Advantage of staying at on-campus hotel: Partner's perspective

@juliafire, thanks for sharing the partner's perspective. I've added your post to the Visiting Mayo Clinic support group too. I think others will appreciate learning about your experience when deciding whether to prolong their stay at Mayo Clinic after surgery for a day or two or to drive home.

Isn't it funny the things we don't anticipate being helpful. In this case compact was better for the early days of higher needs of caregiving. And the exercise facilities. I bet that was good, not only for exercise, but also just to release the tension from the worrying while he was in surgery.

How's your husband doing now? How's recovery going for both of you?

Hi Colleen - Thank you for your comments. My husband is doing fantastic and has exceeded my expectations. He has been fully continent since he got the cath tube out. At 4 weeks he feels good enough to go the gym for a workout, but he has decided to wait the full 6 weeks that the doctor requested. Today is 4 weeks and 1 day from his surgery and the "other" issue, ED, is almost back to normal. We can't be thankful enough that we had Mayo and good surgeon.

Just thought I’d jump in with my experience at Mayo Rochester. With my Nov 2019 visit and biopsy I stayed at the Kahler Inn (across the street from the Mayo Gonda building.. (At that time they were renovating the older suites like where we stayed.) When I went back in Jan 2020 for my Proton Beam Treatment I stayed at the Kahler (sister) property: Kahler Inn & Suites. Their room was bigger thane the unrennovated KI room and had enough of a ‘kitchen’ that I could eat in the room. The Kahler Inn & Suites is close to the Gonda Building and the Mayo hospital. In 2020 the KIS property had a nice breakfast (included); when I went back in 2022 there was no breakfast. It was also my impression that the KIS property was not full; perhaps by now that has changed and maybe breakfast has been re-established.
Those visiting Mayo Rochester who already have a cancer diagnosis my also be eligible for the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge. (No direct experience with them).
There are many hotels in Rochester area; most of which probably give a Mayo discount. My wife went with a friend and stayed in a different hotel as they wanted a 2 bedroom suite. It was close to the Rochester Mayo campus and also had ‘subway’ access to Mayo (subsurface well lighted walking tunnels connecting Mayo with many buildings close by.)

We too stayed at the Residence Inn on the Mayo Campus for my cancer surgery in June. There are only upsides to being so close to the medical facilities and the hotel, facilities, breakfasts & staff are quite good. We need to go back on October for more treatments, but since people flood into Phoenix that time of year, rates have nearly doubled to almost $250/night. It definitely pays to get your cancer treatments in the off-season!😂

I live in Minnesota, and I have noticed that scheduling easier in winter. I wonder why???🤣

For my wife and I, we went with an Air BnB just off the Mayo-Rochester campus after my prostate cancer (10 days post surgery). We needed two bedrooms/bathrooms and a full kitchen to support meal prep. It has been two 2 1/2 year since my surgery, but we found there to be plenty of rental option. Based on our more recent visits to Mayo-Rochester, inflation has significantly increased the cost of all rentals.

I can't say enough good things about Mayo-Rochester with the diagnosis, surgery, and post operative care. For myself, a four hour drive was a small inconvenience for world class care.

Jim

I agree--except that I can say that a ten-hour drive is a small price to pay for the care my husband has received at Mayo Rochester. We stayed at Broadway Plaza for all of the reasons you mentioned, and it really helped reduce the stress and trouble for me (the wife and caregiver).

Lag - Oh my, I totally agree with your statement, ten hours is nothing when you balance that with decades of quality of life.

I always tell men that are diagnosed, DO NOT rely on a local surgeon/oncologist to treat your prostate cancer. Find the best possible hospital, then research the best doctor at that facility. For myself, that was Mayo-Rochester and Doctor Igor Frank.

So glad all turned out well for your husband!!

Jim

We are still driving ten hours to Mayo Rochester, more frequently now that my husband has started Pluvicto treatments. It is still worth it. 🙂