New Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis— seeking treatment at Mayo

Hi @sarah21williams Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect

I’m so sorry to hear of your dad’s newly diagnosed Pancreatic Cancer. It has to be especially upsetting as he and your mom are ready to launch into their next chapter of life with retirement.

The best way to start the process for having your dad’s medical treatment at Mayo in Arizona would be to contact Mayo Clinic directly.
The appointment coordinator will talk with you about your father’s needs and help arrange an appointment with the right department.
You can also have your father’s oncology team request an appointment and have his records forward to Mayo/Phoenix. A referral isn’t necessary but sometimes it can help get the process rolling faster.
Have you spoken to them about your father’s plans to be moving?

Best wishes to your dad going forward.

Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona

480-301-8484
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mountain time, Monday through Friday
Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona
480-301-8484
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mountain time, Monday through Friday

Thank you so much! This is very helpful— all of this and the many things I am reading on these forums. Thank you for the prompt reply and next steps. We meet this next week with his team in Illinois and will be discussing those plans of moving it all to Mayo in Arizona. Thank you. 🙏🏽

Hello @sarah21williams

Given your dad's age, I'm assuming that his primary insurance is Medicare. I've heard from some Connect members that the Arizona Mayo facility may not be accepting new Medicare patients.

To be sure that your dad will have his insurance accepted you should call the Phoenix facility and check on that.

I hope that the meeting with your dad's medical team in Illinois provides you with some hopeful information.

Will you post an update as you are able?

Hi! Thank you! He is on Medicare and has blue cross blue shield. So appreciate all your comments and help— we will keep you posted!

Hi Sarah, I'd like to add my welcome and to bring fellow pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers like @marvinjsturing @chemobile @colorafo19 @kjrita @mayojoe7 @buckslayer @debsid @susan2018 @maryvallis512 into this conversation. They, too, have sought a second opinion and care at Mayo Clinic. You can read more about each in this discussion:

- Pancreatic Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pancreatic-cancer-group-introduce-yourself-and-connect-with-others/

Members can also help you prepare questions to ask your team in Illinois. Have you started to make a list of questions?

Yes, we do have a list of questions. Everything is just moving so fast! Last Monday, he was working full time, getting 15,000 steps a day and didn’t even have a cancer diagnosis yet. And now ( exactly one week later) all of the sudden is having difficulty walking— legs are heavy and very wobbly—and he seems a bit foggy. It doesn’t seem it should be this way so fast— not sure if it’s the norco or it has spread further, and we just don’t know it. He’s headed back the ER now per request of doctor( here in Illinois still)… we just want to bring him back to AZ, and get whatever treatment started here. Thank you all for listening— appreciate it. 🙏🏽

Wow, Sarah. That is fast. How are YOU doing?

Thank you. My dad had a minor stroke, which we learned was due to the cancer— thus causing his unstableness with his legs. He’s still in good spirits— so grateful! I’m good right now. Of course, all of the emotions come and go, especially for my mom, but leaning into my faith. 🙏🏽