Esophageal Cancer: How do I get started with Mayo?

Hi there Colleen. The video appointment went as well as can be expected. We actually also had an on campus appointment yesterday to do a laparoscopy and port placement and are VERY anxiously awaiting a call back from them to let us know when our next appointments are and with who so we can get this treatment started. I'm not the patient but I'm the one who is in need of the mental counseling, still an anxious, tear filled wreck for more than a month now. Need to know our plan and get it started.

My husband detected with esophagas cancer 2 months back....we have done 3 chemo cycle. now doctor suggested surgery...plz suggest any other option than surgery

I have attached the latest reports

@shilpa, welcome. I see that your husband has had chemo to help shrink the tumor before surgery, but that you would prefer to not have surgery. Please note that this is a public forum where you can meet other patients and caregivers living with esophageal cancer. For this reason, I removed the attached medical reports since they included personal identifying and medical records. If you’re looking for a second opinion from Mayo Clinic experts, please click this link to submit a request http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

How did your husband do on chemo?

Ohh ohkk noted

If you haven’t already done so , this might be a place to start.
Go to Mayo website:
Mayoclinic.org. There is a button for making appointment

My husband had an egd with biopsies. Positive for invasive esophageal adenoma grade 2-3. We have a video appointment with Mayo in Rochester in a few days. Should we also engage local oncologist-we live in Florida? Should next steps (scans, etc) get done here or Mayo?

Welcome, @jmp1514, I moved your message to this existing discussion:
- Esophageal Cancer: How do I get started with Mayo? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/get-started-with-mayo/

I did this so you can click the link and connect with fellow members like @dtaylor75 @sepdvm @pellaw @maryhelen @survivorsuz @puprluvr @lori57216 who have had care for esophageal cancer at Mayo Clinic and can help answer your questions about coordinating care with local doctors and experts at Mayo Clinic for esophageal cancer.

Regarding diagnostic testing, I might suggest asking during your video appointment. In general, Mayo Clinic can work with quality and recent imaging studies done elsewhere. However, if you haven't had the scans and tests done yet, they may advise to get them done at Mayo Clinic to ensure they get the imaging and quality they need.

You might appreciate the tips from members about video appointments and coordinating care locally in these discussions:
– Telemedicine: How to make the most of a virtual doctor visit https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-telemedicine-its-a-brave-new-world/
- How to treat at Mayo Clinic if you live a distance from Rochester https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-treat-at-mayo-clinic-if-you-live-a-distance-from-rochester/

JMP: Have you started a list of questions to ask for your video appointment?

Hey @jmp1514 Welcome to the club no one wanted to be invited to. The answer to your question really depends on where you are going to seek treatment. Whichever facility or institution that is going to do your treatment is going to insist on their own scans which is actually a good thing. In our case we had all the scans done locally in Nebraska and also had them all done again at Mayo to keep our options open. I will tell you this, Dr. Grotz and Dr. Blackmon with Mayo Clinic literally saved my wife’s life and I would do absolutely anything in the world for them. There’s a reason they are the top hospital in the country, the compassion and concern these doctors, PA’s, nurses (OMG especially the nurses, I would do anything for them. Just hearts of GOLD, all of them) all have is simply unmatched. I wish you success in this journey no one asked for, but will say have faith in God and trust in your providers at Mayo for the best possible outcome. Bless you.

Thank you for the feedback and advice. Wednesday cannot come soon enough. It feels like we are losing valuable time.

This morning I thought it might be a good (proactive) idea to find a local oncologist who will coordinate with Mayo. What i found out was our local oncologists are seemingly very territorial and not interested or willing to this type of plan.