Kellogg cancer center

I was diagnosed with IDC stage IIA back in May. My PCP is over at St. Francis, and I ended up getting a lumpectomy there. There is one surgeon there, Dr. Hyser who has a wonderful bedside manner, who does almost all of the breast cancer surgeries there, and he even did my biopsy. I also had an anal polyp that was causing my lots of rectal bleeding that I had to have surgically removed anyway, and so while I was seeing him about that, I asked him if he could examine a lump I had in one of my breasts. He immediately decided that the breast lump needed to be investigated first, and he sent me for a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound, where they found a lump. The only complaint I had about St. Francis, is that it took me 11 days to get an appointment for a mammogram and ultrasound, and then it took me three weeks to get the biopsy. I saw him the end of May, and I did not have the lumpectomy until the end of May. Kellogg is much quicker. St. Francis is trying to compete with Kellogg though. They hired two well known MO to join their staff, and they opened up a place to do chemo and I believe radiation across from Old Orchard. I decided I wanted to go to see a MO at Kellogg though, because you get lots of attention there that you don't at St. Francis. The first chemo session I had over at Kellogg in Evanston, I was also visited by a pharmacist, and a social worker. The social worker was fantastic, and visited me at all four chemo sessions. Dr. Winchester is supposed to have a good reputation, and his Father practiced there for years. I have heard many good things about Dr, Yeh too.

My MO is Dr. Merkel. People either love him or hate him. He is really shy, and it takes him a few visits to warm up to you. The people that seem to hate him, only go to him once, and say never again. I have two friends that go to him and love him, and there are people with stage IV breast cancer that say that he is the only reason they are still alive. He only treats breast cancer, and he knows everything there is to know about it. There are a few MO's that are female there, that also only treat BC. The thing I like about Kellogg is that all the MO's have nurses that work with them, and if you have a question or a problem you can leave a message, and the nurse will get back to you usually the same day. The nurse also does a chemo 101 session before you start chemo. Dr Merkel's nurse Bonnie is fantastic. Dr. Merkel is only at Evanston three days a week though, and he is at Glenbrook and HP the other days, and so I always try to call up one of the days he is there. I think it is the same with the other MO's.. We have a breast cancer support group that meets once a month at 1000 Central in the professional building across from the hospital. You might also try posting this in the Illinois woman facing BC group too. You would get a better response there Sorry you have to be here, but you will get good care at Kellogg. Hope this helps.