Seeking Support: First Mayo Appointment for Husband's Cancer

I was in your husband's shoes in the fall of 2023. My first appt was the team you describe. They are the best! Each one spent plenty of time with me explaining in detail and offering comfort. You'll wanna take notes and write down their names and specialty. If he doesn't have a Mayo Patient Portal account yet he'll wanna get one. I had questions about timeline, pain, and a few on outcomes. They explained everything. I felt comforted that even though this was my overwhelming diagnosis these folks do this every day and do it well. I was not only in good hands but in the company of greatness. They have a special way of being confident, without arrogance, that I found very comforting. When I left there I said to my husband and son, " I got terrible news today but, I'm okay with it and I'm not afraid." I still go back every three months for CT scan, blood work, and to see the surgeon. My recovery has been smooth and the care I've received has been consistently top notch. I read all the info they gave me. I did not search the internet. I stuck with just the Mayo info. My brain was full! I'll keep you both in my prayers. Relax and fell confident that you are doing the best you can do for your husband and yourself.

Hi @luvnsunshine Lucky you. Not that your husband has cancer of course but that you have Mayo Clinic at your disposal for treatment. Myself among many had Mayo to clean up the mess where other hospitals and clinics had failed.
You are going to be amazed at the care he will receive at Rochester. Tests which normally take days or weeks to coordinate in most facilities will likely be handled within hours. His schedule will have you moving throughout the many connected buildings which make up the Mayo campus.
The care is based upon a team of skilled staff which looks primarily at what is best for the patient rather than what is best for the staff or in many cases elsewhere, what is best for one physician.
When you have time between appointments, explore the entire campus. Check out the view from the top floors. Walk the underground shops. Visit the education centers, the museum, the atrium, the artwork.
As far as the cancer and treatment is concerned, you have also come to the right place to talk with patients and former patients who have gone down similar paths and treatments, who have had similar side effects, lived with similar issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Good healing and as I like to say, “Courage!”

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's incredibly reassuring to hear such a positive story, especially from someone who's been through something similar. Your description of the team and their approach is exactly what we were hoping for. We've already created a Mayo patient portal, so we're ready on that front. We will definitely make sure to take notes during the appointment, thank you!

It's also helpful to know that they took the time to answer all your questions. We have a list of our own, especially regarding the timeline, pain management, and potential outcomes. Your comment about feeling comforted and not afraid, despite the difficult news, is truly inspiring. That's exactly the kind of confidence we're hoping to gain from this appointment.

While I appreciate the advice about sticking to Mayo's information, I'll admit I've already done quite a bit of internet searching. It's been incredibly hard not to. I'm curious, what was your specific timeline like from the time your treatment options were presented to when you actually started treatment? I'm trying to get a sense of how long we should plan to be in Rochester. Should I be looking at hotel combinations for more than just the one day of the consult, or is that typically enough time to get the initial plan in place?

Thank you for your kind words and prayers. It means the world to us. Knowing that you've had a smooth recovery and continue to receive excellent care gives us so much hope. Thank you again for sharing your story and for the encouragement.

Thank you @hrhwilliam so much for your encouraging words and for sharing your positive Mayo experience! It's wonderful to hear how they were able to help in situations where other facilities fell short. We're definitely feeling grateful to have access to their expertise and the appointment can’t come soon enough!

Your description of the streamlined process and the team-based approach is very reassuring. It sounds like they're incredibly efficient and truly focused on the patient's well-being. We appreciate the tip about exploring the campus – we'll definitely try to take advantage of any downtime between appointments to do that.

We really appreciate everyone's willingness to share their stories and offer support here. It means the world to us as we navigate this journey. Thank you again for your kind words and the "Courage!" – we need all the positive energy we can get to get through this!

You will find under normal conditions, the hotels are very accommodating to Mayo Clinic schedule changes. If you are one night and check out, and then find you will need another night, just call the hotel and chances are they will just reassign you back to the same room. Just let them know at check-in you are here for Mayo.
Some hotels downtown are connected to Mayo physically via sky-walks and underground passages. The other hotels generally offer free shuttle services to/from Mayo. Otherwise, parking on the west side of Third Ave NW across the street from the clinic or just the next block north (Third Ave & First St) is another less busy parking garage, both with underground walking connection to the clinic campus.
At the end of the day, you will likely say "Oh, that was easy."

And my favorite...the valet parking! Its $5 more than doing the ramp on your own. We love it. When you pull up to the entrance "the guy" will walk up to your car and guide you thru the process. They are very friendly and do not expect or even accept tips. For us it starts and ends our visit on a relaxed note. If entering thru Gonda take time to enjoy the Dale Chihuly glass art to the left of the entrance. Spectacular!

@luvnsunshine, as you prepare for your appointment at Mayo Clinic, you may also find helpful tips in the Visiting Mayo Clinic support group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/traveling-to-mayo-clinic/

Have you heard about the free Concierge Services at Mayo Clinic?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/concierge-services
By phone: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday-Friday: 507-538-8438
By email: concierge@mayo.edu

They can answer all your logistical questions regarding accommodation, restaurants that meet specific dietary needs, things to do and more. They can also help with getting your husband set up on the patient portal (Patient Online Services).

Does he have his patient portal account set up already?

That's great information, thank you! It's very helpful to know that the hotels are typically flexible with Mayo's schedule changes. We'll definitely mention at check-in that we're there for Mayo Clinic appointments. The tips about the connected hotels and the parking options are also much appreciated.

My husband is struggling quite a bit with anxiety right now, especially regarding the wait to begin treatment so we're hopeful to get a sense of what the typical timeline (knowing everyone’s case is different) is at Mayo. From your experience, have you found that treatment at Mayo typically starts *immediately* after they present the treatment options, making it best to book more than just a few days in Rochester? Or is typically there often a period of time *before* treatment begins, allowing for a return home and then a trip back to Rochester? We're trying to gauge how long we should plan to be away. Thanks again for the helpful advice.

Thank you so much for the helpful information! We really appreciate the links to the Visiting Mayo Clinic support group and the Concierge Services. Yes, my husband already has his patient portal account set up, but the Concierge Services sound fantastic for handling the logistical details. We'll definitely look into those resources. Thanks again for your help!

When booking anything, especially hotels, be sure to ask about a Mayo patient discount. Many offer specials for patients and make extra accommodations regarding shortening or lengthening a stay. @cheyennepeterson and the team at Concierge Services can be more helpful about booking around town.