Seeking Breast Cancer Surgeon

Dr. Amrit Mangat in glen ellyn. she was wonderful. Very compassionate doctor with excellent bedside manner.

I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation 13 years ago at Northwestern Memorial in the city. My surgeon's actual office was not in the hospital proper but across on St Clair, but that's before they built the new one so he may be in there now... anyway, his name is Kevin Bethke. He was sort of a cold fish to me, but I still get compliments on my scar, he did an excellent job! He is not a general surgeon but an oncology surgeon.

My medical oncologist was Claudia Tellez (also on St Clair across from the hospital, practice was called Hematology Oncology Associates) and she was lovely, totally took care of me, and this is actually the first kind of doctor you want to see to determine a course of treatment. You can't head into surgery without a clear plan for how much is going to be removed and what comes after.

Generally speaking I can't say enough good stuff about Lynn Sage Breast Center. I urge you to take your mammogram there and get a second opinion. The fact that your diagnosing doctor left the referral up to you bothers me, you should be much more taken care of in this circumstance.

I also can't say enough good stuff about Gilda's Club. Both me and my eventual husband went to support groups there and it was amazing.

try to stay calm and get another opinion. I am here to report there is healthy life on the other side. I'm now 41, and had two healthy children after my treatment. It won't be fun if you need full treatment, but you can get through it! PM me if you want more guidance...

I'm sorry to hear this... but as you've posted, be sure to seek out a specialist in breast cancer, if possible. My mother was diagnosed a couple of years ago, and her PCP referred her to a general surgeon... fortunately, they had a great friend at church that had gone through breast cancer and surgery, so they contacted her for a name... and got in with a surgeon that specializes in breast cancer!

I can't help you on who... but ask around, as you are doing here, and hopefully you will find a really good surgeon that specializes in breast cancer, and not just a general surgeon.

I am so sorry and wanted to offer my support. After you meet with your Dr. you can make a plan. I'm sure the Chicago area is crawling with more than qualified doctors. Hang in there and I wish you the best...

I am so sorry for your diagnosis. I was in your shoes nine years ago, at age 35 with two young kids. I wish that you lived nearby so that I would be able to refer you to local surgeons and oncologists. My suggestion would be to ask your OB provider for referrals. Be sure to see more than one, second opinions are so very important. If there is anything that I can help you with or if you just want to vent, please feel free to message me. Also, you may want to check out the Young Survival Coalition, www.youngsurvival.org - this is an action, awareness and advocacy organization for younger women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Good luck!

I don't know of any doctors who specialize in this, but want to send positive, healing thoughts your way.

D. sorry to hear about your diagnosis! Do you have an oncologist? My husband was recently diagnosed and we found a great oncologist that is out of Advocate Lutheran in Park Ridge. I know they could recommend you to a good surgeon. The name of the practice is Oncology Specialists. We have been really pleased with the doctors and staff...they have all been so helpful.

For reconstructive surgery the best in Chicago, bar none is Dr Fine. He specializes in breast augmentation for breast cancer patients. He did mine, (no cancer), did 2 friends one with cancer one without. All of us had the best experience ever. In fact my friend w breast cancer caught hers fast. Had a great attitudes about it, called it a free boob job, didn't need chemotherapy. His number is 312 -###-###-#### he's with northwestern, office is at 675 north st Clair. Email ____@____.com the best to you! You'll be fine.

Dr Nancy Wheratte. She is with Dryer clinic. She specializes in breast cancer care. I was diagnosed in 2007. She did my surgery and all of my follow up care. Call her office ###-###-#### ask for Dr. Wheratt's office. She is phenomenal

Hi - I don't know any surgeons but I wish you the best and speedy recovery. I understand what you must be feeling - I found out yesterday that my mom has breast cancer (she is in India) and it was quite a shock! I wish you and your family good health!!

God bless.. I'm sending good wishes your way. I know that Rush is an excellent hospital with good surgeons for this sort of thing.

Hi D., Sorry to hear of your diagnosis but I am sending good thoughts your way. I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 29 and had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. I'm doing well and have had one more child since my journey started. I highly recommend my surgeon, Dr. Sara Fredrickson, from Advanced Breast Care Specialists...###-###-####. She is based in Bloomingdale but has an office in Downers Grove (although I think her associates are based in that office). She is affiliated with CDH and the Alexian Brothers System. I've received lots of compliments on my small scar and she's been excellent seeing me over the years and answering my questions as well. My oncologist is excellent as well, based out of Central DuPage...Dr. Linda Ferris...she is super compassionate and I always felt better and positive after seeing her. Her number is ###-###-####. Please let me know if you have any questions. I wish you a speedy recovery!
V.

Kevin Bethke at Northwestern/Prentice.

I don't have a recommendation but just wanted to send some support your way. Keep a positive attitude and beat this thing. Be strong but don't hesitate to seek help when you need it. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

So sorry to hear that but I know a great doctor that walked me through prognosis and answered my calls and returned my calls 5times a day. Yes , as many as time I called and asked to speak to her, she would return my calls when she was free and listen and explain it over and over to me. Without any anger or annoyance. Her name is Dr. Growney and she is at Rush Univ Med center. She is wonderful and a surgeon as well.Her senior dr. there, I heard is one of the tops in Illinois. I was soo happy with her, I didnt bother going to him. God Bless.
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I am so sorry. Call your OB-GYN tomorrow. If anyone should know a good
breast surgeon, it would be him/her. If they do not know, call your hospital.
They usually have a referral system. Good luck. I hope all goes well.

Sorry about your diagnosis. I went though this last spring/summer. I did go to Loyola originally and had my surgery there. However, they did an "oncotype" test..(Be SURE to make them do that) and my score was a 9. 1 to 16 (I believe) is a low chance of recurrence in 10 years. The oncologist there, wanted me to be in a test study and randomize me into a group that had to take chemo AND radiation. I said NO...because my 2nd opinion Dr. at Elk Grove Village said I didn't need chemo because of my oncotype score. I immediately switched to him. He was in the 2010 Top Chicago Doctors...is young and smart. He will recommend a great surgeon for you...and the radiation oncologist in the same building where you get treatments is also great. I thought it would be a long drive, but from Glen Ellyn (Roosevelt & I 355 it's barely 15 minutes, so if you are in Downers you wouldn't have a long trip. I really love it up there...they are SO nice and very, very good. If you would like the names of the Dr's I am using there, PM me PS...By Elk Grove, I meant to say, Alexian Brothers...

D. -

Sorry to hear that you are now going through this. I recently had a "scare" and saw Dr Heidi Memmel at Advocate Lutheran General's Breast Center - and she was phenomenal. Very caring, kind and compassionate. Thankfully it all worked out for me and I only needed to see her a couple of times - but if I had been diagnosed with cancer - she was the one I wanted in my corner. (she was my second opinion - so I am speaking from the viewpoint of having seen 2 different surgeons.)

Make sure you reach out to the various resources available for women with breast cancer - they have a vast array of contacts, support groups, resources etc....as well as reaching out to your friends and family. Don't go through this alone. Once I shared with my friends what was going on...the journey didn't seem so scary.

If you have any questions about the physician or hospital - please feel free to email me offline.

P.