Need new oncologist and surgeon.

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Barbarjud
Barbarjud Member Posts: 15
edited September 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

Help please.  I am moving from the Philadelphia area the end of August to Orange County, Calif.  Need a recommendation for new oncologist and surgeon.  I was just diagnosed with a second (but small) breast cancer in my other breast.  

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  • gale1525
    gale1525 Member Posts: 232
    edited August 2014

    Hi Mango,

    I am also in Orange County I love my breast surgeon her name is Dr. Tomi Evans  in Long Beach ( Los Angeles  county) not far from Orange County. I recently had some minor surgery at Long Beach Memorial Hospital (with another doctor). I was talking to the nurse about her and she couldn't say enough nice things about her and told me she got some big award, that is very difficult to get and she said that it did not even get awarded last year because the couldn't find the right doctor that met all the criteria. She is the most knowledgeable, kind and down to earth doctor that I have met so far. In fact I don't have to even need see her anymore because she follows her patients for 5 years, but I am still going because I feel she does a much better exam the the oncologist and will better answer any questions. Can't help you with my oncologist though I am looking for a new myself. I just got a recommendation for a Dr. Nagourney.  If you go with Dr. Evans I would also ask her for an oncologist recommendation. Here is Dr. Evans info. and Dr. Nagourney info.

    701 E 28th St., Suite 418

    Long Beach, CA 90806

    (562) 997-4070

    (562) 989-1032 (Dr. Nagourney)

    701 E 28th Street (Dr. Evans)

    Suite 411

    Long Beach, CA 90806

    United States


    Phone:


    (562) 426-0338

  • jenn333
    jenn333 Member Posts: 178
    edited August 2014

    Hi Mango - 

    I live in OC.  I went to UCLA for my surgery (Helena Chang) and my oncologist is Merry Tetef at UCLA's Irvine location.  Recommend both very highly.

    Good luck!

  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited August 2014

    Mango, I'm so sorry about your re-dx.  I'm also a UCLA gal.  My breast surgeon, whom I adore and can highly recommend, was Racquel Prati.  My oncologist is Sara Hurvitz.  And if you need plastic surgery, I can highly recommend Jaco Festekjian.  Dr. Prati and Dr. Festekjian are both in the Westwood Medical Plaza, adjacent to main campus in Westwood.  Sara Hurvitz is in the Santa Monica oncology offices.  

    LA is a bit of a drive for you, but one thing that makes it really worthwhile is their multidisciplinary clinic, where a team of docs will review all of your tx records, determine what, if any, additional tests are needed, and give you a comprehensive recommendation.  You can choose to stay with them for tx or you can take the recommendations back to local docs or any combination that works for you. You can read about it here: http://breastcenter.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=31

    If you must stay in OC, Hoag in Newport Beach is also good, but they're not NCI-Designated, so I would still suggest at least starting with UCLA or UC San Diego or other NCI-designated place first, especially since this is a second bc.

    Good luck!    Deanna

  • gale1525
    gale1525 Member Posts: 232
    edited August 2014

     I echo what  Deanna said about Dr. Festekjian. Even though I love my breast surgeon. She might be right in going with UCLA, they probably have the most up to date info. and resorces. I live in  north Orange County. I always left plenty of time to get to my appt. (two hours) it is really not that far but you never know about traffic I usally got there early but I also got in early for my appt.

  • gale1525
    gale1525 Member Posts: 232
    edited August 2014

     I echo what  Deanna said about Dr. Festekjian. Even though I love my breast surgeon. She might be right in going with UCLA, they probably have the most up to date info. and resorces. I live in  north Orange County. I always left plenty of time to get to my appt. (two hours) it is really not that far but you never know about traffic I usally got there early but I also got in early for my appt.

  • PoppyK
    PoppyK Member Posts: 1,805
    edited August 2014

    Hi Mango,

    I am being treated at the Breast Cancer Center at Loma Linda University Medical Center. I have a team of cancer specialists including a surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and plastic surgeon. There is also a radiologist, patient navigator, dieticians, and counselors available. There is a tumor board to review your case, so you get second, third and fourth opinions all in one place. Support groups, a library and much more are available. They have breast MRIs and proton therapy, too. Very up to date, cutting edge facility. Everyone I have had contact with have been wonderful.  

     Depending on where you are going to live in Orange County, it would be about an hour drive.

    http://lomalindahealth.org/medical-center/our-services/cancer-center/breast-cancer-center/index.page

    Good luck with your move!

  • thePuppetLady
    thePuppetLady Member Posts: 127
    edited August 2014

    here's another recommendation for Dr. Tomi Evans who was my surgeon--she's fabulous!  My oncologist was Dr. Bichlien Nguyen who has her office in Fountain Valley.  I highly recommend them both!

  • kareenie
    kareenie Member Posts: 339
    edited August 2014

    Dr Karen Lane at UC Irvine is a wonderful oncological breast surgeon.  She did my wide excision after neo adjuvant chemo for local recurrence.  There are good med onc at UCI but I ended up using my local MO.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2014

    Not sure if this is too late. Being treated thru St. Joseph's in Orange: BS - Dr Michele Carpenter, PS - Dr Linda Zeineh, MO - Dr David Margileth. The best!

    I, too, was diagnosed with second, smaller BC in the other breast. 

  • hbcheryl
    hbcheryl Member Posts: 5,113
    edited August 2014

    My oncologist is also Dr. Merry Tetef in Irvine, can't recommend her highly enough and my surgeon has retired but recently was referred to Dr. Jane Kakkis at Orange Coast Memorial in Fountain Valley, I liked her a lot and she did a friends surgery and she is very happy with her.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2014

    mango, have you made your move?

  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited September 2014

    I grew up in OC .. and all these nice people posting nice things about the nice people THEY'VE met.. goes to show you that you are moving to an awesome area and youll be in good hands and amazing weather :)

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