Anybody from Montreal??

Options
dancingdiva
dancingdiva Member Posts: 475
edited October 2015 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

Hi,

just wanna connect with others in my city and see your experiences...

My story. I'm 42. 2 small kids. I had a mammo and US done in Nov 2013. there were 2 abnormal fibroadenomas in each breast. I was refered to a surgeon who looked me over for 30 seconds and said everything looked fine and to follow up in 6 months. I had breast pain in my left breast. I've always had chest breast shoulder pain on the left for years so I didn't associate even if there is an association at this point. The pain got worse in April so I went for an early US. No changes from the Nov one but I was concerned so they suggested a biopsy. 2 wks later went to surgeon, my nipple started to hurt. He looked me over for another 30 seconds, brushed me off that the nipple thing was probably a skin thing and pain is not associated to BC. Ordered the biopsies.

2 wks later, I should say I'm in Canada, MOntreal, the hospital still didn't call so I called and told them how the nipple is really hurting, puffy and starting to invert. Got the biopsy the next day only on my left side and lymph node since it was hurting even there. I totally forgot about the right side from the US report. 1 wk later low and behold, I have IDC. Surgeon tells me I was right, but it's not Inflammatory BC or Paget. They will have to take out nipple and it's spread to lymph node. Surgery scheduled in 2wks.

So after a few days of freaking out, I remember the US report, go get copy and I'm like wtf, the description on my right breast is the same as my left breast so why wasn't a biopsy done on my right breast too?? because I wasn't bitching about the pain like the left one? call surgeon....i have biopsy in 2 days.

I'm at the Jewish General hospital, prob the best hospital in the city, my surgeon is supposed to be good but I can't help but feel I have fallen through the cracks here. Why didn't I get the biopsy from Nov...because I'm young and there was no tumor looking thing on US??? Why am I the one to notice the right brest result??

I'm so upset because everybody who has been through this has told me that I need to have faith in my medical team but I feel that I just don't.

The surgery is now just a Lumpectomy and the nodes and after that they see results and I get PET scan to see where it spread. Do they know the grade, stage, whether you are ER PR, etc just from the biopsy or do they figure it out after surgery? Are PET scans only after surgery? why don't they want to see if where it spread before surgery??

so many questions...

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • CynthiaHeather
    CynthiaHeather Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2015

    Hello, I unfortunately do not have any answers for your previous post but it does not make me have faith in our medical system here in Montreal. A few months ago my nipples started hurting, cracking and flaking. I blew it off as a skin condition but it never left, I finally went to a walk in clinic yesterday so I could get a referral to be seen by a breast specialist at Cedars and when I called today to schedule an appointment they were very cold and told me I probably won't get a reply for an appointment for another 3-4 weeks.

    Where did you go to get your nipple biopsy? I'm worried that if I wait they'll only do a US and mammogram and blow me off similar to what happened to you.

    Have you been treated at the Jewish general since the beginning? Or do you have a doctor you could refer me too?


    Thank you in advance

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • LindaE54
    LindaE54 Member Posts: 2,054
    edited September 2015

    I live near Montreal. Our health system is not always the best and we must be proactive and persistent. I speak from experience. When I was diagnosed (in St-Jerome), I went for a second opinion at the CHUM Hotel Dieu in Montreal. It was with Dr. André Robidoux who runs the breast cancer clinic. He's the top specialist and also very involved in research. I simply looked up the website, can't remember if I emailed or called, but the point is you can get an appt without a referral. Only good things to say about him and his team. I had the choice of staying with him or continue with my local hospital. I chose my local hospital which by the way had the same results and treatment plan.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MrsDarcy
    MrsDarcy Member Posts: 162
    edited October 2015

    Cynthia - did you get any answers ?

    I was treated at a Montreal hospital too - but after having fallen through the cracks there (lucky, me too!) - I changed hospitals after paying a private clinic to write me up a referral. Best $200 I ever spent - I have a fabulous oncologist now in a different hospital.

    We need to be our own advocates out here .. Cynthia, I would still take the appointment at Cedars. If it's the same lady answering the phone as they had at the Vic, she is just like that ;). 3-4 weeks is pretty much the norm unless you had an urgent referral note from your doctor. I had a lump that was clearly felt and still waited a month for an appointment. My tumor was in no way small.

    Cedars will do mammo, US and if need be, biopsy.

    Hopefully since your last post you have been able to get in for your appointment !!


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories