How can I get the Breast Cancer Surgeon I want in Canada?

Call Dr. Dabb's office and ask what is required to get an appointment.  In most cases, all that is necessary to see any specialist is a referral from another doctor who you are currently seeing. 

If you can't get the referral from your GP, do you have a Gyn?  If not, another way in is to see the surgeon that your GP referred you to, and then tell them that you would like a second opinion from Dr. Dabb, so that they set up the referral. 

The one thing I learned about the Quebec health care system is that you need to be as pushy and proactive as possible.  I am sure this probably applies to the rest of Canada.  Sometimes it's really frustrating but in the end it's your health.  Like Beesie said, I would call the doctor's office that you want and push as much as you can while still being polite.  If that doctor is accepting appointments then it's as simple as a referral.  In fact, my gynecologist asked me if I wanted a specific referral or one of his choice.  If you don't have another doctor you can see, try a walk-in clinic.

My husband and I both pushed beyond our usual comfort zone for various reasons, including to get appointments moved earlier, getting seen by the doctors I wanted, and making sure that the doctors were properly following my case.   What I realized is that if you are annoying but polite, you will have much better care.  It's been proven too - proactive patients have been shown to have better survival rates. 

Good luck through this process.  The first months feel like a hellish eternity but time starts running normally after a while. 

I am so glad for you!  I really wanted you to have the BS you felt good about. xx

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!