Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

I go to Arizona for about 6 months but periodically return for business reasons.Most seniors in the Phoenix area have given up on Mayo and there are some very hard feelings. I tried again and they usually respond by saying they are not taking any new patients, then if pressed it really is that they will not accept government insurance (Medicare).There are a few departments that will accept but very very few. Further when I reviewed their staff physicians they do not have the same high quality educational backgrounds in residencies and fellowships as the major health care facilities in Chicago where I live or as in Mayo Rochester. Ironically for $6,000-$10,000 they will accept you as a concierge patient.So I will continue to be treated in Chicago where we have far larger and more comprehensive health care providers including Northwestern, U of Chicago, and Rush. I will simply fly back as needed. I respectively disagree with you comment that Mayo takes patients based on capacity as my past 12 months of research and numerous telephone calls, and emails proves that to be incorrect. It is predominately cash flow. If you lived in Arizona you would hear the same thing from allonym senior neighbors.

@woodedareas the acceptance of out-of-state medicare differs between the MN, AZ and FL campuses. You can read more about Mayo and Medicare on these pages:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/insurance/accepted-insurance/medicare
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/billing-insurance/insurance/accepted-insurance/medicare/more-on-medicare
Mayo Clinic accepts new Medicare patients. Mayo Clinic is one of the largest Medicare providers in the country. Unfortunately, Mayo Clinic cannot honor all requests they receive from Medicare patients who want to come to Mayo Clinic. Medicare patients are accepted in all practice areas where there is capacity (appointments available) to accommodate them and most importantly, as the medical needs of these patients require.

@woodedareas it must be very frustrating to not be able to continue the care you received at Mayo Rochester at the Arizona campus when you go to Arizona this fall. How long will you be in Arizona?

I think maybe they won’t accept Medicare for a new patient. If you are an existing patient that transitions to Medicare, you can continue to be a patient.

I miss typed. Mayo in Arizona will NOT accept seniors with Medicare.

Mayo in Arizona will. It accept Medicare or other governmental insurance. I have tried before but they are a separate corporation from Rochester. Most seniors in Arizona have given up on Mayo there and I also am very disappointed. I am receiving excellent care in Chicago and when I go to Arizona this fall I will go elsewhere At this time I am very disappointed in Mayo Arizona. For $8,000 they will provide concierge health care. That should tell you something.

Thanks Merry, I joined the Caregiver group. I have family who check in on me to make sure I'm taking care of me. I will share this website with my husband. He actually went to the bowling alley for a mental health night out and met up with an acquaintance who is down the road a few months and he really got to share so now this will be his weekly night out, if he is up to it.

@mcleslie- Oh it's great that you answered back! First about the fatigue. Unfortunately, it's the name of the game. Lung cancer takes up room in your lunges and gives you less oxygen to use on top of that radiation and chemo will make him very very tired. That will change as he gets through them. Living cancer every day could very well be your lives for a while. Cancer will stay with your husband as he will be looking over his shoulder to see if it returns, gets worse or is cured. For now, because of his on going treatment it is your lives, but you know that. As time goes by activities will be more of your focus than the illness itself.
I am so glad that the Vet is taking good care of you. Being on one income is tough but it looks as if you are on top of things for nowe link:.
Would you be interested in our caregiver's group? You have a very tough job that requires a lot of patience and love. It's tiring and stressful and you will need support from people who know how you feel and have been "there" Here is the link: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers/
I know that your husband is very tired. Might you ask him if would like to join this conversation himself?

Thank you for checking in. The VA has been simply amazing and thankfully being a Veteran, this is all covered. My husband finished 5 weeks of radiation (69Gy in 23 fractions at 3Gy per) and completed 3 rounds of chemo (port in leg due to SVC), 2 more "mega" doses because everyone keeps saying he is young and can take it. Next up, immunotherapy for a year. Radiologist says he is doing well, and will evaluate by another scan in 3 months but indicates it is working.

So the official diagnosis is T2bN2Mx Stage 3A and most likely stage 3B per records. All I know is that it isn't great... no one really has translated that for us. Frankly I'm not sure I want to know but I guess I should. Right now nothing is operable. He has battled fatigue and nowjust a bit of peeling skin on his chest. We have hope and we don't live CANCER every day. It has been a quick long few weeks. We are coping but struggling financially on only one source of income... denied SS disability but will likely apply again. On to VA benefits compensation.

@mcleslie- Good morning. It's been over a month since you last posted and that we heard from you. I am hoping that your husband's health has stabilized and that the radiation is working. I am a 22 year lung cancer survivor and know first hand the initial emotions that come with those dreadful three words, "You have cancer." How are you both doing? Has you husband had any further treatments?

@woodedareas- Congratulations and welcome to Mayo Connect. I can only address your lung issues as I use and hospital on the east coast. Three weeks is a short time of recuperation so I hope that you are taking it easy. I'm a 22 year survivor of lung cancer. Did you have a lobe removed?