As a Couples & Family Therapist in Green Bay, I have had many occasions to work with Dr. Salm Schmid’s patients, and I refer many of my clients to her. Every single client that has worked with Dr. Salm Schmid (Dr. Colette) has said some version of “Wow, I can’t believe how much time she spent with me and how much she cares!” They have felt so genuinely cared about, felt they have been given good and honest information, been part of the decision making process, and received great medical care. She also expedited all tests so the woman and her family did not have feel tortured by waiting. In sum, during what can often be a traumatic time, Dr. Colette has embraced the whole of the patient…her fear, her family, her options, and her hope. I will always recommend Dr. Salm Schmid for the care of any woman that I know who has breast concerns.

I can't thank you enough for being there for me and my husband as I went though my bouts with breast cancer. I want to wish you well and I know there are so many women that are going to be helped you too. God Bless

Two years ago, I was told I had breast cancer--the last thing a woman wants to hear.  From the moment I stepped into Dr. Colette's office, I was treated not as just another cancerous breast, but instead as a person with a cancerous breast, who was filled with anxiety and wonder as to what would be next. Dr. Colette took time to explain what to expect in my upcoming surgery.  With openess and honesty, she answered all my "what ifs".  I, then, knew I was in the hands of a very caring expert in her field. I owe my deepest gratitude to Dr. Colette for her knowledge, surgical expertise, and kind and caring manner.

Two years and cancer free !!

Barbara Cologna 
Powers, Michigan

My name is Sandra Fannin and I am 58 years old.  Over two years ago I went in for a physical with my family doctor, Dr. Rebeka Perry who is very thorough with her exams.  Dr. Perry had done a mammogram and cited a small suspicious spot in my left breast.  She called me early the next morning and told me that I needed to see someone as soon as possible to see if it was cancer.  She said that she would call and set up an appointment with doctors that she knew or if I had a suggestion she would call them.

I never realized what things go through your mind when told that you might have cancer, only imagine.   I have always said there are two "C" words that you never want to here. Cancer or Chemotherapy.  Even though I hadn't been diagnosed  yet, I was so frightened.

I asked Dr. Perry if I could call her back.  I needed some time to let things sink in and think clearly.  You know it isn't like moving into a new home and having to ask the neighbor who her gynecologist is.  Who would I call that might recommend  a good cancer surgeon?   After coming back to my senses, I remembered that my cousin had breast cancer so I chose to call her.     It's been over 5 years for her and she is alive and doing well.  She told me about Dr. Salm-Schmid and what a wonderful doctor that she thought she was.  She said that she felt so lucky to have had her through her ordeal and that she highly recommended  that  I go  to her.

I called Dr. Salm-Schmid's office and they were very quick at setting up my appointment.  My husband and I talked about what we would do if the tests showed cancer and how many other doctors opinions that we should get before we made any decisions.  I am a show me person and at my first appointment I was ready with all kinds of questions.  In my mind I thought, if she doesn't satisfy every question that I have to my satisfaction, I need to go elsewhere.

The day that we arrived at her office I was a nervous wreck.  From the minute Dr. Salm-Schmid introduced herself and started explaining what we were dealing with and my options, I could feel myself become more and more relaxed and less apprehensive.  She sat with my husband and I explaining the cancer, where it was, the type, and all of the options that I had.  She showed us the mammogram and described in detail what she saw.  She said that I was very fortunate that the cancer was at such an early stage that it gave me more options than most women.  We were in her office for about an hour and a half and I never felt rushed, and most of all, left with a feeling of, I'm gong to be fine, and I was.  I looked at my husband and asked him if he had any questions and if he felt we needed to go any further.  He too was very impressed with the doctor and felt just as I did.   I told him I was totally accepting of what Dr. Salm-Schmid had told me, and felt I didn't need to go anywhere else.  I can honestly say I had never come out of a doctors office feeling so secure in what a doctor had to tell me.  It was  like that heavy weight that was hanging over me was not only lifted, but not there anymore.  I was ready to face the steps I needed to without fear.  It has been over two years now and I have been doing great.  I was so thankful that she was able to give me the choice for a lumpectomy with radiation over a radical mastectomy.

The research that she and others have done over the years have given women more of a chance for survival and sometimes a choice of less radical procedures.   She is very dedicated to what she does and as far as I am concerned, one of the best that medicine has to offer.

One of the bright spots in my cancer diagnosis, I would have to say was the care and concern I received by Dr. Colette Salm-Schmid.  Her knowledge and expertise and the time she took to explain my diagnosis and the options I had, were vital to the decisions I made for my cancer care.   It was important for me to learn as much as I could and she helped me not only with her own knowledge but directed me to other sources relating to my situation.  She is an excellent surgeon.  (I wish I had only needed a lumpectomy, I would have probably never known I had breast surgery).   I would highly recommend Dr. Colette to any of my friends, family, acquaintances. 

Sincerely,
Cindy Buenning

Back on my feet and running down the street...
Turkey Trot with no giblets! See you soon.
mary anne hill

The moment I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 2009, life became a chaotic blur of questions and terror. But the moment Dr. Colette Salm-Schmid walked into the exam office, my life took a step toward regaining control. My family and I knew I was in good hands.

What happened next was the careful process of devising a game plan. During our meeting, Dr. Salm-Schmid wrote every step we would take and noted every detail—including illustrations so I could better understand the nature of the disease. She handed these all-important notes to me afterward. They became my personal instruction manual and I added to the volume after every visit. I understood clearly what would happen. There was no sugar-coating the situation. Yet, the sense of optimism was strong.

One fear cancer brings is: Have I chosen a doctor who is up-to-date? Cancer treatment is constantly evolving. Before I was ever even diagnosed, I found it common to read tidbits of astonishing, breaking research in newsstand magazines. “Does every doctor know this?” I would wonder.

It didn’t take long for me to realize Dr. Salm-Schmid knew all the ins and outs of breast cancer. She was current and stays current. For most people, it’s important, especially with cancer, to find an experienced doctor who has a passion for their specialty. It’s also important to find one with compassion for their patients—a doctor who cares about the patient as a whole, not just the part with cancer. Dr. Salm-Schmid brings all of that, including compassion, to the table.

Memorably, one evening, she called me at home to discuss test results and my surgery options.The news that day was unexpected and not good. During the phone call, she took time—a good long time—to answer my questions and discuss surgery options. “If you were my sister, this is what I would recommend,” she began. My own research did not dispute her recommendation.

I made the decision to undergo a double mastectomy—one side because of the cancer and one prophylactic. To follow through, Dr. Salm-Schmid provided me with access to reconstruction specialists, although, in the end, I chose not to pursue that option. I have talked with other patients of Dr. Salm-Schmid’s who echo my sentiments, usually with anecdotes of the doctor going above and beyond to ensure her patient’s needs are being met—both physical and emotional. The mastectomy—the culmination of treatment—was successful and without complication. My family still remarks about Dr. Salm-Schmid’s enthusiasm during the family briefing after surgery. It set a positive tone for my recovery time, which was astonishingly brief.

Because of a deep-seated phobia of doctors and medical procedures, I can’t say I was the easiest patient to treat. But Dr. Salm-Schmid’s consideration for my concerns was certain. To my great relief, she found ways to work around my peculiar issues. The experience of cancer easily could have been a dark and terrifying journey. While it was not a cakewalk, it was, indeed, positive and tolerable because of Dr. Salm-Schmid’s care.

Heidi Hodges

Sturgeon Bay, WI