Picking a surgeon

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Leezat
Leezat Member Posts: 3
edited March 2015 in Just Diagnosed

hi. My mom was recently diagnosed with BC. She has had a lumpectomy but they found more under her nipple area and recommend a masectomy. She is currently at Mackenzie Health with Dr Steven Jackson. I'm a bit concerned that it's a regional hospital and wondering if anyone has experience with Dr Jackson? My parents feel it is "bad" to change doctors at this stage (they are "off the boat" European) but I want to make sure she has a good surgeon. I wondering if moving to princess Margaret or sunny brook is better? ( please note that the people at Mackenzie health have been great, I just want what's best for my mom). Any advise or comments are welcome. This is very overwhelming right now as we just received the news today.

Thanks

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2015

    Dear Leezat, Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry for your mom's diagnosis but glad that you are reaching out to support her. You may want to check out the Canadian Forum. We are assuming that you are in Canada? Perhaps you can get some information by posting where others may know of the health care systems there. The Mods

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited March 2015

    First, I'm so sorry about your Mom's diagnosis. I have no experience with your Mom's hospital or surgeon, but I do have a very strong opinion about situations like hers based on my own experience, which is fully explained on my bio page.

    It looks like you're in Canada, so giving you a list of NCI-designated hospitals in the US would not be helpful. But I'm sure you have centers there that specialize in breast cancer, and when things begin to look the least bit complicated than first thought or assumed, as your Mom's situation does, that's the time to at least get a second opinion from those who see the most breast cancer, just to be sure every base has been covered and nothing is being missed. What happened may be totally within reason (finding more bc necessitating a mastectomy is not uncommon), and her surgeon may be exceptionally good. But it never hurts to get a second opinion, just to compare what you're being told, and to be sure your Mom is given any and all options re. surgery choices and reconstruction -- the latter of which may be more easily available at a true breast cancer center, and should never be overlooked or minimized (IMO) because of age.

    Good luck, and so glad you've found BCO and reached out for her! (((Hugs))) Deanna



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  • downdog
    downdog Member Posts: 1,432
    edited March 2015

    What's your mom's diagnosis? You get breast surgeons, plastic surgeons and pathologists who deal with high volume breast work at large breast cancer centers. I'd rank them Princess Margaret (part of UHN, so some of the appointments/care could be at Toronto General), Sunnybrook, and then Women's College or North York General, depending on whether or not she is interested in reconstruction, and specifically perforator flaps. Mount Sinai and St Mike's have breast centers, but I wouldn't pick these. You will need a referral for a second opinion from the managing physician (Dr Jackson) or her PCP. Wait times may be too long to be viable. I would expect her to be prioritized based on her stage/rarity at Princess Margaret and Sunnybrook, which will both have the longest wait times.

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  • Leezat
    Leezat Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2015

    thank you for the feedback and well wishes. I am trying to figure out how to post on Canadian forum as I would like to see if there is anyone out there's with experience with Dr Steven Jackson

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited March 2015

    Leezat, go to "All Forums" (top of options to left, these are the major subcategories here). Scroll down until you see "Canadian Breast Cancer Survivors" (under Support & Community). Once there, you can start a new topic.

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