Dr. Hilary Norton, DO

I don't typically leave bad reviews. Besides, this review is of Dr Hillary Norton, who is no longer with the practice. However, as someone who also works in the healthcare industry, I want others to do their homework (as I doubted myself in having done mine), and be a strong advocate for their care. I came to see Dr Norton with a few issues, one of which was hot flashes due to "that age." Dr Norton proceeded to prescribe me Estradiol cream, which is a hormone replacement therapy. That would most likely be a good choice, however, I reminded Dr Norton that I had breast cancer in 2014 and from my own research and warning from my past doctors, anyone who has had breast cancer should never be prescribed hormone replacement therapy. Dr Norton said that it's not a concern and I should be okay to use a low dose (1mg twice a week). I attempted to argue with her, however she had assured me that it would be okay. Forward two years. I changed a primary care practitioner because I learned that Dr Norton was leaving the practice. Since all of my specialists now are at Silver Cross, I went ahead and found a great family doctor with them. She has over 20 years of experience and, at this point, I decided to make a choice of someone with a lot of experience. When I told my new physician about the use of Estradiol, her eyes got wide and she said, "your previous doctor was pretty brave to prescribe hormone replacement therapy after breast cancer." At that point, I explained what has taken place and that Dr Norton had assured me that it was okay, since the dose was low. The new physician said that it's an absolute protocol to never prescribe hormone replacement therapy to a former cancer patient, period. Since I had a double-mastectomy at the time of my surgery in 2014, I don't have breast tissue for cancer to come back to. However, I do wonder if I caused damage to myself and, at some point in the future, something will come back in a different part of my body, connected to breast cancer. I am NOT making a claim that if it does, it will be Dr Norton's fault for prescribing Estradiol. I am writing this long narrative to warn everyone, especially women, to be cautious and, if you have doubt, get a second opinion of someone who has a lot of experience. I hope that Dr Norton will find her way around family medicine without causing injury to any of her patients.