How do I request a VA referral to Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville?

If you don’t get the Answer here I know you can get it from the following source.

Go to Ancan.org They have multiple different meetings for prostate cancer. Patients can talk about their issues.. They have an Under 60s group and a group for veterans that can really help with getting medical support.

Colonel Jim Marshall runs the veterans group and loves to help people get the medical treatment they want and get it paid for. The next schedule veterans group is the 18th at 8 PM Eastern.

@sooner65, here some information more about the VA Community Care Network: https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/index.asp

Mayo Clinic expanded its commitment to serving veterans by participating in VA Community Care Network in August 1, 2020. Read more here: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-expands-commitment-to-serving-veterans-by-participating-in-va-community-care-network-beginning-august-1-2020/

I recommend contacting Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida to ask about the process for VA referrals. You can submit a request online for a coordinator to call you or simply call directly when it is convenient for you. See the online form and phone number on this page http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

Colleen…thank you for the information. Much appreciated

I’m a Vietnam veteran and was exposed to Agent Orange. My PSA doubled in one year. It went from 2.1 to 4.2. My VA PA told me not to worry because it was still in the acceptable range of 4 - 10. However, I sill was quite concerned! Fortunately, I have Medicare insurance and a civilian doctor too. My civilian doctor was concerned because my PSA doubled in one year. I had a biopsy test and 6 of 12 tests had Gleason scores of 3+4. Ugh Long story short, I contacted the Phoenix Mayo Clinic and had surgery. My surgery went smoothly; but, my surgeon had to cut wide to remove my cancer.
Good luck getting into the Mayo Clinic. They have excellent doctors.

Excellent Question. I am a 70+ Vet with Advanced Prostate Cancer Stage 4. VA Community Care has been very helpful.

I am an US Army Veteran, but I am not part of the VA Hospital system. I have no idea how you can get a referral, but I can tell you about my experience with my radical prostatectomy. When I turned 40, thirty years ago, they just started offering PSA testing. I had numerous prostate infections over the years that started when I served in the US Army. My wife said I should get a PSA test because of my family history of prostate cancer. My grandfather at 80, my father at 65, and one of my uncle’s died in his 60’s from prostate cancer. My PSA results were 4.6 and my urologist recommended a biopsy. Three of the five cores came back positive for prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 6. I was happy that not all of them came back positive. I chose to get a radical prostatectomy over cryosurgery or radiation. I wanted a skilled surgeon to go in and see what was going on and he was skilled in doing a nerve spare operation. They didn’t have laparoscopic surgery when I had my radical prostatectomy. After the surgery my surgeon said all my cancer was contained within my prostate. Six months after surgery I regained my full sexual function, but I had constant leakage. With age my leakage got worse and 16 months ago, I had ProACT surgery and now I have no leakage. I discussed that surgery under the heading of ProACT in this form. I hope this is helpful.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It is helpful to hear others stories as we navigate through this diagnosis.

I am always concerned when you have to deal with Govt bureaucracy. Hopefully they agree to send a referral, or I will likely self refer.

I had six PSA tests from Feb - Aug 2024 starting at 3.72 and rising to 5.76 over 6 months. These tests weren’t because they were looking for signs of prostate cancer. They were actually checking my low platelet levels. It was the hematologist who told me about my rising PSA levels and advised that I see a urologist. Once I was able to see a P.A. they finally conducted a biopsy in Jan 2025. And here we are. Just not happy with the level of care I have received thru the VA so far. 😕

I understand completely. The VA handles all kinds of health issues. After my surgery at the Mayo Clinic, the VA wanted my medical records. They setup an appointment with private healthcare office to assess my after surgery condition.
The VA presumptively said my cancer was caused by exposer to Agent Orange when I served in Vietnam. They recommended I filed for disability; now get a check every month. I’m grateful to the VA for helping me out.