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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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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.