Plastic/Recon for PBMX in Calgary/Southern Alberta?

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DiveCat
DiveCat Member Posts: 968
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer


Hi,


I do not have a cancer dx, but am high risk based on family hx. After many years of living under my family's "shadow" of aggressive cancer dx's, many books and forums read, many discussions with genetics counselors and doctors, countless hours - years! - of self-reflection, and many conversations with my wonderful husband...I know I want and am now ready for a PBMX.


I live in Lethbridge but am waiting on a couple referrals from the high risk centre in Calgary to the Breast Cancer Supportive Care in Calgary and a breast surgeon at Foothills Hospital for a PBMX. I know very little about plastic surgeons in Calgary though and who does reconstructive surgery (likely implants for me) and who does skin sparing/nipple sparing (if possible...I am larger breasted at 32DD and hope to go down in size a bit to a B or C at most).


Anyone had MX/recon in Calgary, out of Foothills? Any recommendations for PS's and what recon they specialize in? Personal experiences? Even if anyone has any comments on surgeons in Lethbridge, let me know your experience if you are willing to share, though I think I likely feel better going to Calgary.

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited January 2014

    hi, 

    I'm from Red Deer,  recent dx ?IDC/DCIS, I am having Dr May Lynn Qwan for the mastectomy portion and Dr Claire Temple-Oberle for reconstruction.   If you are still looking I will let you know how things go! 

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  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited February 2014

    Hi clarrn, 

    Thanks for the reply! When is your surgery? Are you doing implant reconstruction? I have heard good things about Dr. Temple-Oberle :)

    I have a date set for down here in Lethbridge with Dr. Hasell as the PS, but my call for a referral to Dr. Humphreys in Calgary came today so I am going up there in a couple weeks. I really like Dr. Hasell, and am concerned about logistics of getting surgery in Calgary, but I am curious to see what Dr. Humphreys says or can offer. I can't really find anyone who has had surgery with him, but I understand he has done quite a few of them with Dr. Austen and Dr. Austen had good things to say. 

    I don't know what I will do though if they offer similar. I already have a surgery date booked here and THAT took some time to arrange, so I can't imagine Calgary would be any quicker. A month or so longer wait would be fine, but too much more will make it difficult with work scheduling and such. And the idea of traveling up to Calgary for fills or if there are complications is not appealing. If Dr. Humphreys offers something very different though, like he has more experience with one-step reconstruction and can offer that with 410s...I might be swayed heavily to going to Calgary after all. 

    It seems like Canadians do less "shopping" than our American neighbours for PS's and such, and it is harder to find details of different surgeons or what they offer ahead of time! 

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited February 2014

    Yeah it took me 3 weeks to get my consult with Dr. Temple-Oberle, and I am still waiting for a surgery date.   So Jan 29 (my consult) to whenever I get in.  I did briefly start out in the Red Deer system but changed due to working here so less privacy and more experience in Calgary (although I hear the RD plastic surgeon is also excellent with implants).  If you are a candidate for direct implants you won't have to worry about fills, but yeah the complication possibility is always there.   

    I agree with you about "shopping".  My original nurse navigator in Red Deer was personally offended that I looked into Calgary even though I work in the only hospital here and would have to be on my own unit post surgery.   But I am confident in my decision and can't worry if one nurse thinks I'm being picky :)  I am, it's my life and my body,  and I don't want my friends doing my catheter care...lol.

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  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited February 2014

    I hope you get a call soon! I got my call for a surgery date in Lethbridge about 3-3 1/2 weeks after my consult, though I did have to follow up with them after a couple weeks to get the ball rolling. But, I am "elective" so less urgency overall.

    It was only 6 weeks to get my consult here in Lethbridge....4 months in Calgary, lol. 

    I can definitely understand not wanting to get surgery at same place you work! 

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited February 2014

    February 28th for my surgery!   So now I'm nervous about the pain and worried about the final pathology, but glad to finally get in.   Longest few months of my life.   I'm trying so hard not to "borrow trouble" but it's hard.  Away on an overnight with hubby tonight, but while he sleeps blissfully I can't shut off my brain. He told the hotel about my surgery and they sent up complimentary wine + cheese tray and chocolate covered strawberries, yum.  At least it's the most comfortable bed to be awake in...

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  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited March 2014

    Ah, clarrn, gosh I am terrible about checking in on this thread here so you are already done your surgery! How did it go? Did you get your pathology back yet? I hope you are recovering well.

    How nice of the hotel! What hotel? My nurse navigator sent me a list of hotels and such in Calgary that offer discounts to patients but I misplaced it...I will probably go up the night before my surgery to stay so there is less of a drive the day of (and don't need to worry about getting held up) and my husband and mother will want somewhere to stay while I am in hospital overnight.

    So, I went and saw the PS in Calgary this week and am now back to waiting for a surgery date in Calgary (at Rockyview) with him and the BS. I just thought he was fantastic (great bedside manner, very honest, supportive, and so on) and the plan with him is to do a nipple-sparing direct-to-implant procedure, so I don't have to worry about traveling back and forth for fills so the distance is not as big of a deal for me. Hopefully they call me with a surgery date in not too long...he did think they should be able to get me in before summer so hopefully that is the case!

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited March 2014

    Hi DiveCat,  my surgery went well other than nausea and stayed an extra night in hospital until the puking stopped.    Could not go skin sparing after all on the cancer side as my DCIS was intimately involved with a large portion of skin, so I have an implant on one side and TE on the other.  Fills for me, but I am just glad to have the cancer gone.  I am happy with the implant side for the most part and think I will be very happy with the end result.   I loved Temple-Oberle, she was fantastic .  I am glad you get to keep your nipples :) it's weird to think that  I won't have them ever again.   

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited March 2014

    Oops... I didn't answer everything.   We used the Westin but I don't know if they routinely give discounts, we didn't get a list of hotels like you did.  Still waiting on pathology, hope it is back for my followups Friday! 

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  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited March 2014

    clarrn, 

    Ugh, somehow this post keeps dropping off of my favourites list, and I miss your replies!

    I am sorry to hear you could not do the skin sparing on the one side; but it sounds like you are doing well with it. It is great that you have confidence in your surgeon too :) I am so worried about nausea! I tend to get pretty nauseous pretty
    easily, so I will be sure to emphasize this to the anaestheologist
    several times over. The ride home will be bad enough, I don't want to feel pukey throughought it too.

    I came across another post of yours where you mentioned they found node involvement; I am so sorry to hear that, and that it means chemo. It is great though that your mom is with you; sounds like she is a great support for you.

    I got a call for my surgery date the Monday after I wrote that last post...April 24th is the big day. I was surprised it was earlier than my previous date, given I am going to Calgary, but the two surgeons' assistants worked some magic. It actually works out better for me that way, I think. I will go up the night before, and booked a room at the Delta South to stay in that night, and my husband to stay in the next as well while I am in hospital. My mother and stepfather are flying in to Calgary that night and will be staying overnight to those two nights, and then will fly down and meet us back in Lethbridge. They are staying a week after my surgery...it should be interesting as I am pretty private and start to feel anxious when people are around too much (even if...or especially so...I am unwell), but I know they are amenable to me sending them out for ice cream if I need a break, too.

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  • Slainte
    Slainte Member Posts: 152
    edited March 2014

    I live south of Calgary.   Had my left side mastectomy Sept 2010 by Dr Rothwell.   Dr Robert Lindsay did my reconstruction.   It took me a year to get an appointment!   I had tissue expander and then implant on left side and a lift with a small implant on right side.   Just finically completely left side reconstruction last month with nipple tattoo.    I am now contemplating having prophylactic mastectomy and recontruction on right side.    Trying to figure out logistics for missing work.   

    Clarrn ,  I hope everything is going well for you, and good luck Divecat in your upcoming surgery.  

    Take Care,

    Christine 

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  • DiveCat
    DiveCat Member Posts: 968
    edited March 2014

    Hi Christine!  

    I remember reading somewhere Dr. Lindsay was in pretty high demand! You have much more patience than I do. I remember reading a year or so ago that some women were waiting 2 years for an appointment with one of the surgeons up there for delayed recon. That to me is just insane...especially when surgery might not be for several more months. 

    Thanks for the well wishes. 

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited March 2014

    Hi gang,

    I'm in Okotoks. Robert Lindsay is a PERFECTIONIST and I was grateful to have him assist my main PS, David McKenzie for my recon. They did a wonderful job, on a pretty messed up chest. But yes, the wait is horrific, especially for flap recon. If I can help anyone, just let me know.

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  • Slainte
    Slainte Member Posts: 152
    edited March 2014

    I actually got my referral to Dr Lindsay at my first Chemo appointment, so the year waiting for my appointment was occupied by chemo and herceptin.    By the time I had my  appointment  I was just starting to feel ok again so I didn't find the wait very long. :)

    Christine 

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  • nihahi
    nihahi Member Posts: 3,841
    edited March 2014

    That is definitely the way to do it!!!! Glad someone was thinking and planning on your behalf. Dr. Lindsay is very soft spoken and gentle mannered....excellent surgeon as well. Hope your experience with him is a good one.

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