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First Appointment at Mayo Clinic in Arizona
My husband called to schedule an appointment for a second opinion for his prostate cancer treatment. We sent in all his pathology and scan results. When MAYO called back my husband was given an appointment with a Urologist at Mayo. Can anyone help us with what we can expect for this first appointment? We had really hoped we would be scheduled with a Radiology Oncologist so we could discuss treatment options. It seems like we are having to start back at the beginning with having to see a urologist. We live in Oregon and will be traveling out of town, obviously, so we want to make certain booking flights, and a hotel room will be worth this first appointment. We would really like some feed back on this as we navigate what to do. Thank you!
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The cool thing about Mayo is they work as a team on most issues. Your urologist will likely discuss your case with a variety of their colleagues and develop a plan specifically for you and your situation. My first visit was with a Radiation oncologist but he had already discussed my situation with a team. He was my contact as I was accepted in a clinical trial he was leading on Tulsa Pro ablation.
I Have had other family members treated at Mayo for other issues and they always impress.
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2 ReactionsTotally agree. But when you have a physician that repeatedly fails in follow up, you know it's time to move on.
I have switched all my care to Mayo Phoenix. I switched when they started taking Medicare. I would not want to go anywhere else. I would say over the last 6 years it has become more difficult to get an appointment. Although I think that applies to all the medical field. I have been trying to get a gastrologist appointment for the last year and no luck. They have a family practice that has been booked the last 6 years.
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1 ReactionSome time ago on Frontline, there was a historical view of Dr. Mayo who founded his medical clinic, but morevover his two sons who went on the grow the Mayo into a world-class medical treatment facility.
Mayo doctors don't work as individuals but as a team as mentioned above. The consortium concept brings ideas, concepts, and experience together to solve the problem.
Marriot has a hotel within walking distance of the Jacksonville Mayo campus. If you have the insurance and resources, there should be no other choice. RH/Leesburg, Fl
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1 ReactionYou might ask your Dr that you are seeing to help you get an appointment with the Gastro dept. I asked my MD in Rochester who was retiring to help me to get into Phoenix for my Esophagus problems and he did. 🙂
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1 ReactionCould you share the name of the OHSU psychologist—and any other Portland-based prostate cancer doctors you've found helpful? Thanks!
Yes, happy to: Jason Allen Webb, M.D., DFAPA, FAAHPM, FACP psychologist at OHSU. Also, discovered the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Navigator System/people are epically helpful.
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2 ReactionsAre there specific OHSU prostate cancer doctors that you'd recommend? For instance, are you getting good care from Sokolova?
I find Dr. Sokolova epically helpful and highly recommend her. She is my cancer team leader. OHSU is part of my advanced prostate cancer treatment strategy. Why? OHSU is a NCI Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which means they strive to be leading edge in research, education, and treatment. Another part of my prostate cancer strategy is to have a local oncologist. Why? I live 80+ mile from OHSU, so I have a second, local, oncologist 2 miles from home. He works at the local hospital, is a great communicator, easy to talk with, helpful, caring, knowledgeable and knows the local cancer resources well, plus he refers to OHSU when needed. Another part of my strategy is education, meaning I keep current the best I can on advances in prostate treatment. Hopefully this helps.
I live in Eugene Oregon. My prostate cancer safari began at OHSU with a DRE, two PSAs and an MRI all indicating I had the disease. I shifted my care to Mayo PHX for two reasons; (1). OHSU does not have proton therapy; (2). The length of time between appointments which I presume is due to an abundance of patients.
As judged by a layman Mayo PHX is definitely a Center of Excellence. I am profoundly grateful for being accepted as a patient since I was a self-referral and the pleasantness, kindness and professionalism of the staff I encountered. However, at least in my case, it was the Mayo Clinic way or the highway. In addition, both the Radiation Oncologist and Medical Oncologist told me I could not be cured although the written report of my appointment with the Medical Oncologist stated I could be cured or put in deep remission. Read into the difference of what I was told in person and the written report what you will.
I took the highway, specifically Interstate 10 from Phoenix to Los Angles. Dr. Mark Scholz of Prostate Oncology Specialists is now my Medical Oncologist and Dr. Michael Steinberg of UCLA, to whom I was referred by Dr. Scholz, my Radiation Oncologist. I could not be happier or more satisfied. I told Dr. Scholz he had given me my life back after he said my condition was serious but not dire. He has the confident air of a person who is the master of his craft and that is coupled with an optimistic outlook. The patient is the captain of the ship and a way will be found to cure you.
Dr. Steinberg is the chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at UCLA so I have had little interaction with him. As at Mayo all the staff has been pleasant, kind and professional. My Course of Treatment at UCLA has proceeded quickly. From initial appointment at the end of July to Radiation Therapy two weeks ago after hormone therapy had sufficiently reduced the volume of tumors in my prostate and pelvic region to allow radiation.
That is my journey to date starting from advanced prostate cancer. Good luck to all on finding their care team in their journey.