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    Laura K. Altom, MD, MSPH

    5.0 (1 review)

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    Duke Raleigh Hospital Cancer Center Hematology/Oncology

    Duke Raleigh Hospital Cancer Center Hematology/Oncology

    1.0(1 review)
    4.8 mi

    If I could do less... I am the person who never leaves reviews, no matter how bad the service was…read more However in this instance, people should be warned. Dr C. Watters performed my upper and lower hernia repair. I was told completely routine, you can walk up steps, just not lift over 5lb for the first few weeks. Pain was high after surgery. Waited the 3 weeks for the follow up, and explained to Mr Watters the pain, and how the mesh was pulling my hip in so it felt as if it was ripping it out. He scoffed and stated " I told her not to attach it so tight" that she should have placed it where he had told her to. I was taken aback because I was never told someone else would be doing the surgery. I was told he was doing it. Nevertheless, was sent for another MRI to inspect his damage, I was billed. Went back for the follow up, to discuss the findings. I was told there was a large "calcified growth protruding down into the leg. Making it seem to be a cancerous type issue. Refers me to a urologist, advised me himself to go outside of the Duke network "as they were not good". When I arrive a very curt Dr. asks why I am here, I assumed he would know. He says there is nothing there. I have been to several since, even referring me to a sports Dr. to no avail. We are now approaching the one year mark and the pain is unbearable. They prescribed nerve blockers to help but that is barely making a dent. Just the fact he assigned the nerve blockers alludes to the fact he knew it was nerve damage but offered no pain mitigation specialist referral. They continue to push from appt to appt, each of which is a month to longer away. And here we are. ZERO quality of life, can barely move and constant pain. NO concern FOR THE DAMAGE THEY HAVE WROUGHT. So again, not a Ken, never left a review, but do NOT under any circumstance allow this to happen to you. Live with the hernia, It wasn't a tenth of what I have now. The pain is now not only in the patch placement region, but up into the chest cavity and up the back into the shoulders and neck. You have been warned...

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    Duke Raleigh Hospital Cancer Center Hematology/Oncology
    Duke Raleigh Hospital Cancer Center Hematology/Oncology
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    Berry William R MD

    Berry William R MD

    3.0(2 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Dr. William Berry gave my grandmother 8 years of quality life, after a Stage 4 Breast Cancer…read morediagnosis that had metastasized to the bone. He kept her happy and pain free. I could never say enough kind words about this man. This was in the late 1980's, and I realize things were different then, but he was a magical doctor. His experience was unmatched.

    In my opinion, Dr Berry's license should have been censured in 1997. He missed a clear cut…read morediagnosis of metastatic cancer on my mother at that time. Due to his not practicing within the standard of care, her treatment was delayed for the 5 months when her cancer had recurred (metastasis). At that time, metastatic breast cancer was pretty much a death sentence, but his overlooking the clinical facts was basically like ignoring metastatic cancer for 5 months. She may have ended up passing away anyway if Dr Berry had done his job properly and followed standard of care. However, I am confident that had Dr Berry not missed the diagnosis, she would not have ended up in agonizing pain and other terrible things that she endured during the last terrible 3 months of her life. All of that was due to the cancer having spread aggressively in the 5 month period when she should have been treated for metastatic cancer and received no treatment during that time. My mother was in excruciating suffering of the type that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. No one who is fighting cancer should have to go through what my mother endured. A little background info to put the situation in context: My mother first had an aggressive form of breast cancer at the age of 38. Dr Barry was her oncologist at that time. 12 & 1/2 years later, in January of 1997, she presented to Dr Berry with neck and back (bone) pain. In her routine cancer follow up labs, her CA-128 level was tested (this test is not used as much anymore, but at the time, it was a somewhat useful marker of cancer recurrence or metastasis). This is a case straight out of a medical textbook, bone pain and a CA-128 level multiplying at the same time, in someone who had originally had cancer at a very young age, needs to be followed up on with further tests. Mom ended up receiving the correct diagnosis 5 months later, by her RHEUMATOLOGIST, not "Dr Berry" (in quotes because I feel that he should not have a medical license). When my mother was at Rex hospital in and out of a coma during the last week of her life (at age 51) after she went through 3 months of pure hell, I asked Dr Berry, the following. "Why, when she was having bone pain 5 months ago, and her CA-128 jumped from within normal range to thousands of times over normal range, did the possibility of metastasis never occur to you?". His response, made in a very cavalier manner while glancing over the top of her chart; "I guess I missed that one". I should also mention that the cancer had spread also to her liver and lungs during the 5 months when she did not receive treatment. It's painfully ironic that my mother had considered Dr Berry a friend, admired him, and trusted him explicitly. I am sharing this because this is most likely not the only situation that Dr Berry was negligent in 'managing'. I have zero confidence in his competence as a physician and oncologist and do not feel that he practices within the standard of care. The only reason that I did not go to the NC Medical Board after my mother's death was that I knew that she would not have wanted me to do this. I can't keep it to myself any longer- if you want to live or want your loved one to have a fighting chance, please find a more competent oncologist.

    Laura K. Altom, MD, MSPH - surgeons - Updated May 2026

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