if I was in my 60's or 70' - based on time it may take to occur) and my skin reacts so badly to the sun that I knew there would have been problems tolerating radiation.

Dr. McRitchie was not very forthcoming when I asked about mastectomy and reconstruction; other than to say nothing is a good as your own breast. I asked her for referrals to plastic surgeons. She said I had to give her the PS names and contact info and will have her nurse check into it. I did my own research, provided her office with names. Never got a referral. Her office said all the PS were booked and could not see me. My radiation oncologist (Dr. Edward Chow, Sunnybrook) was much for sympathetic and wanted me to make the right choice for myself. He was able to secure me appoints with the PS's I wanted to see.

Furthermore Dr. McRitchie had said that I should start radiation first and if I had problems after the first or second treatment I could change my mind. However my radiation onc. said that is not the case. 1. Once treatment starts, you really need to continue and 2. he said skin problems would not present themselves within the first or second treatment.

In the end I chose to have mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with Dr. Toni Zhong. I know that Dr. McRitchie's office gets all my results/reports. But not once has her office called me for a follow up or anything. I believe she just wrote me off when I went against her decision. So I cannot recommend Dr. McRitchie at all. But I can highly recommend Dr. Chow and Dr. Zhong.

PINZGAUER1, I can't recommend Dr. J. Lipa from Sunnybrook high enough!! She is the BEST doctor I have ever had. She is a highly skilled neuro plastic surgeon who did her fellowship at MD Anderson. She did my diep with such skill that I am amazed at what can be done. She is so kind and down to earth. I remember when she came to visit me after surgery, the attendant had just delivered my lunch and she helped me get positioned and actually handed me my soup joking about how I'll want to get home after eating it! I really am amazed at what a perfect combination she is, it's hard to find a highly skilled surgeon with such a caring personality.

Shari