REAL STORIES FROM MONTCLAIR BREAST CENTER PATIENTS

An Inspiration to All Your Patients

Dear Dr. Holwitt,

Just a brief note to let you know that I read an article about your journey with breast cancer and I am so impressed with your grace and acceptance of it. You are truly an inspiration to all of your patients. I am honored and proud to be your patient, and so happy that it is behind you.

After our visit last week, I scheduled an MRI downstairs and was apprehensive about having one. I cannot believe the incredible experience I had. Clarissa Lozano was the best. I felt so comfortable; she was amazing at making the anticipated experience a wonderful one. Your entire staff is the best! It started with the receptionist, I called to say I was in traffic on the parkway (I live about 2 hours away) and I was so nervous about being late. The receptionist assured me not to worry, not to rush and be upset, they would wait for me. Next, I met the kind and compassionate Clarissa! I can't believe I was listening to Frank Sinatra and almost fell asleep getting the MRI!

I had to share my great experience with you. Please know that you will always be in my thoughts, prayers and heart for your bravery, and for the beautiful person you are inside and out.

Gail Teese, 5/31/2011

Fortunate to Have Such an Incredible Breast Surgeon

Dear Dr Elliott,

Thank you so much for your expertise, compassion and sincerity in meeting with me after my diagnosis and in conducting my surgery. I feel so fortunate that I was able to have such an incredible surgeon perform my mastectomy. Your warmth and ability to but me at ease during such a difficult time was truly a gift. I can’t thank you enough for everything you did for me.

I applaud the Montclair Breast Center in every way. Each Staff member I encountered was kind, friendly, caring and demonstrated an empathy for the situation. You have created a safe haven for women who are experiencing something that can obviously be very scary. Your center exudes a sense of calmness that is palpable from the moment you enter the waiting room. I experienced that same sense of calmness the day of my surgery and have been doing great ever since. Thank you for “holding my hand” during this process. You embody what every doctor and surgeon should strive to be.

When I walked into the Montclair Breast Center I was in great distress. By the time I left, I had gained a completely different perspective. I knew that I was going to get through the situation and you provided me with the assurance.

I often remember my favorite quotation (as I recovered from surgery and now as I continue with my chemo), “Difficult times have helped me to understand, better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is.” Isak Dinesen

Thank you again! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

--Heather Weaver, 11/2010

You Have an Absolutely Beautiful Bedside Manner

Dear Dr. Dana Holwitt,

Just a note to say a big thank you for your absolutely beautiful bedside manner with me last Thursday. Dr. Holwitt, I try to be strong every year on my mammo date, but it's a tough day always for me. My mom passed away in 1989 at age 64 from breast cancer that went to bone cancer. She had lasted seven years after diagnosis and did suffer at the end trememdously. My dad died four years previously in 1984 also at the age of 64 from a massive heart attack. We were having coffee and he got up and fell over and died. After many years my two sisters and I would say that when it's our time we wanted to go like our Dad.

I feel happy and lucky to have met you and also happy you are at Montclair Breast Center. You are a beautiful person inside and out and I do feel I am in very good hands. Again, thank you for being you.

God Bless You.

--Donna Wille, 8/26/10

You really do listen!

During March and April, you and your staff held my hand, once again, during this my second episode of breast cancer. I thank God for leading me to this practice a long time ago, for were it not for the expertise and excellent quality of care you and your staff offer, my cancer outcomes might have been dramatically worse. You have put together an amazing team of professionals whose combined efforts resulted in finding my tumors very early when they were extremely small, and then diagnosing and treating them quickly and with the best results possible.

Your interactions with your patients have this rare combination of professionalism coupled with down to earth compassion that immediately puts one at ease at a time when the diagnosis of breast cancer throws your life and your mind into turmoil. You never talk down to your patients. You always explain in detail, discuss, include us in the decisions, and allow us to feel like we have some control over an otherwise out-of-control situation. And every member of your staff practices these same philosophies.

You really do listen! Everyone on your staff really listens! And then everyone responds and goes into action like a well trained army, setting up appointments for procedures, during which every step is explained, and every effort is made to assure comfort. Pathology reports are never withheld, but rather always reported as soon as they are available. Everything you and your staff do sends the message: “We really care about you.” And as the patient, you come away relieved and thinking, “I'm in good hands….don't worry…they have it under control.”

I can't say enough good things about the quality of care I've received at Montclair Breast Center and North Fullerton Surgery Center. Words like “dedicated,” “excellence,” “attentive,” “caring,” “responsive” just don't seem to be enough. Maybe the tears I shed as we spoke at my last visit were really the best way I can show how much I truly appreciate all you and your wonderful team have done for me in helping me as I stand my ground against this disease.

I pray that God keeps all of you healthy so MBC can continue to care for all the women who walk through its door.

--RLH, Caldwell, NJ, July 2010

Compassion, strength, and positive feedback

The words "thank you" seem so insignificant in terms of the gratitude I feel towards you and your wonderful staff. I am in the midst of undergoing one of the most stressful events in recent memory. I think without the compassion, strength and positive feedback that I constantly receive at the Center, I would truly be a basket case! I can not thank you and your amazing staff enough for all that you have done and continue to do for me and my family, to make this tremendously stressful event manageable.

From the initial visit through the surgery and follow up visits, your thoughtful and extremely competent staff, including the fantastic Moira Davis and ever patient Donna, who answered every question in a straightforward yet compassionate manner. It is this unique combination of genuine concern with forthright answers that I found inspiring and comforting. Your staff was extremely knowledgeable, often providing insights and answers to questions I had not even contemplated. I knew before surgery that I was in such capable hands that my anxiety was kept to a minimum.

While I hope NOT to need your services in the future, you would be my top choice and recommendation to anyone facing the same challenges. I believe you are a standout among doctors and truly worthy of all the praise I am sure you receive.

Many, many thanks! And Happy Holidays! Mine will be, thanks to you...

--Frances W., November 30, 2009

Absolutely no pain

I am writing this letter to tell you how grateful I am for the outstanding care you and your wonderful staff have given to me.
When I tell people that I had a mastectomy they immediately express pity. Well, before they get too carried away with their pity, I stop them and tell them my story of the fact that I previously had several biopsies on that breast.

I tell them that you had carefully explained everything I needed to know in order to have me come to my own conclusion that I really needed to have a mastectomy.

I must say that I was very concerned about having pain. However, to my amazement and that of every other person I have told about my mastectomy, I had absolutely no pain whatsoever throughout the entire procedure and recovery period. Also, my family told me that after the surgery I looked unbelievably great, as though I had just awakened from a peaceful nap. I have heard of painless dentists; but you, dear Dr. Elliott, as a painless surgeon surpass them all.

The staff at Mountainside was terrific, too. They came to me after the surgery to do aftercare; and each one explained just what they were doing and why.

I entered the hospital about 10:00 a.m., had the surgery at noon, and went home the next morning feeling just fine.
It is now three months later. I have a prosthesis in my bra, which looks very natural and, unless you know of my mastectomy, you would think it’s me.

Once again, Dr. Elliott, I thank you and your superb staff, especially Moira, for all the caring and kindness shown to me.

--M. Kearney, May 1, 2009

No way was this going to get the best of me

My body betrayed me. It was as simple as that. I took care of it. Exercised. Tried to eat well. Was never overweight and was always health conscious. I was fit and looked much younger than my 40 years. Breast cancer happened to other people, not to me. I was too young and didn't even have an iota of history in my family! As I sat in disbelief at the surgeon's words, "We found cancer," I thought there must be some mistake. I had lots to do that afternoon and having breast cancer wasn't on the list. I didn't want to be a part of the pink ribbon club. Shock gave way to anger in the next week or two. But then something happened. Anger turned to fight. No way was this going to get the best of me. I needed a plan. A plan of attack. I dove head first into my cancer project. I met doctors, found out as much information as possible, asked every conceivable question, became a member of the Young Survival Organization and met other young women like me in the same predicament, talked with friends and family and literally spent the next 2-3 weeks putting my plan together. There were still periods of crying, helplessness, and sleepless nights, but the more information I had, the more in control I felt of my body and my plan to kill cancer. I chose doctors that I felt I could trust and who were clear with the process and expectations of the fight. I chose doctors who let me make decisions with their input. I didn't want to feel like a patient shuffling through the system wondering what was going to happen next, having decisions made for me. The medical world can be scary and overwhelming if you haven't been there before, and to me it was important that I control the process. So the fight ensued and, well, today the score is Cancer 0, Nancy 1. I have won the battle and am one step closer to winning the war. I am back in sync with my body and have learned to love it even more than before, though it is different (I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction). A year and a half after diagnosis I am enjoying life more than ever, still feeling sexy and have a confidence that, well, I must admit, could have only come from fighting cancer and kicking its ass!

--Nancy F., May 2009

Yes, 5 millimeters

It's been two years since my breast cancer diagnosis and I can't minimize the terrible frightening feeling I still get when my check-ups come along. I try to recall Dr. Elliott's words upon my first check-up after surgery, "Madeline, you are cancer free."

Now let me get to my story. I went for my check-up at the Montclair Breast Center, as I so faithfully do every year. You go because you feel sure you will avoid a cancer diagnosis. I had my mammo and Dr. Lee reviewed my films. She spoke to me, assuring me all was well. But upon a second look she became doubtful and called me back to speak with her. She said she saw a suspicious spot. I then went to the exam room to meet with Dr. Elliott. She was not sure that she could feel or see anything even with the ultrasound. But Dr. Lee wanted a biopsy. In a few days they biopsied my breast. I met with Dr. Elliott soon after and she broke the bad news: Indeed, it was cancer but, guess what? The tumor was only 5 millimeters. Yes, 5 millimeters. Get out your rulers and see how small that is. But, of course, I only heard the words breast cancer. My reaction was anger, hate, and terrible gloom and doom. I slammed my hand and said firmly, remove my breast! Dr. Elliott remained calm, but firmly said, WHY? Remove your breast for a 5-millimeter tumor? She took her pen and made a dot on the paper, showing me how tiny it was. Who would ever think such a small cancer could ever be found? Of course I never felt it and probably wouldn't have until it was much larger. Fortunately, it was stage one. I had my surgery and was told I was a candidate for a fairly new procedure called mammo-site. During surgery, a balloon was placed at the site of the removed tumor. The following day the balloon was inflated and radiation was directed at the tumor site. This continued for only five days and on the fifth day the balloon was deflated, removed, and my treatment was finished.

Dr. Elliott still wanted me to visit an oncologist. It frightened me but I complied. Upon my visit, this gently natured doctor assured me all was well because of the small size of my tumor. He said my cure rate was quite high. He placed me on the pill called Arimidex, which I will take at home for five years. This pill reduces estrogen and he told me it's been shown to be quite effective. Surprisingtly, my tumor was mostly estrogen and I am post-menopausal. I continue to be monitored through six-month checkups with mammograms, ultrasound, and MRIs right in Dr. Elliott's office. Thanks to the sophisticated equipment and the keen eye of Dr. Elliott's staff here, it's now two years later. I never thought I'd say this, but I guess I'm lucky.

Madeline R., April 14, 2009

The Smile on Her Face Revealed the Truth

To everyone at Montclair Breast Center, especially Dr. Heller-Savoy, Dr. Holwitt, Harriet and Mary, RN (Recovery Room).
Thank you—those two little words could never measure the amount of gratitude I have for all of you. When I came in for my annual mammogram I was fearless. “Thank you” to Dr. Heller-Savoy for deciding that a biopsy was the route to go on my “unpalpable,” “unfindable” breast “thing” and making it happen that very day! I felt so bad torturing Dr. Holwitt and Dr. Heller-Savoy with this quest of finding this “thing.” It was quite an adventure. I thank you both for your patience and persistence.

Then…the dreaded phone call…which needed to be done that way due to my job commitments…Dr. Holwitt was very quick to get the news to me and assure me that it was 100% curable. Her encouraging words were probably the only thing that lifted me up off the floor.

I felt very safe and secure in the hands of everyone there. Also, reading that Dr. Elliott had the same thing and same treatment I did was somehow reassuring as well. Thank you to Dr. Elliott for sharing your experience with all of us in your magazine article. Harriet, who is someone I worked with but never really got to know, was also so kind in sharing some personal information with me and again was there to assure me that everything was going to be “just fine.” The smile on her face made her words so wonderful to hear and through that smile I could see that she was telling the absolute truth.

My surgery went well! The words, “no node involvement” and “margins were clear” were sweet music to my ears. What a sigh of relief I did breathe. Mary, the nurse who recovered me, took great care of me. She was kind, patient and sweet. She remembered to give my glasses to me as soon as I woke up because I told her I couldn’t hear without them!

Mary and Dr. Holwitt both called to check on me--awesome!

Then finally to the follow-up appointment where I could look at Harriet and say, “I’m just fine,” but able to return the smile this time.

So again, thank you to everyone from the MRI Tech (I’m sorry I don’t remember her name) who I sobbed to and who was very compassionate in return, to the girls I used to work with, Maria and Michele, who were wonderful to have as familiar faces there to comfort me, to the words from Dr. Holwitt, “I’ll see you in six months for your follow-up MRI.” It has been an experience that has changed me to some degree. Things that were so difficult don’t seem so difficult anymore.

I can never express how much you all mean to me!
Thank you and much love to all of you. God bless you,

L.A. (Breast Cancer Survivor), November 30, 2008

A Few Words about Us from Patients Like You

[Written to a local mammography facility; copied to Dr. Elliott] I am a forty-plus year old female engineer (working outside the home) and mother of three children who, over the last several years, has had issues with my mammograms. Specifically, the radiologist has visualized small concentrations of calcium deposits. Additionally, my breast tissue has been decribed as being very "dense."

I was originally having my mammograms and all of my breast care done by [your facility]. Over the last 2-3 years I have transitioned my care to the Montclair Breast Center and Dr. Nancy Elliott. There were two reasons for this and I want to bring them to your attention. The first reason was that [your facility's] process required too many steps--too much time on my part to accomplish the annual or semi-annual exam. The second reason was that I feel an ultrasound of my breasts should be done concurrently with the mammogram. This was not consistenly being done at [your facility].

But let me address the first issue--as an engineer would--with a summarization of the steps to achieving my annual or semi-annual mammogram at [your facility].

Visit my Ob Gyn and receive a prescription for the mammogram.
Make sure that the prescription allows for a normal screening mammogram and also a diagnostic mammogram for higher magnification views of the calcifications.
Call [your facility] for an appointment. Make sure that the appointment is for a longer time slot so that both the screening mammogram and the high resolution mammogram can be done at the same time.
In the event that I also needed an ultrasound, schedling the ultrasound and mammogram on the same day was almost impossible as they are scheduled by two different departments. I found it unachievable to schedule both on the same day at [your facility].
Remember to bring the prescritipn for the mammogram to [your facility].
Complete the mammogram and the diagnostic mammogram.
Wait several days for the radiologist to read the images and send the results to the Ob Gyn.
Receive a call from the Ob Gyn recommending a conference with a breast surgeon on the calcifications.
Call [your facility] to schedule a time to pick up the films for the mammogram.
Pick up the films from [your facility].
Make an appointment with the breast surgeon.
Remember to bring the films to the breast surgeon.
Visit the breast surgeon.
Perform any follow up testing that he requests--or a biopsy at his discretion.
Return the mammography films to [your facility].
Repeat the procedure again in 6 months or 12 months.

The multitude of tasks involved in the process at [your facility] is unacceptable in my opinion. Additionally, there is the added stress of waiting for further testing, test results and the breast surgeon consults.

In contrast, the procedure with the Montclair Breast Center is simple.

Call up MBC office to make an appointment.
Visit the office and in about a 2 to 2 1/2 hour time frame, complete the mammogram and diagnostic mammogram, sit with the radiologist who has already viewed the digital files and discuss his/her analysis of the images, complete a detailed breast exam, perform an ultrasound on the breasts and then leave the office with instructions of whether to return in 6 months or a year.
Perform any follow up testing recommended by the breast surgeon.
Repeat the procedure again in 6 to 12 months.

Of note, in the engineering world it is always better to design any process with fewer steps--because fewer steps present less opportunity for an error, or any errors are detected faster.

There are two downsides to the Montclair Breast Center (MBC), both of which I find palatable. The first downside is the 70 minute drive up to Montclair for the visit. The second down side is the cost and their lack of accepting medical insurance. I do personally complete the insurance forms and receive 70% of my cost after a $500 deductible. I rationalize this because of the added peace of mind of not waiting for results--and MBC's high early detection rates.

The second issue as I said was the inconsistency of the ultrasound at [your facility]. It is my understanding that a large percentage of cancer cells are not found in dense breasts during a mammogram because the mammography is more difficult to read with a denser breast. It is also my understanding that the dense breasts are more prone to develop cancer and therefore an annual ultrasound is warranted. I was not receiving annual ultrasounds at [your facility].

I use [your facility] for almost all of my other care. You are convenient and your patient relations are very good. I hope that you look at the model of care presented by the Montclair Breast Center and try to emulate it. I have no plans on returning to [your facility] for my mammography care. I appreciate your time to read my concerns.

C.J.J., August 23, 2008

My Case is Unique

As I trust you already know, I am very grateful for the excellent care provided by the entire team at the Montclair Breast Center and also to you personally for being such an all-around excellent doctor. Please recognize that this is not a compliment I bestow to many of my physicians.

As I recognize, my case was and continues to be unique, therefore standard protocols are not easily relied on. This is where your sound and well-reasoned judgment has repeatedly come into play. Over and over, you have given and continue to give me good advice that I believe has served me well. Beyond this, your "caring hands" helped me through a difficult time. You are not the "dreaded doctor" who spends 8 hurried minutes with a patient; 4 of those minutes spent with them reading your case history. As a matter of fact, I feel as though I am your only patient. I never feel rushed. Sad to say, this is a rare find among doctors these days.

Also, many doctors (possibly unknowingly) speak in "medicalese" or speak in conclusions. When I ask them why they are recommending something, they usually act as though I have insulted them by questioning their recommendations. And heaven forbid if I seek a second opinion; they are suspicious of my motives forever. Again, I am grateful that you are not this type of doctor as well.

I know I became very anxious when I received my cancer diagnosis in May of 2007. You consistently helped me stay on course, keep my perspective when no additional cancer was found during the lumpectomy, and you gave me very good advice with respect to options for further testing and my second surgery. You and your staff truly helped to take the stress out of the breast cancer diagnosis.

I don't know if I ever told you that I started using your center when digital mammography was initially being talked about in newspapers and medical journals as a "better mammogram." At the time, you were the only facility that had digital mammography in my area (I called 6 major hospitals in NJ). I found that quite amazing. I do not live in a remote part of the world so one would think that the large medical centers would have the latest and best equipment. This was not the case. They were in the process of getting them, but that was at least a year away. As best I know, I believe your center has continued to maintain state of the art equipment and techniques since I have been a patient, and I fully appreciate this.

I have referred you to many women without hesitation. The Montclair Breast Center is an excellent faciity with an excellent staff and everyone is thorough. It is a comforting setting where I feel as though I am being properly evaluated and cared for. I am not just a "medical record number."

For all of this and much more, I say "thank you," or as they say in Italian, "a thousand thank yous (mille grazie)."

M.S.P., Martinsville, NJ, August 8, 2008

A Different Mindset

This year I received a diagnosis of DCIS, stage zero, followiing a routine mammogram secreening and subsequent lumpectomy as an outpatient at a hospital. After the hospital experience I knew I had to find a treatment facility that would offer more personalized, professional and customized care for this bump in life's road.

I was referred to Montclair Breast Center from a friend whose experience spoke volumes. She had a much more serious form of breast cancer than mine and she spoke so very highly of her treatment.

From the first phone call to schedule a consultation I could sense a different mindset as compared to outpatient treatment at a community hospital. I needed a treatment plan that took into consideration my own personal views about health care and surgery, the way I live my life and what I want my future to look like. I met so many caring individuals on my initial consult. Dr. Elliott listened to my wishes and then explained my treatment options, statistical outcomes to each option, and provided me with literature so that I could arrive at a decision for my patth forward. it was clear that this was a partnership. Dr. Elliott even took the time to console and comfort my mother at each visit.

I knew what to expect every step of the way during this treatment--there were no surprises, nothing that was not addressed and followed up on as promised. Even scheduling appointments was done with coordinated consideration so that I could have diagnostics, plastic surgery visits and follow-ups all conveinent to my schedule (under one roof), which is virtually unheard of when navigating through the hospital healthcare system and juggling appointments between oncologists, surgeons and radiologists!

It is now three months post my right mastectomy, reconstruction and sentinel node biopsy. I have my "old" life back and will be forever grateful to the kind, caring, competent professionals who touched my life at the Montclair Breast Center.

P.M., Union Township, NJ