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Can you select your Mayo surgeon?

Posted by ozback11 @ozback11, Nov 27, 2023

How does one go about picking the best surgeon once the decision is made to travel out of state to Mayo - Rochester ? I feel like my choice is a good one but is there a best of the best ? The surgery is for removal of my prostate.

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Rose | @rosewg | Feb 25, 2024
In reply to @hammer101 "Definitely, you can choose your surgeon. Just as important as picking a center of excellence, you..." + (show)
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Definitely, you can choose your surgeon. Just as important as picking a center of excellence, you need to do your homework on the surgeons and pick the best possible surgeon at the center of excellence you chose. You will need to do your own investigation, just asking Mayo for a their best surgeon does not work - You will get the "all of our surgeons are great" response. For me, I wanted someone that has performed thousands of robotic assisted radical prostatectomies I did not want a surgeon that spends most of his/her time teaching, leading departments, writing books, "jack of all trades" surgeon, etc... I wanted to surgeon that has the most successful experience performing RPs. This also allows for good decision making during the surgery, if complications arise. I went with Mayo-Rochester and chose Dr. Igor Frank. He is an amazing surgeon and also a wonder human being. I did not prioritize bed side manner, but Dr. Frank is excellent in this area.

Best of luck with your journey and I pray all works out well for you!

Jim

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My husband, Jim, and I heartily second the recommendation of Dr. Igor Frank. Thanks to @hammer101, we found Dr. Frank. My husband is having a robotic prostatectomy from him tomorrow. He's a urologist / surgeon who is wonderfully skilled and a very kind man. We know that we're in good hands!

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hammer101 | @hammer101 | Feb 26, 2024
In reply to @larrycurlymo "Thank you for your reply. Did you stay in Minnesota until your catheter was removed? Who..." + (show)
Profile picture for larrycurlymo @larrycurlymo

Thank you for your reply. Did you stay in Minnesota until your catheter was removed? Who provides your follow up care? Local urologist or Mayo?

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My wife and I stayed in Rochester, MN until the catheter was removed. It was not a requirement, but we wanted to be local, just in case there were complications. No complications occurred, but it was a good "insurance policy".

FYI - You can work with Mayo-Rochester to find rentals that are quite cost effective. Because it is cancer related, you will be able to get a far lower cost per night. We ended up not going with a Mayo related rental, but the Air BnB was quite cost effective and less than a 1/2 mile from the Methodist building in Rochester. Please note - This was 1.5 years ago, so with the high level of inflation, I would expect to pay about $200 per night (outside of the Mayo discount program) versus the $100 we had. This is what we paid last week, when we went to Mayo for a check-up and stayed over the night before.

Take care and best of luck,

Jim

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jmacllm | @jmacllm | Jul 3, 2024
In reply to @donaldguy "For what it's worth, I feel very fortunate that I am a patient of Dr. Raymond..." + (show)
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For what it's worth, I feel very fortunate that I am a patient of Dr. Raymond Pak of Mayo Jax. He is head of the urology department and did a RLP on my on July 10 of this year. My recovery has been good. My PSA was undetectable on my three month checkup. Wish you the best as you make these decisions. God bless.

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Thanks for this comment. I have met with Dr. Pak (and many others). He is on my short list for RALP. I just turned 54 and I always been a physically fit, health guy until PC. Still super worried about making the right decision.

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jwoy | @jwoy | Jul 3, 2024

My husband had Dr. Matt Tollefson at Mayo Rochester. He was terrific, and we had a great outcome. He and Dr. Igor Frank were the 2 recommendations we had for Rochester surgeons.

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luck1 | @luck1 | Mar 12, 2025

I am glad it worked out well. How long did you wait for surgery after your first appt with surgeon ?

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lmnophilco | @lmnophilco | Jan 19 12:13am
In reply to @jmacllm "Thanks for this comment. I have met with Dr. Pak (and many others). He is on..." + (show)
Profile picture for jmacllm @jmacllm

Thanks for this comment. I have met with Dr. Pak (and many others). He is on my short list for RALP. I just turned 54 and I always been a physically fit, health guy until PC. Still super worried about making the right decision.

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@jmacllm
Hello, I'm curious if you selected Dr Pak as your surgeon. I met with him last week regarding RALP, and I'm trying to make a final decision.

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ozback11 | @ozback11 | Jan 19 9:18am
In reply to @lmnophilco "@jmacllm Hello, I'm curious if you selected Dr Pak as your surgeon. I met with him..." + (show)
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@jmacllm
Hello, I'm curious if you selected Dr Pak as your surgeon. I met with him last week regarding RALP, and I'm trying to make a final decision.

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@lmnophilco
Good morning. I chose Dr Matthew Tollefson for my surgery.

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chrdav | @chrdav | Jan 19 5:37pm

I had my RALP at Mayo Rochester last week by Dr Frank. Wonderful surgeon and person. Currently recovering at home in NC with no complications. I have had no incontinence since catheter removal. Best wishes for great outcomes. Mayo is the best.

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chippydoo | @chippydoo | Jan 20 9:21am

It's a prostate removal not heart or liver transplant surgery. It's a surgery they have been doing for over 20 years. And it's Mayo, which is considered by many as the "best of the best of the best." (credit MIB). I would ask myself if I liked the guy, and would ask him, how long he has been performing this form of surgery and look up his reviews. While it is a real surgery and has its risks like all surgery's, I trusted my gut and my surgeons reviews and was satisfied.

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