Advice for Getting Rochester 2nd Opinion Care

Joan I had my esophageal surgery in 2007 in Jacksonville Mayo - no problems. Happy I did. I would recommend this to everyone. I've heard those who chose radiation & chemo & think they got it find it comes back twice as bad. Best of luck!
Mary Helen Duggar

Hi Joan-I had proton radiation, chemo and an esophagectomy 6 weeks after. Feeding tube was put in during surgery. Out of hospital day 9. My oncologist, radiation oncologist and surgeon were all chosen for me and I have no idea what criteria was used to assign each to me. All were very professional and knowledgeable, in their fields and I’m grateful to all of my care team @ Mayo. I’m 4 years and 9 months from my surgery and doing quite well! ❤️

Hi Joan,
My wife chose her surgeon long before meeting her, and we appreciated her tremendously throughout the process and still do: Shanda Blackmon. In a word, she's awesome. I've heard very good things about the other Mayo EC surgeons, as well. You can find a lot of information (including videos and podcasts) about Dr. Blackmon online.
Personally, if I were 84, I'd skip the operation and put my hope in immunotherapy, radiation, and chemo as necessary.
Best to you both,
Dave

Hello Joan, I did not have esophageal cancer, but head and neck cancer starting in the ear. I'm not sure just when I was added to this group for input on post radiation side effects. In 2012 I was quickly scheduled for surgery after my initial exam which was about a week after contacting the ENT group in Rochester. But that was 12 years go and since Covid things are different there now for new patients . My husband has been seeing Urologists there since 2019 for bladder cancer and surgery, and scheduling is much slower than it was with my experiences. Sometimes a referral from your doctor may speed things up. Perhaps checking in with Mayo Jacksonville is also a good alternative? Doctors were always assigned by my need, and the same for my husband. Dr. Stephen Cassivi was my thoracic surgeon twice for metastatic disease lung resection via VATS procedure. He was fantastic. My head and neck oncologist is my hero as she has been wonderful from day #1. I have no doubt that there are surgeons there who specialize in esophagectomy who would be assigned to her case. The team approach and level of care there is like no other. Good luck to you both. I know how stressful this battle is especially with the recommended timeframe. Susan

Thanks - we requested her but were told she’s no longer there. Wonder where she went?

Hello again Joan-My surgeon at Mayo, Rochester, MN was Dr. Robert Shen. He did the Ivor Lewis procedure and in his words-it’s a 2-holer. 😀The care team assigned to your Mother will have answers to the treatment options best suitable. Best wishes for you and your Mom.

I believe you were on our SmartPatients Zoom call last Wednesday... your mom is remarkable. You were kind enough to let me say my piece. The Her2 +3 positivity she shows is probably the main reason I might sit back and do more treatments. But then again, if she's going to do the surgery, the sooner the better (although none of us on the call could imagine this surgery on an 84 year old... man or woman). But you did meet Carol on our call, and her husband Tom just had the surgery at 79 two months ago.

Really pulling for you all. Do I feel more comfortable with your mom up at Mayo... I suppose yes. But doesn't mean that this can't be done well in Tennessee (I think that's where you are). But I'm more interested to see what their 2nd opinion will be... surgery or not. Maybe see you on the Zoom call again today.

Gary

Dr Wygals team was great … stay away from Immunotherapy. I had many side effects , diarrhea and dumping syndrome and its only 20 percent effective .. Mayo is ran like a machine scheduled s are promt and on time inmost cases at least they were for me in Sep of 22 … good luck and god bless

My surgeon was also Dr. Shen and I can't recommend him enough. The team was also invaluable, especially his PA Charles (don't recall his last name).

@gooddaughter, how are you doing with scheduling appointments for your mom? How is she doing?