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Questions about Initial visit for 2nd opinion at Mayo Clinic
Hello and thank you in advance for your response.
Partner is newly diagnosed with prostrate cancer and we are seeking a 2nd opinion from Mayo Clinic, Rochester. We have to travel there from New Mexico so I'd like to be as efficient as possible.
My partner had set up an appointment and we made travel arrangements. Our appointment is with Dr. Paras Shah. Since then, I have seen positive comments about Dr. Kwon and Dr. Frank. When we inquired about appointments with them instead we were told Dr. Kwon doesn't do initial visits and we'd have to wait and change all arrangements to see Dr. Frank.
I don't understand the protocol, can we do the initial visit with Dr. Shah and then request subsequent visits (as necessary) with Dr. Kwon or Frank?
Do you have any experience with Dr. Shah?
Any information will help - again, thank you.
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no experience with Dr Shaw but my experience with Mayo is all of the doctors are good and they all take excellent notes that they share with their team Hence, they all always have other experts looking over their shoulders and that makes it better for patients Good luck!
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1 Reaction@auguri My partner has been seeing providers in urology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, for about a year and has been pleased. I looked up Dr. Shah and his credentials are very impressive. Dr. Shah is involved in clinical care of prostate cancer and is involved in teaching and research. We’ve never asked for a specific doctor or provider and have always been impressed with who we have seen. If you haven’t been to Mayo Clinic in the past you and your partner will undoubtedly have the very positive experiences we have had with everyone we have come into contact with Mayo Clinic. In fact I just saw a new endocrinologist (for me) at Mayo Clinic in August. The doctor had clearly read my chart very carefully and came prepared for my first visit. I’ve seen him another time since then and his treatment recommendations, based on my tests and history, were well thought out.
When is your partner’s appointment? Will you please let us know his impressions of Dr. Shah and his care at Mayo Clinic?
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1 Reaction@hbp and @naturegirl5, thank you both for your responses, they are very reassuring.
The appointment is for Oct. 26th. @naturegirl5, I will be sure to let you know about our experience there.
So kind of you both to respond.
@auguri You are very welcome. The appointment is coming up soon and I hope you and your partner find the 2nd opinion to be helpful.
My partner and I go to all of our appointments together. Mayo Clinic welcomes this and the doctors talk with both of us.
If you’d like any additional information about Mayo Clinic or Rochester, would you please let me know?
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1 ReactionI am curious, because you are in New Mexico, why you chose to go to Rochester Mayo rather than Phoenix Mayo.
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1 Reaction@josgen we decided on Rochester because the research I did indicated that the doctors with the most experience with prostate cancer specifically were at that facility, not the Phoenix location.
My main goal is that he is treated by the most experienced people possible.
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1 ReactionI had difficulty getting through the screening process to see Dr. Kwon. My wife found and showed me all of Dr. Kwon’s videos on YouTube and the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. She found his business email address on one of the videos and wrote an email letter to him. To our surprise, he called us the next morning.
I was stage 4 when diagnosed and our local university system wouldn’t do chemo (they claimed it wasn’t effective). Dr. Kwon saw me and started aggressive treatment which I tolerated well. It has been 17 months since we started treatment with Dr. Kwon. I have been clear on 2 successive scans over the last six months. (Amazing since the university docs said the odds of getting rid of my disease was “very low, very low.”)
We live ten hours (by car) from Mayo Rochester. I have just completed my 15th trip over 17 months. Best investment of time and money ever. Many thanks to PCRI, Dr. Kwon, and his Mayo team. They are years ahead of most of the nation in advanced treatment.
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1 Reaction@kam23, thank you so much for sharing your personal experience.
I would very much like to get Dr. Kwon's opinion and am hoping that after our initial visit we will be able to request an appointment with him directly . If not, I will do everything I can to mimic your wife's ingenious approach (she sounds like a gem).
So happy to hear of your successful treatment and wish you the very, very best.
@auguri, you're asking good questions about prostate cancer care at Mayo Clinic. You can read more here:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/care-at-mayo-clinic/mac-20353097
In Mayo Clinic's collaborative approach, Dr. Shah will likely be your lead physician, the captain of the team so to speak. But your husband's care will not be limited to only one physician, but rather Dr. Shah will consult with colleagues and refer you to additional experts and services as required for the best care. You are in good hands.
@curious10, I believe, is also a patient of Dr. Shah at Mayo Rochester and may be able to provide more first hand experience.
You may also wish to scroll to the bottom of this webpage for a list of questions and "Preparing for your Visit" https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353093
Do you have any further questions as you prepare for the upcoming trip to Mayo Clinic?
Dr Shah is a skilled surgeon you will be well taken care of.
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