Alternatives to Mayo Clinic

I have received excellent care at UCLA for my G9, CRPC including RP, 12 months of ADT and Erleada My surgeon Urologist is Nick Donin, he is young but good with good people skills I have been under his care since 11-21

@koji480
Daniel, you might consult with both places. It could be your guardian angel intervening and not the nurse. UCLA has an excellent program. The md at Mayo was surprised that someone would be consulting there after talking to Amar Kishan at UCLA.
It is better to consult with a number of oncologists before determining a course of action. I favor radiation over surgery though it will be a personal choice.
Honestly, Mayo is the only facility I keep hearing about rejecting care. I'd be curious as to why. Frankly, I wish they'd refused me. The oncologist was excellent, but I'd been misled about the equipment they had available so it was and expensive time waste, and a not so expensive waste of cash.
MD Anderson has the #1 rating for cancer care, but I've no experience there.
Kishan agrees to phone consults and I think after talking to him you'll end up there. He is a radiation oncologist. I don't know anything about the surgeons and you should talk to a surgeon as well. You might want to watch a compelling video. It doesn't entirely encompass his charm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90LoBQtAdYE
I wonder if that nurse would tell you why or if a moderator here might have some insight. It seems to happen across all fields of medicine. Maybe they get too busy.

I just finished Radiation treatment on April 18th. My RO is Amar Kishan. I am happy with my experience there.
My Neice and her husband are both RO's at M D Anderson. They both knew Amar at UCLA and told me that I don't have to come to Houston!

I also got refused at Mayo Jacksonville. Ended up in Celebration Florida with Dr Patel. He has done 17,000 prostate removals and is known as one of the best in the world. Took awhile to get in but am scheduled in July.

Consider 2. My local hospital merged within its own system creating a silo of marginally adequate care. My cancer care team quit to go work for at a teaching/research hospital. My oncologist recommended I use both cancer treatment centers. She let me in a little secret. "In this day and age quality is being challenged by quantity in American healthcare. Find 2 you like." So, I did. I use my current hospital and the teaching hospital my cancer team went to. Turns out my oncologist was right, again.

I was treated for a rather advanced case of Prostate Cancer before becoming a patient at Mayo/Jax. I was a Gleason Score of 8 meaning I needed immediate treatment. After some hurried but intense research, during which I encountered several former patients whose stories impressed me, I settled on The Dattoli Cancer Center in Sarasota FL. I'm sure you can find their website on line and arrange a personal visit or phone interview.

Last year, after my 5 Year exam, I am cancer free with a technically undetectable PSA. I got to sign their "Wall of Fame" for cured patients, many of whom, like me had life threatening cases. Good Luck to you and I wish you as good an outcome as I have had.

@koji480, in addition to the helpful tips you've already received from members with treatment experiences outside Mayo Clinic, I'm also tagging additional members like @mammoth3414 @tom57 @ranger44 @retiredboomer71 @frank1956 @chamblee54 @sam60 @dwpoole @round5 who can add their 2 cents. 🙂

@koji480, I gather from your past posts that your prostate was removed in 2020 and you also had radiation and ADT. Currently you are no longer taking ADT (Eligard). Recently your PSA levels started to rise. Now, you would like to seek a second opinion to discover if there are options available to you to compare to the options your current cancer team have discussed. Do I have that right?

What available treatment options have been discussed?

Ms. Young,
You have it correct.
I am awaiting another PSA test on May 21 and a meeting with my current provider the same day I have the test. I have had a PSMA PET Scan in August of 2023 and in January 2024 with negative results.
(My PSA has been rising for the past year plus after being undetectable for two years.)
I will then see what she recommends. I want to consult with another provider after that visit at a recognized institution to see what their recommendation would be and contrast and compare so that I can have some confidence in the next course of action. I have enough experience with battling this complex disease to know that professionals can differ. Had I not gotten a second opinion in 2019, I am not sure I would still be here to ask questions.
And, BTW, I have excellent health insurance that is accepted by Mayo, so that is not the issue in the refusal.
Thanks for your response! I appreciate this forum and the helpfulness of the members.

Regards,
Daniel

Daniel,
My husband was refused to be seen by an oncologist at Mayo when we first moved back to Scottsdale, and I was told it was because his care at the time was “maintenance” and they were only seeing new patients with a new diagnosis. But when he got a new type of cancer we got an appointment and now they are caring for both cancers.
Also, Scottsdale clinic recently lost an excellent prostate oncologist and they are short staffed until their new physician starts so it might simply be that Mayo does not have availability for new patients.
We are pleased with Mayo, but yes, there are other good options too.
Good luck!

Thank you very much!