Anyone at Sunnybrook?

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Diana_B
Diana_B Member Posts: 287
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

I'm thinking of changing from Princess Margaret to Sunnybrook and wondered if anyone goes there and how you find it.

What's the feel of the place? And how are the wait times for CT, MRI and radiation?

Have you had to have related treatment in other departments, like thoracic and orthopaedic and what was that like?

This is a tough decision, so any input would be helpful.

Thanks

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  • rackie
    rackie Member Posts: 192
    edited February 2011

    hi diana i am sunnybrook.  i have dr. maureen trudeau for my oncologist and dr. boileau for my surgeon.  so far i am pleased.  they are understanding and caring.  i was originally at scarborough grace and had very negative feelings.  i have transfered to sunnybrook and i feel very confident. my surgeon is so sweet and understanding. it is the first time i have met a surgeon with compassion.  i have not had experieince with the thoracic or orthopedic.  i can tell you that my mom went there with stage 4 colon cancer in 1999 and she is still alive ned eversince 2001.  it is a great place.  feel free to private email me.

    best of luck and good wishes,

    jackie

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited February 2011

    I was treated at Sunnybrook for chemo and rads, and continue to return for my follow-up visits to my onc there. It is a very busy cancer center, so you have to be prepared to wait for chemo, they are often behind schedule by an hour or 2 or more. Virtually all of the chemo nurses are wonderful (with 1 or 2 exceptions.). Rads were very efficient, I requested first thing a.m. and got it. Seldom waited more than 10 minutes. Later in the day they get backed up.  The rads team was great. I waited 4 months for a follow-up breast MRI (for screening only).  I doubt there is much difference from PM - are you (dis)satisfied there?  

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited February 2011

    I'm also at Sunnybrook. I had surgery, chemo, rads there. Doctors are great. Chemo nurses wonderful, and the rad technicians terrific. Every doctor has a special nurse assigned to work with him/her so it's always easy to reach someone if you need to. No significant wait times for tests etc. My gyn is also at Sunnybrook and I have always felt well cared for there.

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  • Diana_B
    Diana_B Member Posts: 287
    edited February 2011

    Thanks so much for your responses. And so quickly!

    I'm not dissatisfied with PMH. It would be for other reasons that I'd be moving.

    One thing that makes me nervous is that I get all my tests really quickly now and am worried about having to wait longer. Intellectually I know it's probably the same at both places, but I'm not doing so well and get scared.

    That's interesting jackie what you say about your surgeon. i've been pretty lucky in that regard. Dr. Easson was great and very warm as was Dr. Lo at PMH, who was quite funny too. But now that I think of it I have had one surgeon who fit the surgeon stereotype. I didn't enjoy dealing with her at all.

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  • whitecotton
    whitecotton Member Posts: 106
    edited February 2011

    I was at scraborough general and then had radiation at sunnybrook. Yes in the morning you do not wait long but in the afternoons it does get slow. I love it there! Yes you have to wait and the chemo rooms are small but the staff are top notch. I got on an awesome drug study there and I was truly blessed as there was no placebo and they are calling it a great drug for the prevention of recurrences.The drug is zometa (sp) I was on if for 3 years and was treated like a queen and kick up or pain they were checking up on me to make sure I was ok. Now I am wanting Reconstruction and they refereed me to womens college and I am so pleased with the surgeon they refereed me too. My surgery date is in three days so getting geared up for my last stage of this whole process. Hard to believe it has been 4 years.

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  • Nicole4
    Nicole4 Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2015

    I am currently having my chemo treatment at Trilium sherway and it is now time to plan for my double mastectomy and reconstruction.  I am meeting with Laura Snell and Dr. Boileau for reconstruction on January 6, 2012.  I am wondering if anyone has experience with these surgeons.  I am very happy to have my surgery at Sunnybrook rather than Etobicoke.  I am also wondering whether I should have considered this hospital with my treatment plan or whether you receive the same protocol province wide.

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  • pratibha
    pratibha Member Posts: 5
    edited December 2011

    I am going to see Dr. Wright at Sunnybrook for surgery...anyone knows how competent is this doc?

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  • Nicole4
    Nicole4 Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2015

    I was initially referred to Dr. Wright from my family doctor, she comes highly recommended that is all I know.

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  • PLJ
    PLJ Member Posts: 373
    edited January 2012
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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited December 2011

    Last summer (2010) I had called Princess Margaret to ask if they were accepting knew patients and if my doc referred me, would they take me. They said no. Once I was under the care of an onc, they didn't want to take my business. In a way I can see why. Everyone would go to the big cancer centres!! But I have a rare cancer (Papillary Carcinoma of the breast) and when I first Googled it at diagnosis (2008) there were only THREE stories on it!!! All with the same 83 yo woman..... I was really wanting a second opinion, but was put off. Someone else has told me I should have pushed.

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  • PLJ
    PLJ Member Posts: 373
    edited January 2012

    Thanks, barbe1958. MO who I initially wanted had a 3 month wait...too long to determine if chemo was needed. I'm still pushing...GP wants me with a new MO and is pushing, too. Sorry to derail this thread a bit but Sunnybrook is the goal!

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  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited December 2011

    I know of two ladies, one who transferred to Sunnybrook

    from PMH and another one who took TX  at Sunnybrook

    Both seem pleased with TX at Sunnybrook Hospital

    Best wishes to you on this

    Sierra :)

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  • Sunny123
    Sunny123 Member Posts: 17
    edited January 2012

    I am a patient at Sunnybrook, had Dr. Dent initially as my medical oncologist (she is on leave) Dr. Ghandi and Dr. Czarnota for Radiation and my Suregeon was Dr. Boileau.  I am very happy with the care I received from each of them.

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  • VeronicaX
    VeronicaX Member Posts: 35
    edited February 2012

    I am at Sunnybrook . My onc is Dr Trudeau

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  • Cucho
    Cucho Member Posts: 42
    edited February 2012

    I just switched from PMH to Sunnybrook...about to start chemo and not sure what to expect...but I switched to get into the Young Women with Breast Cancer program which they dont have at PMH!

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  • JudiH
    JudiH Member Posts: 1,184
    edited March 2012

    Hi, I'm at Sunnybrook.  Had my surgeries at Trillium in Mississauga but was referred to Sunnybrook. I have the greatest oncology team - Dr. Ghandi & Dr. Rakovitch.  I'm supposed to meet up with Dr. Dent when she returns.  Honestly, I couldn't be happier other then not being there but I have found all of the staff/personnel to be caring, king and very helpful!

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  • Nicole4
    Nicole4 Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2015

    I had right mastectomy in March by Dr. Boileau, followed by radiation (25).  The plan was to do left mastectomy at the same time as TE and lat dorsi surgery in the fall 2012 after recovery from radiation.

    My follow up appointment 7 weeks was on Friday, I learned that Dr. Boileau is leaving for Montreal, Dr. Snell and Dr. Lipa are both going on mat leave and said that my surgery can wait until spring of 2013.

    I am not really comfortable waiting to remove my left brest and want to look into another team at Sunnybrook for surgery in the fall.  Does anyone have any advice on this and experience with other surgeons.  Should I wait for Dr. Snell, I heard she was the best.  I am nervous to wait even though there is nothing really suspicious about my left breast, I just don't want to take a chance that I would have to risk going back to chemo and doing that over again.

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  • Nicole4
    Nicole4 Member Posts: 104
    edited February 2015

    Has anyone dealt with Dr. Wright at Sunnybrook?

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  • Tonia3
    Tonia3 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2013

    Hi Nicole, I am currently a patient of Dr.'s Snell and Lipa at Sunnybrook, they are phenomenal! Their teams worked together to perform a double mastectomy and reconstruction for me and they were amazing to me. Very compassionate, answered all my questions, my family's questions, they were so patient and caring. You will not be disappointed with your results. Your breasts will look and feel very natural. The process began for me in Aug. 2011; I'm still waiting for the "part 2"...fat graphing, symmetry, lift, etc., and "part 3" would then be nipple reconstruction/tattooing. (Sorry, I'm sure you already know this I just get carried away...lol). All in all, do you will be in great hands from beginning to end with either one of them.

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  • MarieInOntario
    MarieInOntario Member Posts: 11
    edited October 2013


    I have just been diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and have an appointment to see Dr. Look Hong at Sunnybrook in Toronto on Nov. 5. I'm pretty nervous. Does anyone here know anything about her or have you been seen by her? I would like to know a little bit more about her.

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited October 2013


    Hi Marie, I don't know of Dr. Look Hong, but was treated at Sunnybrook.I had Dr. Wright, Dr. Ghandi and Dr. Czarnata. You are at a top notch hospital and everyone was so caring. You are in good hands :-)

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  • MarieInOntario
    MarieInOntario Member Posts: 11
    edited October 2013


    Thanks for your help. I saw a surgeon in Collingwood last night and he confirmed that I have cancer in the lymph nodes as well as my breast. He's a lovely man and my whole family liked him. I am booked to go to Sunnybrook on Tuesday for a second opinion. I put my requisitions in today for a bone scan and CT scan. I'll be glad when they are done because that should tell me if the cancer has spread.

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  • HockeyMom8
    HockeyMom8 Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2013

    Hi Marie, I have Dr. Look Hong as my surgeon and just had left breast mastectomy and lymph nodes removed last Monday, October 21.  I wasn't sure after my first couple of meetings with her if I was happy with her, but since that time I have come to feel better about her.  I am currently recooping from surgery.  I have been "lurking" on these boards since my diagnosis in April and they have helped me.  I never planned on "chiming in" on any topic, just reading them, but when I saw your post I thought I would reply to you to help you out.  I will be at Dr. Look Hong's office as well on November 5th for my post op follow up appointment.  If you have any other questions, please ask.

    Sue

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  • MarieInOntario
    MarieInOntario Member Posts: 11
    edited November 2013


    Thanks so much for replying. My appointment is 2:30 on Tuesday. What time will you be there? I've just had a complete body CT scan (yesterday) and today had a bone scan. (prescribed by my surgeon in Collingwood). I should have the results on Monday in time for meeting with her on Tuesday for a second opinion. I will be having right breast mastectomy and lymph nodes removed as well. How is your recovery going?

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