Dr. Lipa is leaving Canada

Options
Caya
Caya Member Posts: 971
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

I had an appointment with Dr. Joan Lipa at Toronto General Hospital yesterday - She informed me that she is going to UCLA, most likely by Feb. 2008. They are recruiting a new PS, and there is a Dr. Hoffer there who also does cancer reconstructions.

Really a pity, we lose another great specialist to the States.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited November 2007





    Seems I had heard this

    and it surely is a shame



    We lost Dr. Paul Goss

    as well









    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited November 2007

    Thanks for the info, although it's not what I wanted to hear.  Dr. Lipa is my PS.  She's great - I hate to see her go.  I guess this means that if I decide to have my nipple done or any other refinements to my reconstruction, I won't be getting it done by her!

    Sierra, I hadn't heard that Dr. Goss left.  Gee, that's two of the best in the city who'll be gone. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited November 2007

    Hi Beesie:



    Great to see you...



    Best to you with our upcoming

    holiday season, fast approaching



    May all be well on your path



    O/T Lots going on in the city

    pre Christmas





    Hugs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited November 2007

    Sierra, all the best to you too!

    To everyone in Toronto, did you see the snow a couple of days ago?  We had a wonderful ride through a long warm fall but I think winter's here now!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited November 2007



    Hi:



    No, I did not.. but

    sure wish I still cross country skied

    those were the days



    LOL



    Out to Dagmar

    just beautiful



    Maybe I will skate this year

    at Harbourfront





    Be well all





    :))





    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 254
    edited November 2007

    Hi fellow Torontonians!  I just found out today that Dr. Lipa is leaving Canada.  When I had my mastectomy last Nov./06 I was told by my surgeon that she could help me with reconstruction.  I have been waiting since August to hear back about my appt., then was told about a month ago, she is not taking any new patients!!!  Now I know whyFrown

    Does anyone know anything about Dr. Hoffer?  Does he offer diep without taking ab. muscles?

    I had radiation on my mast site so I don't have a lot of choices.  I am considering having a bilateral mast with reconstruction......

    Feel lost and upset now.

    Ginny

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • raluca63
    raluca63 Member Posts: 20
    edited November 2007

    Hi Ginny,

    I don't know anything about dr. Hoffer, but I know that there is another good plastic surgeon in Toronto who is doing DIEP FLAP, dr. Semple, at Sunnybrook hospital. I was lucky enough to hape my DIEP (stage 1)done by dr. Lipa (but not totally lucky, because I haven't have stage 2 yet) but I remember my surgeon wanting to reffer me to dr. Semple and saying that he is a very good plastic surgeon as well . I ended up having dr. Lipa as my PS, and I am extremely happy with her work but in the same time extremely sad that she's leaving us.

    Regards,

    Calipso 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited November 2007



    Hi Calipso:



    Sending light to you today

    sent you a PM>>> before



    I was at PMH x 2 this week



    Anyone posting here

    ... they have a program

    called Survivorship



    you have to book for it



    Great program!

    and you can obtain all types of info

    NO MATTER WHERE one is on the path



    You have to phone and book for it



    Ask for Survivorship Program







    Sierra

    :))







    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 254
    edited November 2007

    Thanks Calipso for the good information.  I was hoping to have my surgeon, Dr. McCready do my mastectomy in tandem with the ps.  He did work with Dr. Lipa and that was the original plan.  I guess I have lots more homework to do!

    Do you know if Dr. Semple does micro surgery?

    Ginny

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited November 2007

    Ginny, have you talked to Dr. McCready?  I had my mastectomy done by him in tandem with Dr. Lipa.  Is there no other plastic surgeon that he's now using for the joint surgeries?  Maybe you can call Fe to see what advice she can give you.

    Calipso, glad to hear from you.  How are you recovering after the DIEP?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • raluca63
    raluca63 Member Posts: 20
    edited November 2007

    Hi girls,

    Sierra and Beesie - thanks a lot for thinking about me. I do think of you all the time, but because I had such a hard surgery (DIEP), I could not get out of the bed for long time, so I could not write emails or be on this board.

    Beesie - I am ok now, it's been 2 months since my surgery and I still have the home care nurse coming to change my dressings because the wounds heal very slowly but otherwise I am doing pretty good now. It was a hell of a surgery, but who cares, the results are just amazing...I can't believe .

    Ginny - yes, dr. Semple does microsurgery. Actually dr. McCready wanted to refer me to dr. Semple first saying that they have worked together before and dr. Sample is very good in doing DIEP (TRAM) FLAP, but as in your case, I had to have dr. McCready working in tandem with dr. Lipa, so I ended up with dr. Lipa as my PS. - no regrets whatsoever, she is amazing and I am so sad she's leaving us. Unforunately we don't have too many doctors here to choose from for  DIEP (TRAM) FLAPS.

    I would like to ask dr. Lipa if I can have stage 2 (nipples) done by her in the States, I just don't trust other PS...I know it might be very costly , but I will try at least.

    Beesie, I will send you an email on your private address, I miss a lot talking with you.

    Ginny, if you have questions about the DIEP surgery, please feel free to PM me,  I would be very happy talk with you.

    Regards,

    Calipso 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 254
    edited November 2007

    Hi Beesie, Fe told me that there is a dr. Hoffer, replacing dr. Lipa.  I just felt good about dr. Lipa after hearing so many good results here.  Doesn't mean dr. Hoffer is not good, I just don't know anyone that has had him yet!

    Calipso, I'm glad you are healing and feeling better!  Did you have the diep that does not remove abdominal muscle?   I think there is microsurgery involved with this?  Thank you for offering to talk by PM.

    Take care!

    Ginny

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • graciesmom
    graciesmom Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2007

    Actually, the southern "flow" was really started with Dr.Peter Neligan, the Wharton Chair in Reconstructive Surgery, who was my surgeon.  He was extremely discouraged by the loss of OR time, at UHN; In fact I had 3 surgeries including my same day reconstruction ( with the mastectomy) and with the exception of the first surgery, I was cancelled 3 times,  one after sitting in the pre-op area for 3 hours.  I hope that the newly created chair of Breast Reconstructive Surgery, initiated by Belinda Stronach, will persuade UHN of the importance of this area.  We are being left behind the hight profile areas heart surgery, transplant surgery.  It is almost as if there needs to be one breast center that provides the care in Toronto.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • graciesmom
    graciesmom Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2007

    Hi Ginny and calipso

    A DIEP means that they do not take any muscle; it is only a fat, tissue and blood vessel graft.  If muscle is taken it is a TRAM flap.  I had an IGAP and it too took 8 weeks to heal, with a number of seromas that had to be drained.  Lots of Plastic/REconstructive surgeons can do the TRAM flap but there are very few that can do the microsurgery tissue transplant.  Dr. Kyle Wanzel was possibly doing this and he is at St. JOe's in Toronto. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 254
    edited November 2007

    Hi graciesmom,  I agree, we need one dedicated breast center in Toronto! I'm sorry to hear about all the delays and frustrations you went through. It is discouraging the wait times, changes in doctors, delays...

    I wish they could come up with a diagnostic test that would assure women with dense breasts, that if we are to get cancer in our "good breast", that it can be caught at the earliest DCIS stage! Then maybe I would feel better about not having my other breast removed. That's why I am considering reconstruction.  I think I can live with one breast without reconstruction, but not with two.  But at this time feel like I am play Russian roulette with my remaining breast.

    All these decisions are sooo difficult.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JulieK
    JulieK Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2008

    Wow, she did my DIEP a few years ago and was great. She's sponsored me on the W2EBC and has been a real supporter. A real loss for Toronto.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited January 2008

    What I'm wondering is what any of us do who had Dr. Lipa for our surgery.  If we have a problem or concern with the reconstruction sometime in the future..... 

    Anyone know?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thesassywife
    thesassywife Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2008

    Hi Everyone!

    I live in Los Angeles and was told by my Surgeon that Dr Lipa will be coming to UCLA this Spring - I heard WONDERFUL things... which is good news since I will be getting a Bilateral Mastectomy & Reconstruction this Fall... Do you recommend I have her as my PS?  I am very nervous about my surgery and REALLY want GREAT results!  Please let me know your experiences!

    Thank you so much!
    ~Brandie, age 32

    Already finished Chemo and currently getting radiation

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited February 2008

    Brandie,

    Yes, I'd definitely recommend her.  In additional to being a highly respected reconstruction surgeon, she's wonderful to deal with.  She takes her time with patients, explains everything very clearly, etc...  Our loss is your gain!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dorathy
    Dorathy Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2008

    Hi Ladies

    My appointment with Dr. Lipa was for Oct 2008. I would have waited over 2 1/2 long years to see her. I was freaking when I read this post. I called her office to express my disappointment and fear concerning my DIEP reconstruction. The office called me back and said there is a new Dr., Dr. Stefan Hofer who will take my appointment and it would be sooner than Oct. Needless to say I have just seen Dr. Hofer today and he is wonderful. The best news of all is I will also be having my surgery much sooner than if I had to of waited for my appt. in Oct.

    For me the loss of Dr Lipa turns out to be my gain. I am sorry for all how will miss Dr. Lipa, but I think you will find her replacement is going to be just as good.

    Huggg's To All

    Dorathy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mindy33
    Mindy33 Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2008

    I saw Dr. Lipa for the last time earlier this month. She is a fabulous doctor. I will miss her tremendously. She performed two surgeries on me and the results are fantastic. I could not thank her and Dr. McCready enough for all they did to make me feel wonderful again.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories