Breast specialist in Brooklyn?

[BklynCatwoman]

My beloved breast surgeon/specialist Dr. Robert Seminara is retiring! I'm looking for suggestions for another Brooklyn-based specialist. I would prefer not to go to Maimonides Breast Center and want to avoid Dr. Kehoe, who my cousin had a bad experience with (short story: he tried to strong-arm her into having a mastectomy). I don't have to go for a checkup until January but I'd like to shop around now. Thanks!

[haagr]

I'm using Amber Guth from NYU in a Manhattan. I absolutely love her. She is kind, gentle, not an alarmist and reachable. Most of the top notch breast surgeons are in the city. Good luck in you search.

Robin

[BklynCatwoman in reply to haagr]

Thank you!

[PJBinMI]

Could your retiring doc recommend someone for you? My retiring docs have always been willing to do that. And my pcp and gynecologist both are willing to suggest other specialists for me. You can call your docs and speak with a nurse and ask for a call back with suggestions. Your docs know you and presumably know other docs........... I hope you will find somebody that you are comfortable with and can trust. Changing oncs is sure not easy on us!

[BklynCatwoman]

In his letter, he suggested asking our primary care physicians and ob/gyn for recommendations. I was more interested in getting recommendations from women who have seen these doctors, not from their medical peers. We view them differently! Both my oncologist and ob/gyn recommended the same person, Dr. John Deysine, so I will probably go with him.

[BklynCatwoman]

Update: my oncologist and OB/GYN independently recommended the same doctor. Dr. John Deysine.

[Gerji]

Bldycatwoman, try Cornell Medical Ctr in NYC, as there is an excellent woman oncologist there & has perfected a technique (crybolation?) That freezes lumps, no surgery, very effective. She's wonderful. Check Google online. Good luck!

[BklynCatwoman in reply to Gerji]

Thanks for the information. I just (hopefully!) need someone for checkups. I am 4.5 years breast cancer free. I think I've found someone local and he comes highly recommended from my oncologist and my OB/GYN.

[suggi]

Just a thought, I was diagnosed with DCIS and the surgeon wanted to do a lumpectomy with radiation after. When I saw the oncologist radiologist she saw that I had unmeasured cobalt radiation as a baby for an enlarged thymus gland and told me she would never do radiation on me (from bad experience in similar case) and thought I should go for the mastectomy. I did and am so glad that I did as the worriesome features were a large cluster of calcifications on the right side and just the same old calcifications I had for a while in the rest of the breast. Turns out after the surgery and the lab work came back the surgeon herself was surprised as I only had a 1 millimeter clear margin around the whole breast. It was full of the cancer and I was very lucky I did not have the lumpectomy and then find out no clear margin and go back in for a mastectomy then. So, you just never know really with cancer It was a scary time for me as it was not my first cancer.

Hope you find someone great.

[BklynCatwoman in reply to suggi]

So glad it worked out for you. I also opted for a mastectomy over a lumpectomy. I'm 4.5 years cancer free and now just need a breast specialist for checkups. Dr. Deysine sounds like a good matxh for me.

[suggi in reply to BklynCatwoman]

Hey there, so glad you are doing well. I know how horrible it is to lose a doc you really like - esp your oncologist. I lost mine also and not so sure about the replacement. Have you been on Tamoxifen? I was just put on Raloxifene for osteoporosis right before they discovered the BC so that is a sister drug to Tamoxifen and the oncologist said that also would help prevent BC. I have been on it for 15 years but because of my age they claim it could cause a stroke so want me off it and I can't take the other osteo drugs. I think I will beg to stay on it as it also causes blood clots and I never had any so......

By the way, I was born, raised and lived in Brooklyn and still miss it. I have been in MA since 1979 and everyone still makes fun of the accent I can't get rid of. Once a Brooklyn girl, always a Brooklyn girl, right?? Good luck with the new doc. Sometimes we have to shop around. I just may have to do that but I hate the thought of going into Boston, same as you really don't want to go into Manhattan. Believe me, I understand. Keep in touch BklynCatwoman.

[BklynCatwoman in reply to suggi]

Yes, losing a beloved doc is like a breakup.

I've just been on Tamoxifen for about 2 weeks. So far, so good. I was on all 3 of the AIs for about 4 years total--but they all caused such severe joint pain, I had to get off it.

Being on Raloxifene for 15 years is a good layer of protection. They usually recommend 5-10 years for the AIs and Tamoxifen, so it sounds like you're good. But I understand from others that getting off meds like this feels weird. If your docs recommend it, sounds like good advice, though.

I didn't know you were a Bklyn Gal. I grew up in Bay Ridge but now live with my family in Windsor Terrace. So funny about your accent. Those Bostonians have a pretty distinctive accent too!

Take care.

[suggi in reply to BklynCatwoman]

Gosh, guess I'm losing it. Where is Windsor Terrace? I do know Bay Ridge. I lived in Cypress Hills - basically in between Woodhaven, Queens and East New York. Went to Franklin K. Lane HS. That feels like 100 years ago.

It's nice to connect with someone from Brooklyn. All my friends there have moved away or died. That's what happens when you are in your 70's. I didn't really want to leave NY but unfortunately I did not have a choice.

Stay well - and I look forward to your posts.

[BklynCatwoman]

Windsor Terrace is right next to Park Slope, near Prospect Park. They keep giving old neighborhoods new names!

I'm not too familiar with Queens. It has all changed drastically, gotten very expensive and gentrified. You probably wouldn't recognize it! I'm only in my 50s and I've seen huge changes.

Take care!

[Password1]

Hi i too eas fortunate enough to have Dr. Seminara as my Dr. Just as he retired i found out i needed a lumpectomy. Im so scared and devastated not to have him at my side for this

[BklynCatwoman]

Sorry about your needing a lumpectomy. I hear great things about Dr. Deysine from several doctors--my ob-gyn, oncologist and an general doctor I met at a wedding. I think we will be in good hands with him. I see Dr. D for my 6 month checkup at the end of January.

[Karen14]

I too luv doc seminara. Over 25 years. But next to Dr. Seminara the only one would dr Deborah axelrod in Beth isreal hospital ny.

[BklynCatwoman]

I'm very happy with Dr. John Deysine. I've seen him twice and both my oncologist and ob/gyn recommended him.